Phil Kessel had gone six games without a goal. Then he faced the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Skid snapped.
Kessel, earlier denied on a breakaway and then a penalty shot, gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a two-goal lead in the second period, snapping home a wicked wrist shot on the power play for career point No. 500.
What. A. Shot.
Prior to that, he danced around the towering Zdeno Chara at the Toronto blue line, flew down the wing and set up James van Riemsdyk with a perfect pass for a goal on a two-on-one rush, giving Toronto a 2-1 lead just 31 seconds after Boston had evened the score.
Here’s the video of the van Riemsdyk goal.
The news is not all good for the Leafs. Joffrey Lupul suffered a lower-body injury and will not return, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun.