Phil Kessel: Absolutely Killing It

This is amazing: With another multipoint game last night versus the Florida Panthers, marking his 18th and 19th points in his past 11 games, Phil Kessel now sits fourth in points over the past three seasons. He’s only four points back of first-placed Evgeni Malkin, meaning Kessel becoming the scoringest player in the National Hockey League in the past three seasons (start of 2011-12 to current) is an actual possibility, should he finish the season strong (-er than the other guys).

Rk	Player	GP	G	A	PTS	S	S%
1	Evgeni Malkin	148	73	120	193	564	12.9
2	John Tavares	185	82	110	192	624	13.1
3	Claude Giroux	179	57	134	191	526	10.8
4	Phil Kessel	185	84	105	189	665	12.6
5	Martin St. Louis	178	67	119	186	440	15.2
6	Patrick Kane	185	71	110	181	574	12.4
7	Steven Stamkos	147	103	74	177	520	19.8
8	Alex Ovechkin	175	108	68	176	796	13.6
9	Joe Thornton	184	33	139	172	309	10.7
10	Sidney Crosby	111	50	117	167	372	13.4

Un-frickin’-real, and it speaks to the evolution of this complete, elite offensive threat, as he’s also in the top-15 in assists over the past three seasons (tied for 14th with 105). Kessel’s 84 goals since October, 2011 place him third behind only Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin. This is about as consistent as one can be.

Taking it back to 2008-09, Kessel is tied for 5th in goals in the past five years (behind only Marleau, Perry, Stamkos, Ovechkin). This would include dark periods for his team such as when he was playing with Tyler Bozak as a rookie and Joey Crabb on his opposite wing.

As we’re getting into the Olympic spirit, Phil Kessel is also the top American goal scorer over those five seasons with 182 goals, leading next-best Bobby Ryan by a wide margin of 21 goals. He is the second-highest American point scorer in the past five years with 368, behind only Patrick Kane. He is first, ahead of Kane, in point scoring among Americans since the start of the 2011-12 season.

As good day as any to stop by the Temple of The Phil and pay your respects.