Kessel savors 'special' Stanley Cup in limited role with Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS --Phil Kessel wasn't playing the same role on the Vegas Golden Knights as he did the two previous times he won the Stanley Cup.

But even when he wasn't on the ice, the forward was making his presence known off it, and once again, was celebrating a Cup victory.

"Whenever you're able to win, it's special," Kessel said after the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday. It was the first Stanley Cup title for the Golden Knights in their six-season history in the NHL and the third for Kessel, who also won it with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

"Obviously, it's my third one. They're all different but they're all unbelievable. We're going to have a great time."

Kessel had 45 points (18 goals, 27 assists) in 49 playoff games to help the Penguins win the Cup in back-to-back seasons.

RELATED: [Complete Stanley Cup Final coverage]

This postseason, however, he only played four games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, each coming in the Western Conference First Round when Vegas defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games. He finished with two assists.

Even though he hadn't played since -- Kessel was a healthy scratch for the final 18 games of the postseason -- the Golden Knights said he was tremendous to be around.

"He's unreal, man. One of my favorite teammates I've ever played with," Vegas captain Mark Stone said Tuesday. "He could've pouted and kind of gone away but he came to the rink every day, worked hard, smile on his face, did everything you could ask, right?

"He's a true professional and he's a guy I wish I got to play my whole career with. He's so much fun, works hard, loves this game, loves being in the locker room, loves being with his teammates. He showed a lot of class and I respect that guy for the rest of my life for how he handled everything. So excited when he came skating on the ice to celebrate with us."

The No. 5 pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2006 NHL Draft, Kessel has 992 points (413 goals, 579 assists) in 1,286 regular season games with the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and Golden Knights, and 83 points (34 goals, 49 assists) in 100 playoff games.

He has played the most consecutive regular-season games in NHL history (1,064), his current run beginning Nov. 3, 2009.

Kessel was an unrestricted free agent when he signed a one year, $1.5 million contract with the Golden Knights on Aug. 24. He had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 82 regular-season games this season.

"I wanted to win again and look, another one and it's pretty special," he said. "It's awesome. You don't get many chances to win, so whenever you get an opportunity, it's unbelievable."