ARIZONA COYOTES

Arizona Coyotes’ Phil Kessel plays 1000th career game

Oct 12, 2019, 11:13 PM

Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts during the third period of the NHL game against the V...

Phil Kessel #81 of the Arizona Coyotes reacts during the third period of the NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Gila River Arena on October 10, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Golden Knights 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Arizona Coyotes lost a 3-2 overtime game to the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Saturday night, but celebrated a historic moment in the process.

Forward Phil Kessel, in just his fourth game with the Coyotes, played his 1000th career game. He became the 13th player in team history to play his 1000th game in a Coyotes uniform. He’s the 338th player in NHL history to reach the milestone, and the 47th American to do so.

Kessel played 20:45 and had three shots on goal in the Coyotes’ game on Saturday.

The 32-year-old played 222 games with the Boston Bruins, 446 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and 328 for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The game also marked his 777th consecutive game, which is the seventh-longest streak in NHL history and the third longest active such streak, trailing Patrick Marleau (789) and former Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle (801).

The Coyotes will have a ceremony for Kessel’s 1000th game before the game against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 19.

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