This is amazing: With another multipoint game last night versus the Florida Panthers, marking his 18th and 19th points in his past 11 games, Phil Kessel now sits fourth in points over the past three seasons. He’s only four points back of first-placed Evgeni Malkin, meaning Kessel becoming the scoringest player in the National Hockey League in the past three seasons (start of 2011-12 to current) is an actual possibility, should he finish the season strong (-er than the other guys).

Rk Player GP G A PTS S S% 1 Evgeni Malkin 148 73 120 193 564 12.9 2 John Tavares 185 82 110 192 624 13.1 3 Claude Giroux 179 57 134 191 526 10.8 4 Phil Kessel 185 84 105 189 665 12.6 5 Martin St. Louis 178 67 119 186 440 15.2 6 Patrick Kane 185 71 110 181 574 12.4 7 Steven Stamkos 147 103 74 177 520 19.8 8 Alex Ovechkin 175 108 68 176 796 13.6 9 Joe Thornton 184 33 139 172 309 10.7 10 Sidney Crosby 111 50 117 167 372 13.4

Un-frickin’-real, and it speaks to the evolution of this complete, elite offensive threat, as he’s also in the top-15 in assists over the past three seasons (tied for 14th with 105). Kessel’s 84 goals since October, 2011 place him third behind only Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin. This is about as consistent as one can be.

Taking it back to 2008-09, Kessel is tied for 5th in goals in the past five years (behind only Marleau, Perry, Stamkos, Ovechkin). This would include dark periods for his team such as when he was playing with Tyler Bozak as a rookie and Joey Crabb on his opposite wing.

As we’re getting into the Olympic spirit, Phil Kessel is also the top American goal scorer over those five seasons with 182 goals, leading next-best Bobby Ryan by a wide margin of 21 goals. He is the second-highest American point scorer in the past five years with 368, behind only Patrick Kane. He is first, ahead of Kane, in point scoring among Americans since the start of the 2011-12 season.

As good day as any to stop by the Temple of The Phil and pay your respects.