Penguins’ Kessel not worked up over facing old Toronto mates

His new teammates in Pittsburgh have already gotten a sense for that part of the persona.

“Just that he tells guys that he’ll beat ’em at whatever sport they pick”, says Kunitz, chuckling. “I came back to the zone and the puck came to me”.

The Leafs go home with a split on the weekend road trip, feeling a lot better about themselves after their performance in the past three games. He knew him on the ice as someone he tried to rattle through constant agitation, someone who might be kind of edgy. There were a few early successes in the preseason, but it just hasn’t quite translated once the games started to count.

“He looks like the same guy I’ve seen”, said defenceman Jake Gardiner. Kessel, they said, wasn’t the introverted, crabby person he sometimes appeared to be. “I didn’t want him sitting too long”. But given how deceptive his shot release is, that could be moot. Former teammates were struck by how odd it was to see Kessel in an opposing uniform.

“You know his speed, obviously his shot is very deceptive”.

It was Malkin’s second goal in two games after he had gone without one in 18 straight, a span dating back to last season.

It would be the Penguins getting the early advantage, going on the power play three minutes into the game, but the Leafs killed the penalty.

“That’s the biggest thing”, said Crosby. After surrendering goals against Montreal and Detroit on his first shot, Bernier once again stumbled out of the gate, allowing two goals on the first four Penguins shots. He’s so unsafe. That part (playmaking) is the most underrated.

“I just need to be ready”, Bernier added. “But he can really make plays”. And his playmaking ability is high end. Kessel had a chance to get on the board with the three minutes to go, but shot right at Bernier’s chest on the break away. But with a wobbly defence and questionable depth, it’s in question whether they’ll realize the reward. It’s all about producing consistently, said Johnston. “I enjoyed my time in Toronto”. I love the city. “But it’s time for a change and you move on”.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 1-2-1 on the season, earning their first win last night. “The one on Malkin, that’s my goal for sure”. He’s scored 1.82 points per game against them, rolling up 15 goals, 36 assists, and 51 points in 28 career games.

“I wish Phil nothing but the best”, Phaneuf said.

Both teams were useless on the power play. He turned Malkin aside on multiple opportunities after that shaky first goal. He’s got to be ready and he’s got to be a wall for this team.

It was Bernier’s third start of the year.

After peaking at 37 goals with Toronto, there’s reason to believe Kessel will be a 40-plus-goal scorer with the Penguins. He scored 181 goals and registered 213 assists, accounting for 32 per cent of the team’s total offence while surely attracting the opposition’s attention on a whole bunch more.

While the Penguins might have issues on the power play – on which Johnston promised changes – they have the opposite in goal.

But Babcock has liked what he has seen, especially the goal-scoring open up. As a result of that, he deserved a game, because of the camp he had…. “I’d like him to take more time in the offensive area because he can score”. Toronto was 0-4, while Pittsburgh was 0-5 and is still without a power play goal this season.

“He had a good overall game”, coach Mike Johnston said. “There’s nothing wrong with bar down once in a while”.

Saturday’s game marked the first game this season Penguins forward Phil Kessel has played against his former team since he was traded in July.

Notes: The Penguins have won six in a row over the Leafs.

Toronto’s netminders that December night were Vesa Toskala and Curtis Joseph. However, Kessel was largely ineffective during the game.

“I think we did a pretty good job limiting their chances, at least their grade-A scoring chances”, said Hunwick. “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”.

Given a free minute Jonathan Bernier always seem to be stretching. Why? It took until the 2013 playoffs for him to get comfortable. “You just get used to it”. It’s a twice weekly thing in the offseason, less frequent during the busy days of the regular season.

“You can’t give him any opportunities where it’s him one-on-one with the goalie and he has an opportunity to shoot”, Bozak said.