The maturation of Kessel

If Phil Kessel doesn't cut it out soon, people are going to start thinking he's the real deal.

Even in defeat, the NHL's leading scorer continues to amaze.

Despite not registering a shot on goal through the first two periods against the Hurricanes in Carolina Sunday afternoon, Kessel kicked it into gear in the third scoring twice to add to his league-leading 16 goals and 29 points through 21 games. Kessel has had good starts and hot streaks before, but nothing like this. Now it's all about c-c-consistency.

There, we said it.

When he's on the ice, and even when he's not finding success as he did struggling through the first 40 minutes in Carolina, you can't take your eyes off Kessel. He is showing a determination -- a definite maturity in his overall play -- that many suggested might never come. No one has doubted his offensive potential, but many wondered if he'd remain a 30-35 goal-scorer or could he bump it up to the next level? He's currently on pace for 62 goals and 113 points.

"He's been playing well," captain Dion Phaneuf said. "We've been talking about that for the whole year and he continues to do it for us. He's been our top player all year and he's leading us."

Kessel has only been held pointless in four games this season and has yet to be held off the score sheet in back-to-back games. Like most of his teammates -- Matt Frattin and Joey Crabb were the obvious exceptions -- Kessel looked a little fatigued early in the contest, but he didn't fold his hand. Rather, in the third period he went all in. That, more than anything, is why Kessel deserves to be mentioned with the elite in the league. When the game is on the line his teammates turn in his direction and more often than not, he delivers.

"He's such a dynamic player," said goaltender Ben Scrivens, who played yet another rock solid road game himself. "I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for being as sound defensively as he is. His game has come a long way and he's getting a lot of time late in games, not only because he's the one who can tie it up for us, but also because he's defensively aware and defensively sound. I can't say enough good things about him. My job is to just hang on long enough for him to get his chances."

On some levels, Toronto’s poor start and ultimate loss in Carolina Sunday afternoon was to be expected. The players don't like to use being tired as an excuse and why would they? Their schedule is certainly no tougher than many teams and arguably easier than most. But that doesn't change the fact they arrived in Raleigh at 1:30 a.m. coming off an emotional win over Washington.

The Leafs dominated the Capitals, blowing them out 7-1 Saturday night at home. Even though the Capitals are having their problems, they are still regarded by most as a better team than the Leafs and the fact Toronto was significantly shorthanded due to injuries made their victory that much more impressive.

Against the Hurricanes, the Leafs looked tired. They were outshot 10-4 in the first period and allowed a goal by former Toronto defenceman Jay Harrison at 19:31. Then they were outshot 19-8 in the second and fell back by two.

Enter Kessel. He drew them within one at 4:31 of the third, but a miscue by the Leafs defenders led to what amounted to the winning goal at 13:08. With Toronto pressing for the equalizer, the defensive pairing of Cody Franson and John-Michael Liles both made a play for a puck in the Carolina zone -- and missed -- allowing Eric Staal to break away.

Scrivens made a great save, but the rebound landed on the stick of last season's rookie of the year, Jeff Skinner, who bagged his eighth of the year.

"That was a mistake by our defencemen; both guys diving in to give them a breakaway like that," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said. "You can't have two defencemen diving in for the play. You get caught up in the moment and that's something that happens. But we had our chances. Just prior to that Tim Connolly beat both defencemen and almost scored. We had some really good chances and couldn't find a way to get even."

Given the fact Gordie Drillen was the last Leaf to lead the NHL in scoring, way back in 1937-38, even a narrow loss to a struggling team has a silver lining when your best player comes through with two goals.

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.