Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has spent a lot of time lately encouraging Phil Kessel to shoot the puck more often.
The message evidently got through, considering that Kessel launched a game-high seven shots at Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the Penguins’ 3-1 victory against the Blue Jackets in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.
Of course, it would have been pretty hard for Kessel — or anyone else — to argue with Sullivan’s logic after Kessel scored what proved to be the winning goal.
The Penguins, holding a 1-0 lead, were on a power play at 3:45 of the second period when Kessel whipped a wrist shot past Bobrovsky and under the crossbar from the left dot.