Philadelphia Inquirer - January 28, 1997

Record watch

onight, Rod Brind'Amour is set to tie Rick MacLeish's club record of 287 consecutive games played.

Brind'Amour's streak is third among active players. Montreal's Mark Recchi is first (429), and Edmonton's Doug Weight is second (306).

Brind'Amour has a ways to go on the all-time list, headed by Doug Jarvis (964).

``This is about the only record in my Flyer legacy that I'm going to have,'' Brind'Amour said. ``It's nice when it's all said and done, but it's not a big deal unless you can get 500 or 600 games with one team.

``I've always looked at it that if you're healthy, you should be in the lineup, and I've been fortunate to be healthy.''

Lindros, who knows all too well what it's like not to be healthy, said he admired Brind'Amour and added: ``I think there is a little element of luck there. You ask anyone about an injury-free career and they'll tell you luck is involved, especially in a sport like ours.''

Brind'Amour acknowledged that had he remained in St. Louis and never been traded to the Flyers in 1991, Mike Keenan might have benched him for his play in late November, when he was minus-13.

``I got benched three times in St. Louis by Bryan Sutter, too,'' Brind'Amour recalled.

Brind'Amour missed three games with the Flyers in 1992-93 with a lacerated elbow and bruised hand. He hasn't missed a game since.