Phil Kessel is all grown up, and the Bruins need to re-sign this budding star
Mike McMahon --- BOSTON
Phil Kessel is turning into the sniper that the Bruins need him to be. In last night's 2-1 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kessel was both the Bruins' only goal scorer in regulation as well as the shootout (which saw the B's fall 2-1 in six rounds).
It all started last spring, when Kessel was benched by head coach Claude Julien after Game 1 of a playoff series against the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens. Kessel was labeled as soft. But after being reinserted into the lineup in Game 5, he was the most dominant player on the ice, period.
The move undoubtedly lit a spark under the 21-year-old forward, and the momentum has carried over.
Joe Finley's favorite dance partner Blake Wheeler has seen his role diminish with the Bruins. I kind of figured it would be a slow learning curve for a guy that has been slow to develop in college after being selected 5th over all in the first round of the NHL draft.
It's become grind for Wheeler
By Fluto Shinzawa --- BUFFALO
Blake Wheeler is learning how challenging life as an NHL rookie can be. As his ice time diminishes, rookie plays a different role The 22-year-old forward had a lights-out training camp. In his first regular-season appearance, his first shot found the back of the net.
More recently, Wheeler has been put into the role of a grinding energy guy, with less ice time to do his work.
"It's just a different role," he said. "Obviously, when you're out there more often, you have a bigger impact and it's easier to find a groove out there.
"Whichever role you're put in, you've got to find the best way to excel in it. It's just a different role, so you have to find a new way to try and contribute every night."
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