He was excused from practice and will rejoin the team tomorrow.

Penguins winger Phil Kessel will be honored today at the Action for Cancer Awareness Awards in Washington D.C.

Kessel will receive the "Excellence in Cancer Awareness Award" at the Prevent Cancer Foundation's 26th annual luncheon at the Library of Congress. The event is presented by the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program.

Kessel underwent surgery for testicular cancer in 2006 when he was a member of the Boston Bruins. He has since gone on to represent the United States in two Olympic tournaments and win back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins.

Others to be honored today include Norah O'Donnell, co-host of "CBS This Morning," and Congressional spouses Kasey Crowley of New York and Helen Green of Texas.

"All of us are so proud of today's honorees, who are each using their platform to inform and educate the public about the importance of early detection and prevention," said Lisa McGovern, executive director of the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program.