brent burns is closing in on major NHL ironman marks after playing his 989th consecutive game Thursday night ET in Seattle; he remained in the lineup despite a notable injury earlier this season. The 41-year-old defenseman tied the second-longest consecutive-games streak and will be in the Avs’ projected lineup for game No. 990 Saturday night ET in Winnipeg. The streak is driving attention because he plans to play through the injury that teams deemed to be a multi-week issue.
Brent Burns’ ironman chase
Burns’ 989th straight game ties him with Keith Yandle for the second-longest ironman streak in NHL history. Barring the unforeseen, Burns is expected to play in game No. 990 Saturday night ET in Winnipeg and to reach the 1, 000-game mark on April 4 ET in Dallas; if he finishes the season as projected, the streak would close the year at 1, 007 games, which remains 57 games shy of the all-time record held by Phil Kessel. The milestone stands out statistically: of 7, 866 forwards and defensemen who have played at least one NHL game, 433 — about 5. 5 percent — have reached 989 career games by any measure, and Burns has done it without missing a single contest.
Reactions from teammates and staff
Jared Bednar, coach of the Colorado Avalanche, outlined the team’s medical view and Burns’ response: “Our medical guys were like, ‘This is a couple weeks injury, ‘” Bednar said. “He was like, ‘I’m playing next game. ‘ That’s just his mentality. “
Nathan MacKinnon, forward for the Colorado Avalanche, reflected on Burns’ demeanor and longevity: “The first thing I think of is you’re jinxing it. It’s amazing. I think a big part of it is he’s got such joy every day. He’s a happy person. He’s come to the rink with a great attitude every single day at 40, 41 — however old he is. It’s such an amazing accomplishment. “
Martin Necas, forward for the Colorado Avalanche, praised Burns’ preparation: “It’s impressive. He takes care of his body better than anyone else. He still acts like he is 15, so nothing changes in his mind. But obviously, his body ages and he takes care of it really well. He’s a warrior. ” Cale Makar, defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, added a mix of jest and respect: “I feel like that’s not very many for him, if I’m being honest. It’s only about half of what he’s played, basically. No, I mean it’s pretty incredible. He’s Mr. Consistent, that’s for sure. “
Quick context and what’s next
Burns’ ironman streak is one element of a first-ballot Hall of Fame résumé that includes a Norris Trophy, a World Cup of Hockey title, IIHF World Championship hardware and the NHL Foundation Player Award for charitable work. He is also one of the rare players who have switched positions at the NHL level and excelled at forward and defense.
Looking ahead, the immediate timetable is clear: Burns is slated for game No. 990 Saturday night ET in Winnipeg and expected to reach 1, 000 games on April 4 ET in Dallas if he continues in the lineup. Team medical staff have labeled the earlier injury a multi-week issue, but Burns’ stance and the club’s roster decisions suggest the Avs will keep him in the lineup as they monitor his condition and the streak. For now, brent burns’ streak remains intact and the league will be watching how it unfolds in the coming weeks ET.
