Senators' Erik Karlsson among longest games-played streaks in NHL history

Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson had his consecutive-games-played streak snapped on Thursday, as the Norris Trophy candidate was forced to sit out Ottawa’s game in Minnesota with an injury resulting from a blocked-shot two nights ago against Philadelphia.

Karlsson hasn’t missed a game since the streak began in April of 2013 — a span of 324 consecutive games over a whopping 1,438 days, all spent with the Senators. It’s an impressive streak, to say the least, but it’s just one of many extraordinary iron man streaks in the history of the NHL.

The Anaheim Ducks forward is the NHL’s longest active iron man, with his consecutive games-played streak now at 780 and counting. In fact, the Toronto, Ontario, native hasn’t missed a single game since his NHL career began with the Edmonton Oilers in October of 2007.

Despite taking this wicked hit from the Rangers’ Mario Marois, former Canadien Doug Jarvis holds the NHL record for consecutive games played with an astounding 964. The four-time Stanley Cup champion was awarded the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward in 1984 and won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication three seasons later.

Unger suited up in 914 consecutive games, a streak that started as a Toronto Maple Leaf in 1968 and ended as an Atlanta Flame in 1979. The centreman spent time with the Flames, Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Blues, a team with which he ranks near the top in many all time scoring categories.

Steve Larmer began his career with Chicago in 1982 and didn’t miss a single game in 11 seasons with the Blackhawks — 884 straight to start his career. Larmer played two more seasons with the Rangers before retiring as part of the 1,000-point club in 1995.

Craig Ramsey played his entire career in Buffalo Sabres, where he played 776 consecutive games over nine seasons with the Sabres. After missing the first two games of the 1972 -73 campaign, he didn’t miss another one until the streak ended in 1982-83.

Bouwmeester’s streak of 737 games began in March 2004 and ended over a decade later in November of 2014. The former third-overall pick suited up with the Panthers, Flames and Blues over the course of his run and won an Olympic gold medal with Canada’s Men’s National Team along the way.

Henrik Sedin’s streak of 679 consecutive games played was halted in January, 2014 when he was unable to dress due to an injury. Sedin is currently captain of the Canucks and has spent his whole career in Vancouver, posting 1,015 points in more than 1,200 games.

Craig MacTavish’s streak of 518 consecutive games is especially impressive because the former oilers forward didn’t wear a helmet for a single one of them. MacTavish was the last player in the league to go helmetless, but his six-and-a-half year streak ended in 1993 because of, go figure, a sore back.

Glenn Hall is the only goaltender on the list, holding perhaps the most unbeatable record of them al — 502 straight starts for the Chicago Blackhawks. His career spanned 906 games with the Red Wings, Blackhawks and Blues before he was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.

Murray Murdoch was the very first player to play in 500 consecutive games, accomplishing the feat with the New York Rangers in 1936-37. Murdoch’s streak began during the 1926-27 season, just the tenth year of the NHL’s existence, and ended 563 games later when he retired from the NHL in 1937.