Wrist injury ends Morrison's ironman streak at 542 games

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -Brendan Morrison 542-game playing streak, the longest current run in the NHL, ended Wednesday night when the Vancouver Canucks center was forced out of the lineup by a wrist injury that will require surgery.

Morrison left the team after posting two assists in the Canucks' 4-2 loss Monday in Los Angeles to return to Vancouver to have his wrist evaluated. It was announced hours before the Canucks faced the Stanley Cup champion Ducks in Anaheim that he would undergo surgery this week and be out indefinitely.

"After further consultation with our team doctors, it was decided that surgery was the best course of action," general manager Dave Nonis said in a statement. "The best long-term decision for Brendan and our hockey club is to have this addressed immediately."

Morrison has been bothered by a sore wrist since he jammed it into the boards while taking a hit during an exhibition game on Sept. 26. He often conducted postgame interviews with the wrist wrapped heavily in ice, but played through the pain, recording eight goals and 12 assists in 30 games this season to rank fourth on the team in points.

His ironman streak, the 11th longest in NHL history, started Feb. 27, 2000, when he was with the New Jersey Devils. He played eight straight games before being dealt to Vancouver two weeks later, then dressed for 534 consecutive with the Canucks.

Morrison played six complete seasons in Vancouver, keeping the streak alive despite a serious hip injury at the end of the 2005-06 campaign, and an abdominal injury last season. Both required offseason surgery.

Calgary defenseman Cory Sarich is now the current leader with 419 consecutive games, a streak that began Nov. 27, 2001, when he played for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Former Montreal Canadiens center Doug Jarvis holds the NHL record of 946 consecutive games played.