Phil Kessel matched the NHL record for consecutive games played. Chandler Stephenson netted the go-ahead goal early in the third period as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Monday night.
Logan Thompson recorded 23 saves for the Golden Knights. Stephenson’s goal, just 42 seconds into the third period, secured a 2-1 lead for Vegas and stood as his 15th career game-winner and his second in three games.
Nicolas Roy and Michael Amadio each scored their first goals of the season for the Golden Knights.
Kessel tied defenseman Keith Yandle’s Ironman record by playing his 989th consecutive game. The 17-year veteran is set to break the record on Tuesday in San Jose. Yandle’s streak began in 2009 and ended in March last season, while Kessel’s streak started in November 2009.
“There’s some luck involved, but I always want to play,” Kessel said. “Obviously, there are games you could miss throughout your career, but I’ve been fortunate so far.”
Thompson sought redemption after a 3-2 loss to Colorado on Saturday.
“It was pretty obvious that I wasn’t happy with my performance, so you know, just forgot about it the next day and got back to work at practice and just needed to be ready to go tonight,” Thompson said. “I felt good all night. The guys at the back end and the forward group made my job easy.”
In the second game of a five-game road trip, the Maple Leafs got a goal from William Nylander. Ilya Samsonov made 30 saves for Toronto.
“We just got beat by a team that was better than us tonight in all facets,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Shortly after what appeared to be Kessel’s 400th career goal was overturned, the Golden Knights forward picked up an assist when Vegas capitalized on a power play to open the scoring. After Samsonov stopped back-to-back shots by Kessel and Reilly Smith, Roy was there 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.”
Nylander tied the game midway through the second period by taking a pass from captain John Tavares, skating across the slot, and beating Thompson with a snapshot from the right side.
Amadio extended the lead midway through the third, ripping Nic Hague’s pass from the left boards past Samsonov.
Toronto had a late chance to close the gap when Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was called for high-sticking with 2:43 left. However, Thompson was stellar under pressure, stopping the final four shots of the game, including three during the penalty kill.
“I think the whole team was rock solid tonight. We really shut down their big guns, and they’ve got many of them,” Thompson said. “So credit goes to the D-corps and the forward group. They were outstanding.”
Game Notes
- Stephenson has scored in three straight games.
- Tavares exited at 13:02 after taking a slap shot from teammate Rasmus Sandin on the back of the knee. “Those are the kind of things that just take a little time to settle down,” Keefe said.
UP NEXT
- Maple Leafs: Play at San Jose on Thursday.
- Golden Knights: Play the second leg of a back-to-back at San Jose on Tuesday.
