American Jeremy Swayman allows a long-distance goal against Denmark at the Olympics

MILAN (AP) — In net for the U.S. against Denmark at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Saturday night, Jeremy Swayman gave up a goal from 95 feet out that could get talked about for years to come.

Nicholas B. Jensen sent a seemingly harmless shot toward Swayman from just past the center red line. Swayman moved his glove, and the puck went in over his right shoulder.

“It was just the perfect height right between the stands and board level, and I truly lost it,” Swayman said after the U.S. came back to win 6-3. “Definitely one I went back, but at the same time, especially at this level, you’ve got to stay even-keeled. It’s one shot at a time and no matter how they go in, you’ve got to step up and stop the next one.”

That goal gave Denmark the lead 11 minutes in. Jensen had scored three goals in 11 years of international play before he took advantage of Swayman's gaffe.

“First I wanted to dump it, and then I was like, ‘OK, I might as well just put it toward the net,’” Jensen said. “It’s hard to see with the bleachers, but no, I got lucky. And I appreciate he gave me that.”

Asked if he'd ever seen a goal like that, Denmark's Lars Eller said, “It's been a while.”

On the NBC broadcast, analyst and retired goalie Brian Boucher wondered if the dark color of the boards contributed to Swayman not being able to see where the shot came from. Swayman laughed it off, joking he's colorblind, so it doesn't matter.

“It’s something all of us always have to face and we play in different arenas every night in the NHL, so this is just one, another one, and it’s a challenge that we have to embrace,” Swayman said.

The goal brought back memories of Belarus’ Vladimir Kopat beating Sweden’s Tommy Salo at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City on a similar long-distance shot from center ice. That goal came with 2:24 left in the quarterfinals and was responsible for one of the biggest upsets in international hockey history.

Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk taking over the game ensured this wouldn't be a U.S. loss put on Swayman, and teammates weren't too worried about keeping the 27-year-old goalie's spirits up.

“Funky bounce — you just move on,” said Eichel, who set up Tkachuk's first of two goals and scored one of his own. “Sway is a confident man. He knows nine times out of 10 — or 99 times out of 100 — he’s going to have that. It’s a crazy play. ... We don’t fault him.”

Coach Mike Sullivan said he never considered pulling Swayman, who allowed two goals on seven shots in the first period. Sullivan insisted Connor Hellebuyck, who figures to start Sunday night against Germany, dressing as the backup did not factor into his thinking.

“We believe in him,” Sullivan said. “He’s a good goalie.”

The U.S. coaching staff chose Swayman to start the second game against Denmark. Swayman was having perhaps the best NHL season of the three with the Boston Bruins and backstopped the U.S. to win the world championships last spring, and defenseman Zach Werenski thinks those achievements outweigh one bad goal.

“Stuff like that happens,” Werenski said. “I mean, the first one I score on him. It hits off my skate and goes in, and you just got to keep playing. ... He’s been in big situations before, so he knows how to handle that. He bounced back great. It didn’t seem like there was any panic in his game, and I thought he played really well.”

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman, right, makes a save against Denmark's Lars Eller, center, during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman makes a save during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Denmark's Nicholas Jensen celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman dives to makes a save as Denmark's Nick Olesen scores his side's opening goal during a preliminary round game of men's ice hockey between the United States and Denmark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

DENVER (AP) — Brent Burns took a wayward stick to the face while playing for San Jose in October 2013 that ended up costing him teeth and time on the ice.

Since his return — Nov. 21, 2013, to be precise — he's been a permanent fixture in every lineup. Burns, now 41 years old and with the Colorado Avalanche, is set to play in his 1,000th straight regular-season game Saturday at Dallas.

The bearded blueliner has skated through the bumps and bruises that come with delivering checks and deflecting slap shots. So much so that Avalanche coach Jared Bednar can’t wait to one day sit down with Burns and discuss all the ailments that may have kept many a player sidelined for days, weeks and maybe even months.

“He plays through them like it’s not a big deal,” said Bednar, whose team currently owns the NHL's top seed with eight games remaining, including the pivotal contest with the Stars (six points back). “(The streak) is an incredible accomplishment. It’s hard to believe.”

For Burns, it's a streak that's involved plenty of good fortune along the way.

“You've got pucks flying around your head that you don’t see, skates popping up, guys falling on the ice,” Burns said Friday after practice. "There are so many little things that happen 100 times a game. Or you look at your visor after a game, it’s all marked up. It’s a tough game.

"It’s special to think back about some of the games that I went through that I probably shouldn’t have been (in), but I think that’s what makes it special, too. ... A lot of luck — probably why I hate talking about it.”

Burns, who turned 41 on March 9, joined the Avalanche on a one-year deal this season to chase the only thing missing from his resume — a Stanley Cup title.

He's become another leader/mentor on the Avalanche. He still chips in goals, too, on a high-scoring team that boasts Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas. Burns has 11 tallies this season, joining Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom as the only defensemen in league history to notch double-digit goals at 40 or older.

But Burns' specialty remains putting his 6-foot-5, 228-pound frame to good use on opponents who venture into his territory. That’s what makes his streak so remarkable — all the punishment he dishes out and takes. He’s closing in on the all-time ironman streak held by forward Phil Kessel, who played in 1,064 consecutive regular-season games from Nov. 3, 2009, to April 13, 2023.

“What Phil did was incredible,” Burns said. “He’s such a cool character to have that (record), too."

It’s a streak Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog fully appreciates. Landeskog missed three full regular seasons after helping the Avalanche to the 2022 Stanley Cup title because of a lingering knee injury.

“He comes to the rink with a great attitude," Landeskog explained. "He wants to be here. He’s excited to come to work.”

Burns also arrives to the rink lugging around his military-style backpack that’s stuffed with everything necessary to keep him on skates. There’s a cloud of mystery surrounding the precise contents of the heavy pack, though. Whatever it may contain — rumors of recovery gear to his own coffee setup — there's no denying it's become a healing elixir. Burns is in his 22nd NHL season and about to play in his 1,572nd career contest Saturday. The 2016-17 Norris Trophy winner is still averaging nearly 19 minutes a game and has 83 blocked shots this season.

The streak certainly impresses goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

“In my position alone, you’ll do something one game and your hip locks up a little bit,” Wedgewood said. “It’s like, ‘Thank God, I’m not playing the next one. It feels like crap right now.’

“That happens 15 times a year, just on me, let alone taking body checks and slap shots. Playing as much as he does now at that age, keeping that body fresh and everything? He probably wouldn’t be the one to tell you, but he’s probably played through thousands of different nuances.”

Burns made his NHL debut on Oct. 8, 2003, with Minnesota after being a first-round pick by the Wild. He spent seven seasons with Minnesota, 11 in San Jose and three more in Carolina before joining Colorado.

His lone appearance in the Stanley Cup final was in 2016 with the Sharks, where they lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Burns has played in 135 career playoff contests.

His current games streak started Nov. 21, 2013 — he played right wing that season — when he returned from his injury and promptly scored a goal. In his 999th straight game Wednesday against Vancouver, he delivered a goal and an assist to become the fifth different defensemen to notch a 30-point season while in their 40s.

“It’s just ridiculous,” Makar said of the streak before suffering an upper-body injury Monday against Calgary that will keep him out a few games. “For him to be able to go out there every night and make an impact, and not just float around and do the minimum, is pretty spectacular, especially at his age.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) passes the puck against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns, left, drives past Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) smiles at his teammates at the end of the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)