What It Means:

Kessel now has 16 points in 14 playoff games, and the Penguins now are up 2-1 on the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 4 of the series goes Friday night in Tampa. Kessel is making a run at the Conn Smythe Trophy as top player in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Wednesday, he scored his seventh goal of the postseason at 5:16 of the third period to give the Pens a 2-0 lead. He posted his ninth assist on Pittsburgh's first goal, scored by Carl Hagelin with only 10 seconds left in the first period.

He tallied 26 goals and 33 assists in the regular season, his first in Pittsburgh. His 54.4 Corsi For Percentage was a career-best clip.