Jeremy Swayman

Given that Jeremy Swayman of Anchorage and Pheonix Copley of North Pole are two of only three Alaskans to tend goal in NHL history, they’re bound to make hockey history.

They added another piece Tuesday night, when they became the first Alaskans to win NHL road games on the same night.

Swayman, 24, stopped 20 shots to help fuel the Boston Bruins’ 4-2 win at Montreal. Copley, 31, snuffed 28 shots to help trigger the Los Angeles Kings’ 4-3 overtime win at Philadelphia.

Tuesday marked the third time in six weeks the masked men have made history.

On Dec. 17, they became the first Alaska goalies to win NHL games on the same date. And on Jan. 5, they delivered the first All-Alaska goaltending duel in NHL history when Swayman and company won 5-2 at Los Angeles.

Pheonix Copley

Swayman’s victory Tuesday, his fifth straight, stretched his streak of starts unbeaten in regulation to nine. He’s gone 7-0-2 in that span, generating a 1.76 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. That work has boosted his season marks to 12-3-3, 2.25, .916.

Swayman is one game shy of matching his career high for most consecutive starts without losing in regulation. Last season, he delivered a 10-game streak (9-0-1) and in that stretch also reeled off an eight-game winning streak that stands as the second-longest in NHL history by a goalie from Alaska.

Copley’s victory Tuesday was his second straight and improved his season stats to 14-3-0, 2.80, .897. With 14 wins, he’s just two shy of matching his career best, which came when he went 16-7-0 for the Washington Capitals in 2018-19. Copley this season has cranked off a seven-game winning streak that doubled as a seven-game streak of games unbeaten in regulation – both are his career-best marks in those categories.

The standard bearer for most consecutive wins and most consecutive games unbeaten in regulation by an Alaska goalie remains Ty Conklin of Anchorage, who is retired.

North Pole’s own Pheonix Copley with a kick save – and a beauty. Photo by JustSports Photography

Conklin went on a helluva heater for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007-08, when he won nine consecutive decisions and went 11 straight games (10-0-1) without a loss in regulation. In that 11-game span, Conklin put up a 1.51 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and two shutouts. He allowed two or fewer goals in nine of those games and one goal or fewer in six of them.

Here’s how Alaska’s three NHL goalies stack up in a few categories:

MOST CONSECUTIVE WINS
9 – Ty Conklin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2007-08
8 – Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2021-22
7 – Pheonix Copley, Los Angeles Kings, 2022-23
6 – tie, Pheonix Copley, Washington Capitals, 2018-19; Ty Conklin, Detroit Red Wings, 2008-09

MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES UNBEATEN IN REGULATION
11 (10-0-1) – Ty Conklin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2007-08
10 (9-0-1) – Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2021-22
9 (7-0-2) – Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2022-23
7 (7-0-0) – Pheonix Copley, Los Angeles Kings, 2022-23
6 (6-0-0) – Pheonix Copley, Washington Capitals, 2018-19
6 (5-0-1) – Ty Conklin, Detroit Red Wings, 2008-09

MOST SINGLE-SEASON VICTORIES
25 – Ty Conklin, Detroit Red Wings, 2008-09
23 – Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2021-22
18 – Ty Conklin, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2007-08
17 – Ty Conklin, Edmonton Oilers, 2003-04
16 – Pheonix Copley, Washington Capitals, 2018-19
14 – *Pheonix Copley, Los Angeles Kings, 2022-23
12 – *Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, 2022-23
*Denotes current season

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