Records and Streaks | THREE THINGS

Twelve games, 18 points. That's where the New Jersey Devils currently stand to start the beginning of their season. Other teams in the league have taken note of the 9-3-0 start for the Devils, opposing players and coaches alike often heaping praise in their direction. It can of course be a deflection tactic by opponents, but there is plenty of truth to the vast improvements the Devils have made not just in the standings to start the season, but also in the play that has taken them to this point.
It's been the culmination of improved play defensively, commitment to the structure and systems, and an array of personal successes that have helped prop up the club as a whole. The beginning of the Devils' season has been exciting for many reasons, least of all some of the records and accomplishments set getting themselves off to a 9-3-0 start.
Let's explore it all in Three Things: Records and Streaks, presented by Geico.

2. Historical Streak

The beginning of the season for Jesper Bratt is unlike any the franchise has ever seen in its 40 years of existence. On Thursday night in Edmonton, Bratt scored the game-winner at 16:52 of the third period, to not only secure the win against the Oilers and extend the team's winning streak, but it also solidified Bratt as the first player in franchise history to record at least a point in the opening 11 games of a Devils season.
The previous mark had been held by Tim Higgins since 1984 when he started the season with a 10-game point streak.
"He's finding a way every night to get on the board," Lindy Ruff said after the Vancouver game in which Bratt tied the record, "He's playing a team game and getting rewarded."
Bratt's 17 points in the first 11 games rank tied for third most. Paul Gardner had 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 points in the opening 11 games of the 1977-78 season, Wilf Paiement in 1977-78 had 18 points (8g-10a), while Bratt is tied with Aaron Broten, Pat Verbeek and Kirk Muller during the 1986-87 season and Patrik Elias in 2000-01 with 17 points in the opening 11 games.
In Edmonton, the streak stretched to 11 games, where he put together a run of 17 points with five goals and 12 assists. The streak came to an end in Calgary, when Bratt was held off the scoresheet against the Flames.

3. Personal Streaks

With team success comes personal success and that is what the Devils have been stringing together. Before the win in Vancouver, Jesper Bratt talked about his personal streak only being important because it is helping the team win and that's the attitude of the players around him as well.
Along with Bratt, there are other players who have set career highs in points and streaks that have helped contribute to the team's success.
Nathan Bastian had a two-point night with a goal and an assist against Calgary to mark a new career-high point streak. His opening goal not only tied the game at one, but it solidified a new point streak of four games (1g-4a). With assists in four-straight games, Bastian marked a new high for assists in consecutive games.
Bastian's linemate, Michael McLeod picked up the primary assist on Miles Wood's goal against the Flames, setting a new career-high point streak at four games (1g-3a).
The same can be said for Tomas Tatar whose assist against Calgary tied a career-high for consecutive games with an assist at four.