The NHL’s New Ironman

The Flyers have fired their coach and are buried at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division (13-22-8). Their 34 points are sixth-worst in the league, their -42 goal differential is third-worst, and they’ve just lost a franchise-record 13th straight game.

And yet, Tuesday’s defeat brought Philadelphia at least one moment of glory.

Defenseman Keith Yandle skated in his 965th consecutive regular-season game, surpassing Doug Jarvis for longest streak in NHL history. Only four players have ever played in 900-plus games in a row.

  • The three-time All-Star began his streak March 26, 2009 with the Coyotes and has spanned 4,688 days with four teams over 14 seasons.
  • During the streak, Yandle has recorded 20,889 minutes of ice time while taking 25,109 shifts.
  • He appeared in 84 games during the 2014-15 season — two more than any one team — after being dealt from the Coyotes to the Rangers at the trade deadline.

After playing with the Panthers for five seasons, Yandle signed a one-year, $900,000 free-agent deal with Philly prior to the 2021-22 campaign. Over 16 NHL seasons, Yandle has earned $61 million.

But the 35-year-old’s long-term NHL future is uncertain — and Yandle’s record may not last past next season with Arizona’s Phil Kessel just 24 games behind.