VIDEO: Phil Kessel ends drought with game-winning goal

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The drought is over. Phil Kessel, the sometimes cartoonishly-maligned winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, finally scored his first goal of the season. And it came at the best possible time.

With the Leafs and Winnipeg Jets knotted at 2-2, Kessel trailed Tyler Bozak into the Winnipeg zone with speed. After Bozak dropped a pass back, Kessel unleashed an absolute laser past Ondrej Pavelec.

It was vintage Kessel, showing the release that has made him one of the game's elite goal scorers. It looked like Kessel's celebration was more of relief than excitement. And who could really blame him?

Up to that point, it appeared Kessel had the worst luck in the NHL. Perhaps this is the spark that the American sniper needed to get going.

Kessel's goal stood up as the game-winner as the Maple Leafs improved to 6-5-0, which includes a surprising 5-1-0 mark on the road.

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