CHICAGO -- As the skated the Stanley Cup around the United Center ice following their 2-0 victory against the , many of the players in red had experienced that thrill before. One of them, despite 1,108 regular-season games and 105 playoff contest during his career in the NHL, had not.So when Blackhawks captain accepted the Stanley Justus Sheffield Jersey Cup for the third time in six years, he took his customary captain's lift. As he showed off the hallowed trophy to Chicago's fans, Toews looked back to the blue line. Standing in a spot he's used to standing in during games, 40-year-old defenseman accepted the trophy he has been chasing in a profe sional career that spans two decades.After years of playing pro in Finland, waiting for his chance, Timonen entered the NHL in 1998 with the . He played only 16 playoff games with the Preds, never getting out of the first round in eight seasons. Then he spent seven years with the . He got close to the Cup Braden Bishop Jersey in 2010, but it was the Blackhawks that prevented his only other great opportunity to win the title.Then there was this summer, when blood clots threatened Timonen's career altogether. It could have even killed him. He didn't play a single game in the 2014-15 season until March 2 after the Flyers traded him to Chicago to give the greybeard one last chance to win it all. The Blackhawks took a chance on him as Timonen hadn't played all year.Three months later, he played the last game he'll ever play in the NHL and he gets to take the Stanley Cup with him. Timonen confirmed long ago that this would Reggie McClain Jersey be his last season."It's been a long journey," Timonen said after Chicago's Stanley Cup clincher. "Good moments, bad moments, ups and downs, and everybody knows what happened this summer. It was a tough battle. I was dreaming about this moment for a long time and it's here. This game has given me so much. I am relieved, happy to leave this game as a Stanley Cup champion." Timonen was tipped off by Toews during the morning skate that if the team won, he would be the first person to get handed the Cup from the captain."Tazer told me at morning skate, he told me to be ready," Timonen said. "That put tears in my eyes."The joy that his head coach and teammates got out of Timonen raising the Cup for the first time in his career made this victory just a little sweeter. "It's a great moment. I was very proud of him," head coach Joel Quenneville said. "He wanted to come here, wanted to end his career with a chance to win the Cup."I told him not too many guys, I remember Ray Bourque did it, maybe Dallas Drake are the only guys. Not too many guys get to play their last game hoisting the Cup. Very happy for him."Fellow first- Blank Jersey time Cup winner, and a rookie no le s, enjoyed seeing a player he's admired since his brother and former Flyer played together in Philadelphia. "That's a special moment," van Riemsdyk said. "He's been an Sam Tuivailala Jersey unbelievable player. You could tell it meant a lot to him. He definitely deserved it. He's an awesome guy."Considering Timonen went from a potentially life threatening situation over the summer to the pinnacle of his career not quite a year later, there's no better way for Timonen to close the book on a brilliant run."It's just been a long journey and I'm so happy," Timonen said as he paused to reflect. "I don't think you could write a story any better than this."