BOSTON - It is sometimes hard to hear what Bruins rookie Phil Kessel is saying because he is soft-spoken and self-effacing.

But when the kid is on the ice, he is fast and fearless. Three-quarters of the way through his rookie year - a year interrupted in December by the diagnosis of prostate cancer, surgery and recovery - the 19-year-old from Madison, Wis., is picking up speed with each game.

Setting a standard for speed the Montreal Canadiens couldn't match, Kessel was on the ice for all of Boston's goals Saturday night, and he assisted on two. He added two more assists Sunday against the New Jersey Devils. In 53 games, Kessel has eight goals and 13 assists.

"Funny thing is, Phil's been playing like that for the last few games," Bruins goalie Tim Thomas told The Boston Globe. "He's had a little more jump than anyone else."