Brent Burns Picks Up Primary Assists at Start and End of Comeback Win in Career Game 1,400

Last night, Brent Burns became the 15th defenseman in NHL history to reach the 1,400 game mark and just the third active player to do it.

Burns has been a dominant force for Carolina since being acquired in the offseason two years ago.

In 150 games with Carolina, Burns has 28 goals and 97 points which is impressive in itself, but when you look overall at his 20-year career, it only gets better.

In the top 10 all-time for goals by a blueliner with 255 and the current active leader (14th all-time) for points by a defenseman with 874.

Burns has not only lasted in the league for so long, but he's done in at a consistently high level too.

"It just means I'm old!" Burns said on Bally Sports following the first period Sunday night against the Ottawa Senators. "A lot of good memories.

"There's been a lot of amazing family experiences with my parents, wife, kids, my brother and sister. Just getting to experience the little things makes the grind and the work all worth it. Everyday in the dressing room with these guys is a lot of fun. A lot of stories, a lot of laughs. Those are the things that make it fun."

At 39 years old, Burns also continues to have the league's longest active ironman streak at 829 games. He hasn't missed a game since he was injured in 2013.

That sort of longevity is almost unheard of in today's game.

Burns isn't just out there doing cardio either. The veteran blueliner continues to be a two-way force, controlling a 61.29% CF% last night against Ottawa, and he also was a major contributing force in that win.

Burns not only helped to start the comeback, but he capped it off too as he had the primary assist on both goal number 1 and 5.

Carolina first got on the board as Jordan Martinook banged home a rebound left from a big Burns last and then with just seven seconds remaining in the game, the Canes tied it up as Sebastian Aho deflected a Burns shot.

"I think that's an underappreciated milestone," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "To play in the NHL for that many games and do it the way he's done it, is impressive. You can't just show up and play 1,400 games. You can get 800, you can get 700, but there's a reason why he's lasted 1,400 because he put so much preparation into it. We love having him here. He's a true pro in every sense of the word."

Here's to many more great games from a certified Hall-of-Famer.