Kid Shows Courage

Posted by Mike Giardi April 18, 2008 at 9:52 am

We finally saw Phil Kessel become an NHL player last night. After nearly two seasons of floating across the Garden ice doing his best Dmitri Kvartalnov impression (the mere typing of his name made me curse), Kessel finally manned up, playing with emotion, grit and a touch of courage sprinkled in there. Who knew it would take getting benched in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the light to finally go on in Kessel’s head?

His second period goal locked the B’s in a 1-1 tie with Montreal and set the stages for perhaps the Black and Gold’s single best stanza of the season, a four-goal eruption in the game’s final 20 minutes. Just a couple hours after looking like golf season was here, the Bruins now have a chance - slim - but a chance nonetheless, down 3-2 in their series with the top-seeded Habs.

Kessel has the requisite skill set to be a big-time player in this league. I mean, when you see him in space, he really does have the ability to make your jaw hit the floor. But in the NHL, 4-on-4 hockey is only saved for overtime, and shootouts don’t separate the men from the boys.

Kessel may have learned that lesson as lesser talents like Sobotka and Nokelainen and Schaeffer showed up for this postseason while Phil got to watch from the 9th floor. Not exactly becoming of a top-5 draft pick, now is it? Makes you understand why the B’s were shopping him at the trade deadline, while saying publicly that they weren’t. Kessel’s bosses were wondering if he would ever show the want - the desire -to take the next step in his development. Quite frankly, its been hard to tell when watching the 20-year old, be it in practice or come game-time. But for one night, at least, Kessel has answered those questions, and now has the B’s looking forward to a Game 6 back here in Boston Saturday night.