Patrick Marleau is an iron man.
The San Jose Sharks forward became the 22nd player in NHL history to appear in 500 straight games by suiting up against the Calgary Flames on Monday night.
The 36-year-old winger is third on the active list of consecutive games played behind Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano (663) and New York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle, who appeared in his 511th straight contest Monday night against the Boston Bruins.
Marleau is also the first player in Sharks history to play 500 regular-season games in a row.
Patrick Marleau is 1st in @SanJoseSharks history to play 500 straight regular-season GP w/ team, per @EliasSports: pic.twitter.com/lo3SjvTCak
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 12, 2016
"It just means you have a good supporting cast," he told Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News prior to Monday's game.
The streak nearly ended Nov. 10, when Marleau was questionable to appear against the New York Islanders due to flu symptoms before ultimately playing nearly 18 minutes in a 4-2 loss.
"I had a couple IV bags in the afternoon and was up most of the night being sick, but still able to get out there," Marleau said. "I don't know if it was the best thing to be out there, but I wanted to be out there."
The former Sharks captain entered Monday's game with 325 points during the streak, which started April 9, 2009 against the then-Phoenix Coyotes. Marleau has missed only 29 games in his NHL career, dating back to 1997.
