Golden Knights pull away from Leafs in 3rd period as Kessel ties 'iron man' record
Former Leaf denied 400th career goal by challenge in 989th consecutive game
Phil Kessel matched the NHL record for consecutive games played, Chandler Stephenson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Monday night.
Nicolas Roy and Michael Amadio each scored their first of the season for the Golden Knights.
Kessel tied defenceman Keith Yandle's iron man record by playing in his 989th straight game. The 17-year veteran is set to break the mark Tuesday at San Jose.
Yandle's streak began in 2009 and ended in March last season. Kessel's streak started in November 2009.
WATCH | Stephenson pots game-winner:
"There's some luck involved, but I always want to play," Kessel said. "Obviously, there's games you could miss throughout your career, but I've been fortunate so far."
Thompson was looking for redemption after Saturday's 3-2 loss to Colorado.
The Maple Leafs, playing their second game on a five-game trip, got a goal from William Nylander. Ilya Samsonov made 30 saves.
"We just got beat by a team that was better than us tonight in all facets," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Kessel denied milestone goal
Shortly after what appeared to be Kessel's 400th career goal got overturned, the Golden Knights forward picked up an assist when Vegas took advantage of a power play to open the scoring.
After Samsonov stopped back-to-back shots by Kessel and Reilly Smith, Roy was on the doorstep to bat the puck in.
"I didn't even know. I had no clue. I thought I scored, actually," Kessel said of his disallowed goal. "But you know, it is what it is. We scored right after."
the goal was offside but we're not deleting this because we love Phil and know he'll get there next goal 🙃 <a href="https://t.co/4TBSBAK0wb">https://t.co/4TBSBAK0wb</a>
—@GoldenKnightsNylander tied it midway through the second period when he took a pass from captain John Tavares, skated across the slot and beat Thompson with a snapper from the right side.
Amadio got his goal midway through the third when he ripped Nic Hague's pass from the left boards past Samsonov on the far side.
Toronto had a chance to draw closer late in the third when Vegas defenceman Brayden McNabb was called for high-sticking with 2:43 left. But Thompson was fantastic under rapid fire, stopping the final four shots of the game, including three on the penalty kill.
"I think the whole team was rock solid tonight. We really shut down their big guns, and they've got a lot of them," Thompson said. "So credit goes to the D-corps and the forward group. They were outstanding."
