When Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle took the ice in Philly on Monday night, he tied the NHL record for the most consecutive games played. That record, which was set by Doug Jarvis over three decades ago, is 964 games. For Yandle, that streak began all the way back in the 2008-2009 season.
At that time, Yandle was a member of the Arizona Coyotes (Phoenix Coyotes back then) playing in his third NHL season. Since that time, the 35-year-old defenseman has suited up for four franchises: the Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and now the Flyers.
Of course, the durable defenseman did more than just show up and step on the ice. Yandle played at an extremely high level during this incredible streak. He eclipsed the 50-point mark on six occasions, including a 62-point season in 2018-2019 while with the Panthers. He dominated on the power play as well, recording at least 18 power play points in nine of his seasons during the streak.
In terms of strictly being available, he not only avoided significant injuries, but he juggled a midseason trade in 2015, resulting in an 84-game season that year for him. Plus, he played in the postseason seven times, making two deep playoff runs, which further tested his durability, and makes his streak that much more impressive.
Keith Yandle has tied, and now will break, the ironman record.
Anytime Yandle’s streak comes up, people note how improbable it is that any player in the NHL could avoid injuries and be available for so many games in a row. It is even more impressive when you consider the pandemic that the players have been battling for the better portion of the last two years.
The milestone for Yandle is perhaps the only bright spot in an otherwise disastrous stretch for his team. The Flyers are winless in 12 straight contests, matching the longest such streak in franchise history.
With so much negativity surrounding Philadelphia, this Yandle storyline is one that offers some reason to be excited about the Flyers, which the team desperately needs. As unlikely as it is to lose in the fashion that Philly is right now, it’s more unlikely to do what Yandle has done over his incredible career, so accordingly, the hockey world should forget about the Flyers’ slump and make Tuesday night about Keith Yandle.
Monday night’s game was one of the biggest games of Yandle’s career, but when he takes the ice on Tuesday night, he will stand alone as the NHL’s ironman, 965 games strong.