Kessel sibling rivalry is alive and well: 'Maybe we're even now,' Amanda says
Kevin Allen | USA TODAY Sports
GANGNEUNG, South Korea— Would you rather take your chances with Pittsburgh Penguins star Phil Kessel in a shootout during an NHL game or his sister Amanda in a shootout in the Olympics?
That’s not an easy question to answer for anyone who watched the USA’s 3-2 shootout win against Canada in the Olympic women’s gold medal game.
More: U.S. women end Canada's streak to win hockey gold in shootout at 2018 Winter Olympics
More: Ban shootouts in gold-medal hockey games, because Olympics are about more than luck
Kessel, 10th in the NHL scoring race with 66 points, has one of the quickest shot releases. But Amanda showed she also owns the Kessel shooting DNA when she snapped a wicked shot past goalie Shannon Szabados to tie the shootout 2-2.
Contributing a key goal and winning a gold medal is particularly meaningful to Amanda because she had a two-year struggle with concussion issues after the 2014 Olympics.
“It’s was just battling through it,” Kessel said. “Our whole team battled through a lot. You can’t see it on the outside, but the heart that every girl on this team has – I knew we had it within us to win.”
Phil tweeted after the win that he was proud of Amanda and the entire U.S. team.
While Kessel has played a starring role in back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins, he only owns a silver Olympic medal (2010).
Proving that sibling rivalry is still alive and fun, Amanda said: “Maybe we’re even now.”
Amanda Kessel receives words of encouragment from her brother Phil
GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) _ The night before she played for the Olympic women's hockey gold medal, Amanda Kessel looked at her phone and saw text messages from her brother, Phil, offering encouragement.
"Just, 'Proud of you no, matter what,' and he believes in me," Kessel said.
Kessel hadn't yet checked her phone in the minutes after she and the United States beat Canada 3-2 in a shootout for the gold medal in an instant classic between the sport's two powerhouses.
Phil tweeted he was proud of his sister and all of Team USA.
Amanda Kessel was one of three U.S. players to score on Canada goalie Shannon Szabados in the shootout, making a difference four years after she was injured during the Sochi Games.
"It's just battling through a lot," Kessel said. "Our entire team battled through a lot. You can't see it on the outside, but the heart that every single girl has on this team, I knew we had it within us to win."
Amanda Kessel now has one more goal medal than Phil, who took home silver while playing for the United States in Vancouver in 2010, when it lost to Canada on Sidney Crosby's golden goal.
Phil Kessel won the Stanley Cup the past two seasons with Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel celebrates with the Stanley Cup after the Penguins defeated the Nashville Predators 2-0 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Credit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Asked if this meant she had one up on her brother, Amanda Kessel said: "I don't know. Maybe we're even."
Already have an account?
Login
Sign up for one of our email newsletters.
That he had to be at work just a few hours later didn't stop Phil Kessel from staying up late Wednesday night.
Going to be bed well past 2 a.m. was well worth the wait for the Penguins forward – after all, how many chances does one get to watch a sibling with an Olympic gold medal?
"Obviously, I was nervous," Phil Kessel said of watching Team USA's 3-2 shootout win against Canada in South Korea . "It was a tight game."
Amanda Kessel had a game-saving shootout goal in the victory, the American women's first in the Olympics against the northern rivals since they claimed the first women's hockey Olympic gold in 1998.
The Canadians had won the past four Olympic gold medals – including 2014 in Sochi, Russia, when Amanda and Team USA blew a late lead to lose in overtime in Canada. The roles were reversed Thursday, with the Americans coming back from a third-period deficit.
Media: "Do you like the shootout to determine who wins the gold medal?"Phil Kessel: "I mean, I liked it last night [laughs]." pic.twitter.com/fKtTRkD9pI — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 22, 2018
"I think (Amanda) can't believe it," said Phil Kessel, who said he talked to his sister before and after the game. "They worked so hard. The girls worked so hard to get there. It's every four years and that's the biggest game they get a chance to play in. It's a great accomplishment."
The triumph was especially sweet for Kessel, who'd missed about two years of comnpetitive hockey because of a concussion.
"I'm very proud of her," Phil said. "She missed a lot of time with her concussion and stuff. And to be able to win a gold medal, it's a special accomplishment and I'm really proud of her."
The gold medal follows consecutive Stanley Cup victories for Phil the past two summers.
"It's been a good run (for the family)," Phil said. "Hopefully we can keep it going."
Phil Kessel on winning the Stanley Cup and Amanda earning a gold medal: 'It's been a good run. Hopefully we can keep it going."The Kessels are on fire. pic.twitter.com/RiLFlnn1hR — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 22, 2018
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.
