A win against them made it little easier. “That kind of let them back in the game”.
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His new teammates in Pittsburgh have already gotten a sense for that part of the persona. “I never thought it (the trade) was going to happen”. “He had a lot of energy and that’s when he’s playing his best”. He knew him on the ice as someone he tried to rattle through constant agitation, someone who might be kind of edgy. He was able to stop Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist’s shot, a 12-foot wrister to open Saturday’s game.
“I don’t know why”, Malkin said. But given how deceptive his shot release is, that could be moot.
It was also unusual for his former teammates. “You know when Geno is skating that he’s on his game”.
Kessel might have been a bit nervous. They would respond with a better latter-half of the period and Leo Komarov would score the Leafs only goal at 6:41 later to cut the lead down to one.
Toronto gets athree-day break before two more road games in Buffalo and Montreal. We always see his shot, we always see his goals, and it’s so unsafe. He’s so unsafe. That part (playmaking) is the most underrated. “Just making sure that I get ready has been a bit of an adjustment”.
Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf expects Kessel to have a solid offensive season thanks to the system and superstar linemates.
While also surprised by that playmaking ability, Penguins head coach Mike Johnston wants Kessel shooting and shooting a lot.
Rieder and Chipchura scored 2 1/2 minutes apart in the third quarter to tie the score at 3 with about 13 1/2 minutes to go.
Toronto (1-2-1) has 10 goals in two games after recording one over its first two.
Before Saturday, Kessel hadn’t faced Toronto in nearly seven years. But with a wobbly defence and questionable depth, it’s in question whether they’ll realize the reward. “I enjoyed my time in Toronto”. I love the city. “But it’s time for a change and you move on”. Kessel, who on Halloween night will make his first Air Canada Centre appearance since the trade, didn’t get a decent shot off on his good third-period chance. Kessel only has one goal this season so far.
Regardless, the Penguins have won two in a row and have now allowed less than two goals per game to the opposition through the first five matches. The 27-year-old posted a. 906 save percentage in opening frames of the 2014-15 campaign. “We just need to win”. “I think he’ll be just fine”. The final two periods went scoreless despite numerous power play opportunities for both sides.
“Obviously, I played with those guys a long time”. He’s got to be ready and he’s got to be a wall for this team.
Coyotes center Joe Vitale left the game after serving five minutes for fighting in the second period.
After peaking at 37 goals with Toronto, there’s reason to believe Kessel will be a 40-plus-goal scorer with the Penguins. Two hundred and thirty was deemed necessary for playoff contention. As a result of that, he’s earned a game, because of the camp he had, to play.
“He doesn’t feel too much pressure out there”, Kunitz said. “There’s nothing wrong with bar down once in a while”.
Kessel was held largely in check by the Leafs in this most recent meeting. He and Crosby had four shot attempts that period. The Morgan Rielly-Matt Hunwick tandem proved effective for the Leafs. “He’s someone that I want him to score as much as he can and I want him to do as good as he can”.
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“He’s got a few good candidates over there to play with”, friend and former roommate Tyler Bozak said. “I wish him nothing but success except when we’re playing against him”. He’ll be stretching in the dressing room after a game and before the game, too. “But it wasn’t over, and I had confidence we could come back”. “When you miss five or six days at this point of the season the way he did with an illness, it takes a few time to get going”. It was the Bruins’ only visit to Arizona of the regular season…. “We’re still waiting for that opportunity”, Johnston said.
