Kimmo Timonen Wins Stanley Cup, Retires
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Kimmo Timonen hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final at United Center.
Kimmo Timonen leaves the National Hockey League a Stanley Cup champion — finally — after 16 seasons.
The former Flyers defenseman won the Cup last night as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated Timonen’s Flyers in the Stanley Cup Final back in 2010. The Flyers traded Timonen to Chicago in February after he had sat out most of the season with life-threatening blood clots.
After Patrick Kane — whose goal doomed the Flyers in the 2010 championship — scored an extra goal toward the end of last night’s game, Timonen told CBS Philly, “I was crying a little bit.” And when the Stanley Cup was presented to Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews — who also hurt the Flyers’ Stanley Cup chances five years ago — he hoisted it and then immediately handed it to Timonen, who also raised it in the air, and at Toews’ encouragement, skated around the rink in celebration.
While the Stanley Cup loss five years ago may still evoke bitterness and hurt feelings in Flyers fans, (maybe, hopefully) they can at least be happy that Timonen, a player who gave them so many good seasons and performances, is going out on top of the hockey world.
“I leave this game as a Stanley Cup champion,” Timonen told ESPN and other outlets after the game. “And I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Watch Timonen skate with the Stanley Cup after last night’s championship win:
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