Vegas ahead Phil Kessel units NHL document for consecutive video games

And now Phil Kessel stands alone.

Kessel turned the NHL’s new “Iron Man” on Tuesday after taking the ice within the Vegas Golden Knights’ recreation towards the San Jose Sharks at SAP Middle in San Jose, California. The 35-year-old winger has now appeared in 990 consecutive video games, a streak that began Nov. 3, 2009.

“I’ve performed loads of video games and it is higher if you win,” Kessel mentioned after Monday’s 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier than the group left for San Jose. “If we will do it tomorrow, that’d be nice.”

It didn’t take lengthy for Kessel to set the document. He began the sport alongside William Provider and Nicolas Roy. Kessel’s record-breaking shift lasted 26 seconds earlier than a break in play led to him going again to the bench. Through the broadcast, Kessel could possibly be seen wanting up on the SAP Middle video board with a smile on his face.

The Sharks acknowledged Kessel’s document throughout the first tv timeout. It led to the group applauding Kessel whereas the Knights winger waved at them in gratitude.

“Clearly, I’ve performed a very long time and I am getting previous,” Kessel informed ESPN’s Ryan Callahan throughout the recreation. “I had a enjoyable time doing it.”

On Monday, Kessel tied the document that was beforehand held by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle within the Golden Knights’ victory over the Leafs, certainly one of Kessel’s former groups. Yandle turned the document holder January 25, 2022 after he appeared in 965 straight video games, a streak that began March 26, 2009.

Yandle, who retired earlier than the beginning of the 2022-23 season, prolonged his streak to 989 video games which formally ended March 29, 2022. Previous to Yandle, the earlier document holder was former Montreal Canadiens ahead Doug Jarvis, who appeared in 964 video games in a streak that ended Oct. 10, 1987.

Kessel was eight days previous when Jarvis’ streak ended.

Jarvis held the title because the NHL’s “Iron Man” for almost 35 years earlier than Yandle claimed the document. However there was at all times a perception Yandle’s reign could possibly be short-lived. Kessel had already performed in 941 straight video games across the time when Yandle broke Jarvis’ document. By comparability, Yandle held onto the title for 9 months earlier than he was overtaken by Kessel.

On Monday, Kessel noticed a purpose overturned due to an offside name within the first interval. It might have been his first purpose as a Golden Knight, and the four-hundredth of his profession. He did submit an help within the win.