We seem to love our “iron men” in sports, those guys like Cal Ripken Jr and Brett Favre who personify toughness and dependability by amassing astonishing consecutive-games-played streaks.
The depressing flip side is that sometimes an athlete who grinds it out through aches, pains and minor injuries is not always putting his A-game out there. There comes a day when, yes, we appreciate the dedication, Sparky, but it’s time to take a seat.
By this past Sunday, when one of hockey’s famously non-descript “lower-body” injuries sidelined him, it seemed to be about that time for Jay Bouwmeester anyway.
The St Louis Blues veteran defenceman had not missed a game since 2004.
The 737-game streak was the longest for any player in the four major North American team sports.
He also had not been as effective as he normally was, either. Through 20 games, he had posted a plus-1 rating, not so great on a team that is plus-14.
The workhorse blue-liner, who averages more than 23 minutes per game, also had just one goal and one assist, well below his typical numbers.
Perhaps the rest will do him good. As for the new iron man, that would be Anaheim Ducks centre Andrew Cogliano, who is at 562 games and counting. In case you are wondering, Cogliano has three goals, four assists and a minus-2 rating.
All below his career standards. Need a breather, big fella?
sports@thenational.ae
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