- Brent Burns carries a 1,011-game consecutive streak into Saturday’s game against Toronto
- Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna was 5 years old when the run began in 2013
- Read below for how the streak started and how far it sits from Phil Kessel’s NHL record
Brent Burns is carrying a streak of 1,011 consecutive games into Saturday night against the Maple Leafs.
NHL.com put the number in perspective in its NHL On Tap preview. Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna was 5 years old when Burns started the run on Nov. 21, 2013. Now the 18-year-old faces the 41-year-old Avalanche defenseman at Ball Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
The streak began with an injury scare. On Oct. 12, 2013, Burns took a stick in the mouth from Senators goalie Robin Lehner, played three more games anyway, then sat out 13. He returned Nov. 21 with a goal in a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay, and NHL.com columnist Nicholas Cotsonika wrote that he has played every game since.
Burns became the second player in NHL history to reach 1,000 straight games on April 4 against the Stars. Phil Kessel holds the record at 1,064, which leaves Burns 53 games short of tying it.
The Avalanche honored Burns before the next game against the Blues, and Kessel sent a video message. He talked about what the streak takes.
“I know how tough that is to do,” Kessel said. “I hope for nothing but the best for you and your teammates for the rest of the year. Go get that Stanley Cup.”
Watch the Avalanche tribute:
Teammate Cale Makar was asked about the milestone before Burns reached it.
“It’s impressive to play that many games, let alone that many games in a row,” Makar said. “It’s just ridiculous.”
Take a look at the pregame ceremony from Sportsnet:
Colorado enters the game at 3-1-0 and is averaging 5.75 goals per game. Toronto sits at 2-2-1 and will be without John Tavares, who left the team after the birth of his fourth child.
Burns also showed up to camp with a trimmed beard and new front teeth. The streak looks the same as ever, and Saturday will be game No. 1,012.
