Phil Kessel celebrates his third Stanley Cup win with the Vegas Golden Knights after they defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 in the final. He joins a group of active players with three Stanley Cup rings, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Kessel played in all 82 games for the Golden Knights during the season, but fell out of the lineup during the playoffs as the team got healthier. Teddy Blueger also celebrated a championship with the Golden Knights but is not guaranteed to have his name engraved on the Cup due to games played thresholds.
Phil Kessel is a 3-time Stanley Cup Champion
No matter when you read this, there’s a better than average chance Phil Kessel is still celebrating somewhere in Las Vegas. Kessel will have his name engraved in the Stanley Cup for the third time after the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers, 9-3, Tuesday night to finish off the Stanley Cup Final in five games.
As seen in the coverage by , Kessel joins Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury and five others (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Pat Maroon, Alex Martinez and Jonathan Quick) as active players with three Stanley Cup rings.
Kessel played in all 82 games for the Golden Knights this season, recording 14 goals and 36 points. As the Golden Knights got healthy in the playoffs, however, Kessel fell out of the lineup. He appeared in only four postseason games, none since the first round. He had two assists in those four games against the Winnipeg Jets.
“You have enough good guys here to make five lines,” Vegas forward William Carrier said.
Teddy Blueger also celebrated a championship with the Golden Knights after being sent to Vegas by the Penguins at the trade deadline. Blueger is not guaranteed to have his name engraved on the Cup, however, because he did not meet games played thresholds. He had two goals and six points in 18 regular season games and a goal and an assist in six playoff games with the Golden Knights, none in the final series.
While Penguins fans used to taunt Kessel’s critics with the fact that he was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, that mantra has now changed. “Back in my Toronto days, they didn’t think I could win, right? Now I’m a three-timer,” Kessel told sportsnet.ca. “So, remember that, right?”
Kessel’s achievement is remarkable, considering he was traded to the Golden Knights by the Penguins in the offseason. He has been a valuable player for the Penguins in the past, and his contributions to the Golden Knights’ victory cannot be overlooked.
Kessel’s win is a testament to his perseverance and dedication to the sport. He has faced his fair share of detractors throughout his career, but he has always remained focused on his goals. His third Stanley Cup win is a reminder that hard work and determination can pay off in the end.
To draw a conclusion, Kessel’s achievement is a significant milestone in his career, and one that he should be proud of. His name will forever be engraved in the history of the NHL, and his contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come. Congratulations, Phil Kessel, on your third Stanley Cup win!
