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Pittsburgh Penguins: Time for Phil Kessel to Step Up

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

Apr 4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) skates up ice with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) skates up ice with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins 2016-17 season has come to its conclusion and you know what that means–playoffs!

It’s time for the Pittsburgh Penguins to step their game up a notch for the quest for the Cup. We need every man to be held reliable and we need each and every one to contribute in their own ways.

If we have learned anything from last season’s successful Cup run, its that a lot of our guys in yellow have a certain clutch factor. One of these guys is Phil Kessel.

Phil Kessel seems to really strive in the playoffs. The HBK line was something special last playoffs, and perhaps they may mimic that this year depending on the status of Carl Hagelin. But more importantly, it’s time for Kessel to step his game up and get ready to perform even better than he did in the regular season.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins /

Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular Season Phil

This season was quite impressive for Kessel. He finished the season with 23 goals and 47 assists for 70 points. Although not a point-per-game pace exactly, he was a dominant force that helped bring the Penguins to success.

His strongest point was his assist total. Depending on the lines that the Penguins will roll with in the playoffs (given the injuries), we may actually expect this pace to rise.

He was also very effective on a line with Evgeni Malkin this season. If Malkin returns for the playoffs, their reunion may spike his numbers in the playoffs.

Last Year’s Playoffs

Let’s just put things into perspective here and see exactly what Kessel is capable of. Last season, he put up 26 goals and 33 assists in 82 games during the regular season. This might have been a step down from what he was used to in Toronto, but the movement to a better team surely factored in to this change.

Kessel ended the season off moderately well. The Penguins hoped he could have played better, but he wasn’t disappointing.

In the playoffs though, Kessel absolutely blew expectations set at the end of the season out of the water. Putting up 10 goals and 12 assists in 24 games, he instantly became the team’s best player in the playoffs. It was apparent that Kessel was someone who thrives in the playoffs. So what is he capable of this time around?

This Year’s Playoffs

Kessel was actually better in this year’s regular season than in last year’s regular season. Perhaps he has adjusted himself better to playing in Pittsburgh and he is finally able to thrive more. If this is the case, we can perhaps expect a greater playoff performance this year, if that’s even possible. The thought already excites me.

Let’s take a quick look at the playoff bracket this year for the Penguins. In the first round we will be facing the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the four games we played with the Jackets this season, Phil Kessel put up three points, all in one game.

Now in the playoffs, we wouldn’t expect this, but perhaps we can use it as a measuring stick to show how on a good night Kessel may be able to light up the Jackets. Over a seven game series, multiple games like this can surely happen, and that is very good for the Penguins and Kessel.

If we move on, we will face either Toronto or Washington. We already know how we do against Washington in the playoffs, so I won’t even mention that. The Leafs will be interesting though. I’m sure Phil Kessel would love to light up his old team, especially after that harsh welcome on Saturday in Toronto.

Nevertheless, I’m sure we can all expect big things from Kessel this time around. He is a playoff performer, and that is what we have to be prepared for.

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