Sittler and Olczyk revisit 18-game glory

Consistency was more than a word for Darryl Sittler and Eddie Olczyk. It was a state of mind.

And when the only two Maple Leafs ever to score a point in 18 consecutive games look back at those streaks — with Mitch Marner knocking on the door at 17 and counting, after scoring in Monday night’s game against the Red Wings in Detroit — they mention history, the importance of work ethic, knowing your role and trusting your linemates, as well as a bit of puck luck.

“Being in the same conversation as Darryl Sittler is quite an honour,” Olczyk, who strung together 18 in a row in the 1989-90 season, said in a telephone interview from Chicago on Monday. “And when you hear about the history of the Leafs franchise, and when you think about that number, it’s something you are very proud of.”

Sittler, in Florida with family, said he was golfing with Jack Valiquette on Monday when the former Leaf mentioned Marner and the potential for the record to be eclipsed.

“You have to be lucky, obviously,” Sittler said, recalling his 18-game heater in the 1977-78 campaign. “Some nights you play well and don’t get points, and some nights you don’t play well but get a secondary assist to keep the streak alive.”

Olczyk highlighted the contributions of linemates Gary Leeman and Mark Osborne in his run: “I know Gary and Ozzie were there for me every night. When you get to 14 or 15 games, and you’re within a handshake of getting there for the record, they knew what was on the line and they tried to help me get to it. You have to have great linemates, you have to have great teammates, and there has to be great people all around you. And Gary and Mark were that for me … They were a huge part of it.”

Said Sittler: “Lanny (McDonald) and I had (chemistry),” comparing it to Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier with the New York Islanders, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with the current Edmonton Oilers. “It’s something special that you never forget.”

But all good things come to an end, and in Olczyk’s case it was another former Leaf who brought his streak to a halt.

“Sometimes you think you should have gone to10 or 20 or more — you just want to keep it going — but my future teammate, Glenn Healy, was the one who stopped me. He was in net for the Islanders then, and he reminds me of it now, every time we talk,” Olczyk said with a laugh.

Olczyk said the fact that it was Sittler who held the record added excitement to his pursuit.

“There was a lot of publicity with it, because all of a sudden you’re chasing a Leafs legend, an NHL legend,” Olczyk said. “It was hard not to think of it.

“You want to get the record — you want to break it — but I don’t think I was out looking to get points every night. It was my job to bring offence, but you had a role as well, and your best bet was to never try and exceed that.”

Sittler said he wasn’t surprised to see Marner put together such a string of success.

“Mitch is a creative guy — every shift he’s doing something creative — but he’s also doing his job defensively,” the former Leafs captain said. “It’s a pleasure to watch, and I wish him nothing but the best.”