is kessel hurt?

[The Black Panther]

He seemed to be avoiding contact last night and I saw him stretching his back alot the otherday.

[tomastop]

from Rotoworld:

Phil Kessel continues to deny he is hurt but does hint he is not playing at 100 percent.
What does that mean you might be asking? It means that Kessel doesn't want to make an injury his excuse for his lack of production recently (two even-strength points in past nine games) but that he is nursing some type of mild lower-body injury. Bear this in mind when making roster choices this week.

http://www.tsn.ca/siegel-leafs-prod-...-line-1.152946

[kovalchuk17]

we're deep enough into the season where everyone is playing with something. kessel will be fine, he'll overcome it

[jcairns]

Didn't catch the game but saw Kessel just played 14min.

[pmorrow]

He looks less dynamic out there. Either his pre-game meal of burritos and cookies is catching up to him, or he's got a bit of an injury. He's taken a few big hits lately. If he needs to rest I'm sure he'll sit a practice or two out, but I doubt he misses any game time.

[tomastop]

more from Rotoworld:

Phil Kessel is dealing with "multiple injuries," according to Damien Cox on "Hockey Night in Canada."
Kessel has continued to deny he's hurt. Cox says that the team is debating whether Kessel needs more days off, which we’d presume to mean practice time. Kessel played 14:13 on Saturday night, the second-lowest ice time of the season. He has 13 goals and 27 points. This is a situation worth monitoring if you own him in fantasy leagues.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...4837675638785:
Phil Kessel is battling multiple injuries and, internally, team is debating if he needs more off-days...Er, that's it.

[mister_mcgoo]

From Fantrax:

Analysis: He only played a hair over 16 minutes and looked stiff and sore at many points, including just after the goal -- his feet got caught and he tripped, twisted in the air and landed hard on his butt and tailbone. Kessel had been seen at the game-day skate trying to stretch out his hip flexors and back muscles. He's been very durable, but it's almost inevitable that his output will start to suffer at some point if he really is playing hurt. It's worth monitoring.