Vegas Golden Knights center Phil Kessel (8) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Las Vegas.
Published Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 | 9:43 p.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 | 10:47 p.m.
Phil Kessel threw his hands up and beamed a smile so wide to prove the narrative always wins.
The Toronto Maple Leafs spoiled that story for the moment, but Kessel and the Golden Knights got the last laugh on his historic night.
Kessel had his 400th NHL goal overturned, but recorded an assist in his 989th consecutive game — a streak that began in November 2009 when he was with Toronto — to tie the NHL record, and Vegas defeated the Maple Leafs 3-1 at T-Mobile Arena tonight.
The 35-year-old forward tied the mark set by defenseman Keith Yandle, who reached the milestone this past April. Yandle retired this summer, but Kessel continued on after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Golden Knights in August.
“I've loved playing in the NHL for the last 17 years,” Kessel said. “Hopefully, I can continue that.”
He needed eight games to become the NHL’s newest ironman, and he’ll get that chance Tuesday in San Jose.
“Obviously, I’ve gotten to win a couple of Cups,” Kessel said. “Tomorrow will be another fun game and hopefully another win.”
Kessel entered Monday with just one point through the first six games, but fate was nearly on his side early in the first period.
With the Golden Knights on the power play, Kessel received a pass from Nic Roy and beat Toronto goalie Ilya Samsonov for what was supposed to be the historic goal. Public address announcer Bruce Cusick made the announcement, a graphic was shown on the jumbotron, then met with applause from both fanbases.
Suddenly, Kessel’s goal was challenged for offsides. A lengthy review showed William Karlsson was slightly past the blue line. Kessel, laughing on the bench as everything unfolded, had his goal taken off the board.
Sixteen seconds later, retribution found Kessel as he picked up an assist on Roy’s power play goal to officially open the scoring at 3:51 of the first.
“It is what it is,” said a smiling Kessel. “We scored right after, so it didn’t matter.”
Kessel approached Monday like any other gameday, like he did the 988 times before. He understands the purpose of the limelight but wants absolutely no part of it. If Kessel could, he’d love to approach any other day with no microphones or fanfare.
But Kessel’s journey is the reason he gets the adoration. He’s not the dynamic playmaker that is Connor McDavid, nor the fastest like Nathan MacKinnon. Kessel is 5-11, 208 pounds of pure scorer who has somehow stayed healthy for a decade-plus.
This is someone who was diagnosed with cancer at 19 years old, as a rookie with the Boston Bruins, the team that selected him fifth overall pick of the 2006 NHL Draft. He overcame that and still became one of the more prolific American-born scorers in NHL history, now 42 points away from 1,000 in his career.
“He’s just a go-about-his-business kind of guy,” said center Jack Eichel. “Just an incredible career he’s put together and continues to build upon. That’s a pretty impressive record coming from someone like myself who struggles to stay in the lineup.”
Kessel came to Vegas with the desire to win, just like his days in Pittsburgh. So far, the team results are where they need to be with the Golden Knights at 5-2-0 with October nearing its end.
Individually, it’s not there yet. Kessel was a top-line forward with Eichel and Reilly Smith since opening night, but coach Bruce Cassidy went with a more top-heavy lineup Monday, moving Kessel to the third line and putting Eichel with Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson.
That new-look top line had nine high-danger chances and allowed just two at 5-on-5. It also knocked in a goal 43 seconds into the third period when Stephenson batted in the loose puck to make it 2-1. It was Stephenson’s third straight game with a goal.
Kessel’s new linemates also chipped in midway through the third when Michael Amadio, also playing against his former team, pushed the lead to two at 8:11 off an assist from defenseman Nicolas Hague.
It was the kind of bounce-back effort the Golden Knights needed after losing 3-2 to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. Special teams hindered Vegas that night giving up two power-play goals, but the penalty kill unit went 2-for-2 against Toronto — including a 6-on-4 kill with a little more than two minutes left — to preserve the victory.
Logan Thompson made 22 saves to snap his two-game losing streak. Dating back to the 3-2 loss at Calgary on Tuesday, Thompson has only allowed three goals at 5-on-5 in his last three starts.
Adin Hill will look to go 3-0-0 Tuesday against his former team in San Jose, another night in which Kessel will be celebrated. He won’t particularly care because he’ll treat it as another game that Vegas needs to win to keep this surprising start going.
Kessel will approach Tuesday the same way he did Monday and the now 989 games before then: A little bit of luck with a lot of skill.
“I always want to play,” Kessel said. “There’s games you’re going to miss throughout your career, but I’ve been fortunate so far.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
