Karlis Skrastins, on the verge of breaking Hall of Famer Tim Horton's NHL record for durability by a defenseman, has never shied away from pucks or pain.
A life of bumps, bruises and breaks attests to the 32-year-old's all-out style. He's constantly dropping to the ice or skating into the shooting lanes to block shots for the Colorado Avalanche.
“Pain is part of our job,” he says.
Skrastins is poised to break Horton's nearly 40-year-old record tonight at home against Atlanta when he plays in his 487th consecutive regular-season game.
Coincidentally, Skrastins started his streak on Feb. 21, 2000 – the 26th anniversary of Horton's death in a car accident.
Since joining the NHL in 1999, Skrastins, a Latvian native, has missed just one game, on Feb. 18, 2000.
Notable
Henrik Zetterberg scored twice to help host Detroit beat Phoenix 4-2 for its fifth straight win overall and 11th in a row at home . . . The 2007 entry draft will be held June 22-23 in Columbus, Ohio . . . Carolina suspended defenseman Anton Babchuk for failing to report to its AHL affiliate in Albany, N.Y.
