Brind'Amour Downplays Streak

Rod Brind'Amour can't understand the interest in his streak of 430 consecutive games.

Well, for starters, it's the longest active iron man stretch in the NHL.

The Philadelphia Flyers center took over the No. 1 spot on Saturday night. Montreal's Mark Recchi has pneumonia and ended his league-leading streak at 570, which is eighth in league history.

Brind'Amour has played every game for nearly six years. He hasn't missed a game since he injured a hand and had to sit out a neutral-site game at Cleveland the night of Feb. 22, 1993.

"It's not a big deal," he said. "It's just responsibility more than anything. You've got to be in there."

During the streak, Brind'Amour has had his nose broken an estimated four times and taken nasty shots off his feet that had him hobbling in the corridor leading to the locker room.

Brind'Amour also doesn't miss practice. Earlier this season, when coach Roger Neilson gave the team a complete day off, Brind'Amour was spotted working out in the team's fitness room.

He credits conditioning with helping him avoid such injuries as muscle pulls. Although not known for body checking, he's willing to muck and grind for the puck in the corners, particularly when he takes the odd shift at wing.

He recorded a league-high 2,177 shifts last year, 120 more than any other player.

"Have a look at him, he's chiseled," Flyers captain Eric Lindros said. "I think that contributes."

Brind'Amour's streak is nowhere near the record of Doug Jarvis, who played 964 straight games for Montreal, Washington and Hartford in the 1980s.

But it is remarkable given the increased travel, bigger and faster players and less mutual respect for players' safety and welfare.

He could reach the Top 10 on the iron man list late next season. Detroit's Alex Delvecchio stands 10th at 548.

Brind'Amour actually thinks the strek is a bit of a nuisance. He's not the sort to bring attention to himself, so he was clearly uncomfortable when approached Saturday night in Toronto.

"That's what they pay you for," he said. "They don't pay you to practice, they pay you to play. A lot of it is luck. Most injuries are fluke things."

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