NHL Wednesday: Bruins, Canucks pick up wins

Kesler was injured in the second period after he was on the receiving end of a knee-on-knee collision with Winnipeg’s Jim Slater. Slater was given a two-minute minor for tripping. Kesler immediately skated off to the locker room (very slowly) and did not return.

The 29-year-old Kesler still has two years remaining on his current contract with a $5 million-per-year salary cap hit. He’s still a productive player, but injuries have been starting to catch up to him over the past couple of seasons.

But 35 games? For a guy as productive as he’s been throughout his career? That is one hell of a slump, and it was starting to reach historic levels.

Before his goal on Wednesday, Burrows had put 79 shots on goal without scoring.

Just give him an assist on that goal, too. He earned it.