ST. PAUL, Minn.— Itap better to be lucky than hurt, or something like that.
Avalanche center Carl Soderberg appeared in his 200th consecutive game Tuesday, which is a career high and the longest active streak on the team. Asked about the key to his ability to stay healthy, he admitted good fortune has played a big role.
“I guess I’ve been lucky,” said Soderberg, who anchored Colorado’s third line Tuesday night. “I try to stay healthy. You can’t think about it. Just play hard and hopefully you won’t have any problems.”
Avs coach Jared Bednar, with a nod to the increasingly physical nature of the modern NHL, said he marvels at Soderberg’s durability.
“I think thatap really tough to accomplish in this day and age,” Bednar said. “You look at the demands of the schedule and the travel, and itap a physical game, still, in a lot of areas. Obviously he takes care of himself, still. He keeps himself in top condition and takes care of himself in the offseason. … Whatever he’s been doing, itap been working for him.”
Jarome Iginla is not far behind Soderberg, playing in his 195th consecutive game Tuesday night.
Footnotes: Tuesday’s NHL debut by Wild center Pat Cannone was a long time coming. The 30-year-old Miami (Ohio) product had played 377 games at the AHL level over parts of seven seasons before Minnesota recalled him from its Iowa minor-league team after an injury to Erik Haula last weekend. …Colorado is the only team to share a division with the Wild during Minnesota’s entire run in the NHL, meaning these teams have seen more of each other than any other foe. The teams were both in the Northwest Division (with Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton) from 2000 (when Minnesota joined the league as an expansion team) to 2013, when the current alignment with both teams in the Central Division began. … Tuesday’s game was the 92nd regular-season meeting between the Wild and Avalanche. They have also met in three playoff series.
