Hainsworth, Connell and Hall’s Records Will Likely Remain Unbeatable

Congratulations to Martin Brodeur, who tied Terry Sawchuk’s career shutout mark of 103 earlier this week.

Brodeur is showing no signs of slowing down, as he gobbles up NHL goaltending records, as the New Jersey Devils workhorse.

There are however a few records that not even Brodeur, or in all likelihood anyone, will ever break.

George Hainsworth has three of them.

Most Shutouts and Lowest GAA In a Season:

The legendary Hall of Fame goaltender notched 22 Shutouts as a member of the Montreal Canadiens in 1928-29 and set a single season GAA record of 0.92 along the way.

Hainsworth had shattered his own records of 14 Shutouts and 1.06 GAA that he had set in 1926-27.

The closest goalie to approach the shutout record, in last 30 years,  was Tony Esposito with 15 in 1969-70.

 

Consecutive Minutes Without Allowing a Goal (Playoffs):

In 1930 Hainsworth set an NHL record that still stands, going 270 minutes and 8 seconds without allowing a goal during the playoffs, leading the Canadiens to the first of two straight Stanley Cups.

As a member of the Habs, his 75 shutouts, career 1.78 GAA, 11-game consecutive winning streak and playing 343:05 without relinquishing a goal all remain team records.

Note (as of Dec. 8, 2009): Hainsworth had ten shutouts as a pro in the WHL. Combined with his 94 in the NHL, he still retains the most for a professional with 104.

Career Goals Against Average and Longest Shutout Streak:

Hainsworth’s career GAA of 1.93 is just a hair shy of Alex (or Alec)Connell, who holds the honour at 1.91 while playing for five teams in his career.

Connell also holds the NHL record for the longest shutout streak at 461:29, by recording six consecutive shutouts, from January 31 to February 18, 1928.

The argument for Hainsworth and Connell’s remarkable numbers can be handed to the NHL rules at the time.

All of the the top ten single season GAA marks all happened between 1925-26 and 1928-29, an era that disallowed forward passing in the attacking zone until 1929-30.

The list features Hainsworth and Connell, along with Hall of Famers Tiny Thompson, Clint Benedict and Rory Worters.

Note: Some sites have Hainsworth ahead of Connell in career GAA by 1/1000 of a goal, but all statistic sites, including the NHL, have Connell at 1.91 and Hainsworth at 1.93

Mr. Goalie’s 502 Consecutive Games:

The goaltending mark that clearly cannot be debated, regardless of the era or rule changes, goes to Glenn Hall

"Mr. Goalie" would get sick from stress before games but that wasn't enough to keep him out of the lineup.

Hall, who pretty much created the butterfly technique, appeared in every game from the end of the 1954-55 season with Detroit until a back injury, incurred during a game against Boston, sidelined him on November 7, 1963.

By then he was a member of the Blackhawks and considered one of the most accomplished netminders of his era.

It should be noted that he did not miss a single minute of play in those 502 games.

Hockey fans and historians will consider this hockey's most unbreakable record.

Considering today’s goalies are considered workhorses if they play 70-plus games a season, there's really no doubt.