News

Phil Kessel ended the suspense soon after the game-day skate this morning at the Air Canada Centre, stepping before an unusually large media gathering and saying that, yes, he had in fact passed the tests on his surgically repaired shoulder and will make his first appearance as a Toronto Maple Leaf tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And even though the high-flying winger will skate on the top line with Matt Stajan and Jason Blake, Kessel may not log as much ice time as some fans expect – at least in the early going.

"I'd be worried if he was stumbling and bumbling and looking nervous – he doesn't," Leafs head coach Ron Wilson said of Kessel. "But again, he's 22 years old and he's only played three years in the league. I don't care what anybody else thinks, I'm going to manage his ice time. I've talked to him at length about it. I'd prefer, and it changes, but mentally, right now, I told him to be ready to play 14 or 15 minutes and I want him to be honest with me if he's tired."

Kessel, who the Leafs received in a trade from the Boston Bruins this summer in exchange for three draft picks, joins a team that remains mired in last place in the NHL standings with a 1-7-4 record. Toronto's struggles have come mostly in goal and on the penalty kill, however, two areas that Kessel's goal-scoring prowess will not necessarily address.

"Obviously it's my first game," said Kessel, who added that his family will be watching back home in Wisconsin. "I'm going to go out there and play my best, do anything to help the team win.

"I'm excited. I'm not too nervous, but I'm really excited to get out there and play hockey. I haven't played for six months now, it's been a long time."

Swedish rookie Jonas Gustavsson will get the start in goal for the Leafs while Jeff Finger, Jamal Mayers and Jay Rosehill will sit this one out. Antero Niittymaki is expected to start in net for the Lightning, 4-4-4, who are coming off a 6-2 loss in Philadelphia against the Flyers last night.

MORE LATER