Is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel nursing an injury to his right wrist or arm? That's the suggestion from the National Post's Sean Fitz-Gerald, who laid out some facts on Friday night:
The 26-year-old scored once in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but seemed to favour his right arm as he finished a shift in the second period. Earlier this month, he was spotted wearing tape — or some form of wrap — on his right wrist.
Kessel seemed uncomfortable after a run-in along the boards with Sabres defenceman Mike Weber. He skated to the bench favouring his right arm, but still finished with 20 minutes and 16 seconds of ice time.
Fitz-Gerald mentions that Kessel's wrist appeared to be taped during a game against the New York Islanders earlier in November:
Here's Kessel tonight. Notice the obvious white tape under his wrist guard: pic.twitter.com/EegWNee0VZ
— birky (@b1rky) November 20, 2013
At the time Kessel declined to comment on the tape, and more recently the American-born sniper hasn't been wearing any similar protective gauze.
Kessel has managed 14 goals in 26 games this season and is clearly Toronto's most important player. Needless to say the reeling Leafs would be hard-pressed to weather the storm were Kessel to miss any extended period of time due to injury.
