Marleau to break Howe’s games record tonight

For Patrick Marleau, the best part about Monday night when he is set to surpass Gordie Howe’s record for most games played in NHL history will be the same as it has been for the previous 1,767 games.

The joy of playing the game that he’s loved ever since he was a kid growing up on a farm in Saskatchewan. But even Marleau acknowledges there’s something a little extra when it comes to breaking a record that has stood so long by someone known simply as “Mr. Hockey.”

“I’m going to try to take it all in as much as possible,” Marleau said. “The fun part is playing an actual game and all that. But my family’s going to be there to help celebrate, so it’ll be super special having them in the building.”

Marleau is set to surpass Howe tonight when the San Jose Sharks visit the Vegas Golden Knights.

With the game being played on the road instead of in San Jose where fans aren’t yet allowed back in the building because of the coronavirus pandemic, Marleau will be able to share the night with his wife, Christina, and four kids, who have only been able to watch games on television this season.

The 41-year-old Marleau has accomplished plenty in his career: 566 goals, 1,196 points, three All-Star appearances and two Olympic gold medals for Canada in 2010 and ’14.

But it is his supreme skating skill and dependability that has allowed him to play 897 consecutive games since last missing a matchup when he was 29 that will be his legacy. He has played through bouts with the flu, various other bumps and bruises and even chartered a plane to join his teammates in Nashville for a game in 2009 after the birth of one of his sons.