Man of the Week Monday: Kessel Steps Forward

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 07: Phil Kessel. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 07: Phil Kessel. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Penguins have continued to dominate, and it has left us with plenty of possibilities for our Man of the Week today. Here’s who we chose!

Phil Kessel had only recorded one point in his last three games leading up to this past week, and it appeared that he made it a point to get back to his scoring ways. And to do that, he made his impact on the power play… it was quite the impact.

Kessel totaled two goals and four assists in the two games last week, and five of those six total points were on the power play. This was a week where the Penguins offense caught on fire, and ultimately tallied eleven goals in the two games that were played.

Kessel now has 15 total points in the month of December, and 27 on the season so far. Up until last week, Kessel had not recorded back-to-back multiple point games since November 15th. This offensive resurgence started with Crosby’s line overpowering teams, and now it appears that Kessel and the power play are beginning to do the same thing.

Tonight, the Pens are going to play a team that has been doing the opposite over the past couple of weeks, and that is the Minnesota Wild. Before winning their last game against Winnipeg, they had dropped five in a row, one of which was against the Penguins.

In that game, Rust led the way on that first line, getting both goals in the 2-1 victory in Pittsburgh. But, Rust is questionable for the game today, so someone new will have to emerge for the Penguins in this one. But, as these past few weeks have showed us, this Penguins offense has no issues when it comes to scoring the puck.