As far as “ironman” streaks go, 10 consecutive games isn’t all that impressive.
If anything, it’s probably more accurate to identify that figure with a more brittle metal such as tungsten.
But that tabulation — accrued between Jan. 31 and March 7 — represented a season-high for Connor Clifton.
“I think I’m blowing my last streak out of the water,” the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman boasted playfully in Cranberry on March 5.
Indeed, he did. Clifton’s previous high-water mark for the 2025-26 campaign was a seven-game sequence from Jan. 11-22.
As such, modest accomplishments such as just being in the lineup are what the relentlessly optimistic Clifton has tried to hang his hat on during a season that has been far from ideal.
When you’re a healthy scratch for 31 of a possible 64 games, things are not ideal.
“A lot of perseverance, a lot of adversity,” Clifton said. “That’s just part of it. It’s the NHL. I try to show up every year, whether it’s a new team or not, and just compete, find my game and show what I can bring to the team. Obviously, it’s been a long road. It’s been hard, to be honest. It is what it is. That’s the hand I was dealt. I’m proud of how I’ve fought through and persevered a little here.
“But a lot of hockey left. Excited for it.”
The Penguins acquired Clifton from the Buffalo Sabres this past offseason in a trade that was more of a salary cap dump for the Sabres, who were so eager to unload the final year of Clifton’s $3,333,333 salary cap hit that they sweetened the deal with a second-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Unwanted by the Sabres, Clifton wasn’t exactly thoroughly embraced by the Penguins as he was a healthy scratch for six of the first seven games of this season, as the Penguins had something of a glut of right-handed defensemen, including All-Stars Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, rookie Harrison Brunicke and fellow veteran Matt Dumba.
“It’s been hard,” Clifton said. “You try to stay ready. It’s not like it’s physical. You don’t have the wear and tear of the games. You’re practicing every day. Physically, you feel good and in shape and ready for a chance. I think it’s the mental part. Especially at my position.
“You can easily come in the lineup, be on for a goal against, start to overthink it and start to overthink it and panic. You just try to settle in, stay mentally sharp. Make good passes, have first couple hard strides up the ice, whether I’m getting in gap or going on the rush. That’s what I think about when I miss some time and come back in. I try to play a simple game. I don’t want to overdo it since I’ve been in and out. And I think I’ve found that.”
One thing Clifton has certainly found is contact.
Despite having played in barely more than half of the team’s games, he is second on the squad with 130 hits while primarily playing on the third pairing. Forward Connor Dewar, who has played in all 64 games to date, has a narrow lead with 133 hits.
Clifton, who has led the team he’s played for (either the Sabres or Boston Bruins) in hits in each of the past three seaons, isn’t mindful of any hit statistics. But he knows he has to play physically to offer a case that he should be in the lineup.
“I’m not chasing them (hit totals),” Clifton said. “I’m trying to play physical like I always do. I don’t want to run around and get a hit, then give up a two-on-one or an odd-man (rush). I try to play the heavier minutes, the hard minutes, defensive (zone) starts and stuff like that, blocking shots. There’s not a specific number (of hits). But that and (penalty killing) has been a huge part of my game in this league.”
As the season has progressed, Clifton has been in the lineup more often. Of the Penguins’ past 21 games, Clifton has dressed for 18.
Injuries have certainly been part of that as Karlsson and Letang have each missed time due to various ailments. But Clifton has found ways to stay on the roster while Brunicke was returned to the junior ranks and Dumba was exiled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
“Whether it’s been consecutive games in or it’s been in and out, he’s just come in, worked hard,” coach Dan Muse said. “He’s been a great teammate, a great locker room guy. He’s had the right approach.
“He’s been himself, put in the work each day.”
Even as he faces pending unrestricted free agency this upcoming offseason, Clifton isn’t worried about trying to secure a new contract despite having put in limited work this season.
That’s because there is plenty of work still to be done.
“I know there’s a plan and there’s a path for me,” Clifton said. “Maybe it weighs more when you’re not playing. I missed three and a half weeks at one point, right before Christmas. Then, I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ You get a little frustrated about it. But at the end of the day, it is what it is.
“I’m pretty optimistic. I’m not too worried about it now. I’m not going to be thinking about it moving forward.”
