by Before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, Phil Kessel did the expected tap dance around his embarrassing performances against his former team since the infamous trade that brought him to Toronto in 2009.
“It’s been four years now. It’s another game,” he said.
Sure, just another game. Another game of ineffective play that’s the polar opposite of his stellar offensive numbers against the rest of the conference. Another game in which Kessel’s lack of offense was magnified by the offensive spark shown by the Bruins tasked with stopping him.
Boston won Game 1, 4-1, despite the Leafs jumping out to a 1-0 lead 1:54 into the game. Kessel was on the ice for that one, a power-play goal by James van Rimesdyk. He was invisible the rest of the game: One shot on goal, his only shot attempt in 13:51 of ice time – his lowest TOI since April 13, a 5-1 win over Montreal.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...023622032.html
“It’s been four years now. It’s another game,” he said.
Sure, just another game. Another game of ineffective play that’s the polar opposite of his stellar offensive numbers against the rest of the conference. Another game in which Kessel’s lack of offense was magnified by the offensive spark shown by the Bruins tasked with stopping him.
Boston won Game 1, 4-1, despite the Leafs jumping out to a 1-0 lead 1:54 into the game. Kessel was on the ice for that one, a power-play goal by James van Rimesdyk. He was invisible the rest of the game: One shot on goal, his only shot attempt in 13:51 of ice time – his lowest TOI since April 13, a 5-1 win over Montreal.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-pu...023622032.html
