Okposo welcomes the challenge to be a scorer

Here is a story I found on former Gopher Kyle Okposo. It will be interesting to see where this story leads this next season. If Okposo ends up staying in the NHL I think it does lessen the blow of him leaving the Gophers. Then it would prove he was ready to make the next step to the NHL.

Okposo welcomes the challenge to be a scorer
BY GREG LOGAN | greg.logan@newsday.com
July 17, 2008
Kyle Okposo is only nine games into his NHL career and just seven months removed from the University of Minnesota, but when he walks into Islanders training camp in September, all eyes will be watching to see if he can become an offensive force.

As the only two NHL roster players in the prospect camp this week at Iceworks in Syosset, Okposo and Blake Comeau have taken a very business-like approach to leading their opposing teams, but they have yet to hit the net in two scrimmages. There's pressure, but Okposo said he simply views it as an exciting challenge.

"People are looking at you to produce, and you have to fill the void," Okposo said. "I really want to do that. I feel like I have the right mind-set, and I know Blake has the right mindset. He had a good year last year, and he's looking to build on that. We've been working really hard this offseason to prepare ourselves to be those guys and chip in more than we did last year."

In his nine games, Okposo managed goals against the Devils and Rangers and totaled five points. The experience, he said, "helped me a lot. It made me realize I can play with those guys, and have an impact. It's a little bit reassuring to have those first few games under my

Okposo proved he could score at Minnesota and with the U.S. team in world junior competitions, but most consider him as much of a playmaker as a pure goal scorer. Can he become the sniper Isles fans crave?

Embracing the challenge, Okposo said, "The No. 1 thing I've worked on this summer is goal scoring. A lot of it is a mental game. You say, 'I'm a goal scorer, and I'm going to bury every puck around the net.'

"Here in minicamp, it's not going my way, but I still have that mentality. I'm not getting down on myself like maybe I had during previous slumps. I'm still telling myself, 'I'm a goal scorer,' and that's when you get chances. Sometimes, they don't go in, but if you're getting six, seven shots a night, they're bound to go in sometime."

Bruins make the playoffs on Phil Kessel's goal.

Former Gophers star Phil Kessel scored a big goal that helped the Boston Bruins clinch their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2004. The Boston Bruins were predicted by many of the so called hockey experts to finish as low as 15th in the eastern conference.

OTTAWA (AP) — The Boston Bruins took the front door into the Stanley Cup playoffs while the Ottawa Senators backed their way in as both teams clinched postseason berths, with a little outside help and plenty of scoreboard watching.

Tim Thomas came within 8:14 of recording his third straight shutout against Ottawa and Zdeno Chara scored against his former team, leading Boston to a 2-1 win over the Senators on Friday night.

Phil Kessel also scored for the Bruins, who also drew even with Ottawa for sixth overall in the Eastern Conference with 94 points.


"We knew what was at stake and we approached it that way," Chara said. "We just played every shift very, very hard and it was a great team effort."

The Senators completed their regular-season schedule, clinching a playoff spot midway through the third period — despite trailing 2-0 against the Bruins — when Florida beat Carolina 4-3.

"There was just kind of chatter on the bench and we could hear a few guys talking about it," Ottawa center Jason Spezza said.

The result out of Raleigh was also good news on the Bruins bench.

"Halfway through the third we found out that we were in if we won the game or at least got a point," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "It was good to know and obviously gave us a bit of breathing room and helped us finish the game on a strong note."

The sold-out Scotiabank Place crowd was advised that the Senators had clinched their playoff spot during a stoppage in play with 1:35 remaining, drawing a huge cheer.

"We didn't want to be sitting in front of the T.V. (Saturday) and Sunday," Spezza said. (read the rest of the story)

Phil Kessel goes down town to help Bruins win.

Check out this really sweet goal by current Bruins and former Gophers player Phil Kessel, upon further review; it appears that the young Kessel was a tad bit off sides. As long as it is not against my team right? Regardless, it was still a nice goal and with the win Bruins knocked the Make Me Laughs out of the playoffs.