Kessel makes NHL debut, handles himself well in shootout loss against Bruins

Nowhere on the Springfield Thunderbirds schedule did it indicate there would be three games in three days.

Nobody for the Thunderbirds, but for the defenseman who had just suited up for games Friday and Saturday against the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League, Kessel would be plucked from Springfield's roster ... just in time to add a third game in three days.

And Kessel, a fifth-round pick in 2020, didn't mind one bit, not after getting the call that he will be brought up to the NHL for the first time and make his Blues debut. He got the call up on an emergency basis. There was not a chance he'd miss out on the opportunity of that rookie lap.

And to get his feet wet, it's against the best team in the league, the Boston Bruins.

How's that for searching for trial by error?

Kessel handled himself nicely despite being a minus-1 in the game; he would finish with 15:17 of ice time, one shot on goal, one attempt blocked and one blocked shot himself playing alongside mostly with Calle Rosen in the 4-3 shootout loss at Enterprise Center.

The 23-year-old certainly had enough energy and legs in him after playing in Charlotte the previous two days. One could certainly understand if the flames would barely be flickering not only playing a third game in three days, but that third game being played Sunday afternoon.

"Very well, very composed," Blues coach Craig Berube on how Kessel handled himself. "Skated well, made the right puck plays."

There was no way Kessel would be short on energy, not this being his first NHL game, and the start to what the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native who just over a year ago was skating in college for the University of Massachusetts is hoping is a prosperous career.

"It was awesome, a dream come true," Kessel said when he got the call. "Something I’ve been working for my whole life and it’s pretty funny to come on April Fool’s. I don’t know if my parents believed me right away. It was great, they were just joking around. They’re super excited. I’m sure they enjoyed it."

Kessel, who has 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) in 66 games for the Thunderbirds this season playing heavy minutes, skated in all 5-on-5 situations going against the likes of David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and the rest of the Bruins, who won their 60th game becoming just the fourth team in NHL history to reach 60 wins.

"I think it’s been a good year of growth," Kessel said. "I think it’s been some ups and downs. Obviously, it’s a long season, especially compared to college going from 30-something games to, I think we just would have played 66 or something like that. So it’s definitely a different season, and adjusting to that, it’s been a good year.

"The Bruins are a pretty good team this year. It was definitely fun. All the guys welcomed me very good. Obviously, some familiar faces with being here in the summer, so it was good."

That's one helluva way to try and ingratiate oneself to a coaching staff and seasoned teammates, but Kessel handled himself well.

"I thought I did well," Kessel said. "I just tried to play my game, and I thought that was my main goal. Just keep it simple and let the game come to me. I thought I did a pretty good job of that."

Kessel made his mark and left an impression in September at Blues training camp, leaving a mark that he will be back one day, and soon.

Some asked why the Blues, who were in need of a blueliner with Marco Scandella (lower body) and Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) shelved and leaving them with only five healthy defensemen, didn't bring Tyler Tucker back up or why perhaps not Scott Perunovich.

Berube has said the organization wants those two to play lots of minutes helping Springfield in their push towards the Calder Cup playoffs, and the Blues already know what each brings to the table. They each have already showcased their talents and have done so extensively at the NHL level in recent past. But for Kessel, this is a bit of a reward for the solid season he's having and it gives the organization a chance to see what he can bring to this level.

"We wanted to get [Kessel] up here at some point to give him a look," Berube said. "It's good for the player to come up and get a couple NHL games, or whatever he gets. He's done a good job down there. He's part of the future here, so we wanted to get him up here."

Kessel's first touches of the puck came just under two minutes in and he wasn't overwhelmed by the situation, or intimidated that it was the mighty Bruins coming at him.

"To go through the travel day that he had, I think it's his third game in three days," Blues defenseman Torey Krug said. "He stood in there with a lot of poise against the best team in the NHL. He made a lot of great plays. He's got a bright future.

"It's very beneficial. You're just dipping your toes in the water, gives you a taste, it gives you the confidence you can play in this league for a long time. I think that is something that he can take away from today. Playing against the best team in the NHL and he stood right in there."

It's likely to be a short stint for Kessel in St. Louis, with Bortuzzo nearing a return, but no matter how long it lasts, a sprinkled taste now of NHL life is just a jumpstart to what the 6-foot-3, 215-pound blueliner hopes is more of a broader look and permanent stay in the not-too-distant future.

"That’s definitely my goal," Kessel said. "It’s great to be able to get the call-up here, get some experience and I think that’s just a good step to test my game out right now and hopefully get a couple more here. Just see where it goes from here and take that into summer. Hope to make the team next year, have a good summer camp."