POWER RANKINGS: Longest point streaks in the ECHL this season

This is the weekly edition of Idaho Steelheads Power Rankings, where we at IdahoSteelheads.com will see where the Steelheads and their players rank among the best of the best in the ECHL.

Jefferson Dahl leads the Steelheads this season with 29 points, tied for 14th on the ECHL scoring list. He got off to a great start to the year, including one of the longest points streaks in the league this year. Where does the captain’s strong run rank in the ECHL this year? Let’s find out!

5) Shawn Szydlowski – 9-game points streak, 14 points

It’s hard to find a better player in the ECHL through November that Fort Wayne’s Shawn Szydlowski, with one glaring exception that appears further down this list. A member of last year’s ECHL Second All-Star Team, Szydlowski had points in nine straight games from October 28th to November 24th. During that run, Szydlowski had five multi-point games, as well as two separate goal-scoring streaks of three and four games. It’s Szydlowski’s longest points streak since the 2014-15 season when he scored in 11 consecutive games, including a five-goal performance against the Mavericks on March 21, 2015.

4) Lindsay Sparks – -9-game points streak, 14 points

Lindsay Sparks found his scoring touch last season when he left Orlando for the Rapid City Rush, and that continued into this year and earned him a call-up to AHL Tucson. Sparks started the season with a nine-game points streak in Rapid City, a stretch that included two 3-point games. Perhaps most impressive about Sparks’ run is his how little help he was getting form those around him. The Rush were 2-6-1 in their first nine games, with Sparks factoring in on 45 percent of the team’s goals. Sparks netted seven goals in the team’s first seven games.

3) Chad Costello – -9-game points streak, 17 points

Chad Costello has been rolling for the Allen Americans since November 30th, and he’s still going. With the longest active points streak in the ECHL, last year’s MVP and leading scorer has been racking up the points in his last nine games. Costello is coming off a four-point game and has three performances in his last nine with three points or more. Costello’s stat line could be even more impressive if not for a shutout showing on November 29th.  That is the only game in which Costello hasn’t scored a point since November 9th, keeping him from what would be a 19-game points streak. That’s also familiar territory for Costello, who set a new record at the end of last season. Counting playoff games, Costello recorded a point in 30 straight games.

2) Jefferson Dahl – 10-game points streak, 15 points

Jefferson Dahl had a point in every game for Idaho from October 21st to November 11th. The ten-game points streak was the longest run of Dahl’s professional career. Dahl’s streak included four multi-point games and a plus-5 rating overall. When Dahl’s streak did come to an end against Adirondack on November 12th, he came right back with a three-point night in the next game against Norfolk. Dahl has been held scoreless in just six 0f 25 games played this season.

1) Justin Buzzeo– 13-game points streak, 22 points

Gladiators’ forward Justin Buzzeo had 27 points for all of last season, but he almost matched that with a 13-game stretch in November this season. From October 28th to November 25th, Buzzeo lit up the ECHL with 22 points. Buzzeo notched seven multi-point games and two 3-point performances after having three previous multi-point outings in his pro career. The torrid pace earned Buzzeo ECHL Player of the Month honors for November. He has slowed a bit since the end of his streak, scoring a goal and adding three assists in seven games. Buzzeo ranks tenth in league scoring with 32 points.