Squad ban before 1000th use
Yandle’s road to legend is heartlessly stopped
4/3/2022 8:34 am
An NHL game without Keith Yandle? That hasn’t happened since March 26, 2009. Since then, the 35-year-old has always been on the ice when his teams were challenged. He is well on the way to the magical “1000” – but now he is surprisingly slowed down.
After 989 non-stop appearances, “Ironman” Keith Yandle’s record streak in the NHL is over. The defender was dropped from the squad by the Philadelphia Flyers before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs (3:6), for the first time since March 26, 2009 the all-time favorite was only a spectator. Eleven games were missing from the magic 1000. Yandle is not injured, the veteran was a so-called “healthy scratch” (healthy and ready to play in the stands). The decision to forego the esteemed veteran caused some frowns and bewilderment – the Flyers no longer have a chance of making the playoffs.
“We’ve come to a point in the season where it’s important as a team to get some young players,” said Flyers head coach Mike Yeo, explaining his decision before the game. “We have to face the future and what’s coming , keep an eye. We have to give some new guys a chance.”
At the end of January, the professional drew level with the previously sole record holder Doug Jarvis with his 964th bet. Yandle now fears that he will lose his record in 2022: Arizona Coyotes forward Phil Kessel has played 968 games in a row. In his career, Yandle has completed 1099 main round games, plus 58 play-off games. The 35-year-old has played for the Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and Flyers since the 2006-07 season.
Meanwhile, Nico Sturm has continued his winning streak with Colorado Avalanche, earning the first scoring point for his new team. With a 3-2 home win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Denver team celebrated their third win in a row and are still the best team in the league with 104 points. The 26-year-old Sturm prepared the 2-1 through Nicolas Aube-Kubel, giving him nine goals and nine assists this season. In mid-March, the Minnesota Wild attacker switched to the Avalanche. Should the Vegas Golden Knights lose to the Vancouver Canucks on the night, Colorado will be the first team to secure their playoff ticket.