Maybe he was past due: NHL ironman Jay Bouwmeester ends 737-game consecutive playing streak

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

Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE

British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)

2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)

3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)

4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)

5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:29.480 (14)

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Key findings of Jenkins report

Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

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