Kessel might take a detour

Phil Kessel, back practicing with the Bruins following his Dec. 11 surgery for embryonal testicular carcinoma, could be headed to Providence for a short conditioning stint prior to returning to NHL action.

According to coach Dave Lewis, following yesterday morning's workout at the Garden, Kessel was scheduled to meet with Massachusetts General Hospital doctors later in the day to find out when he could return to playing. Once that's determined, said Lewis, the Bruins will plot the best course of action -- and that could include a brief AHL tuneup.

Lewis said the decision on the rookie pivot would be made among Kessel, the front office, the coaching staff, and the medical team. "We'll come up with a game plan," said Lewis.

General manager Peter Chiarelli, who arrived in town after a trip to Sweden for the World Junior Championship, said a decision will be made today, and acknowledged Kessel could be sent to Providence.

Kessel, who skated with the full Boston squad Wednesday for the first time since his surgery, worked out in the morning skate prior to last night's 10-2 loss to the Maple Leafs.

Asked about the prospect of being sent to Providence, the 19-year-old center said he would prefer not to go, but quickly added, "Whatever's best for the team."

Lewis said the entire coaching staff and organization were impressed by Kessel's composure and maturity over the three-plus weeks he has dealt with the disease, surgery, and rehabilitation.

"I personally believe he will be a better player," said Lewis, "because of the maturity he's displayed. As a staff and a team, we didn't realize that about him."

Kessel, said Lewis, has handled the ordeal "eloquently."

Kessel, with Lewis at his side near the visiting bench, chatted along the boards with Leafs assistant coach Keith Acton for a few minutes toward the end of the morning skate.

Acton, 48, is a testicular cancer survivor, treated for the disease during the 2003-04 season. A few days ago, he contacted the Bruins about speaking to Kessel as a means of offering support.

"Yeah, it was good to talk to him," said Kessel, "because he's gone through it."

P.J. Axelsson, long one of Boston's top defensive forwards, factored a minus-5 into a teamwide minus-40 last night.

"Our last period in Chicago was not good," said Axelsson, suggesting the current skid might have begun with a win over the Blackhawks Dec. 29, in which the Bruins quickly gave up three goals early in the third period. "After that we've lost, 5-0, 5-1, and 10-2. So that might have started it. We have to change this around, and quick."

Some panic sets in, Axelsson acknowledged, when a club gives up three goals as the Bruins did in a span of 42 seconds in the middle period.

"If you let in two quick ones, your next shift has to be good," he said. "You have to go right after them, but in a smart way."

While Hannu Toivonen works on his game in Providence, it sounds as if Lewis is prepared to keep rolling out Tim Thomas as his everyday goalie. That's not unlike the workload, Lewis pointed out, of Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey), and Roberto Luongo (Vancouver).

"He's our go-to guy right now," acknowledged Lewis.

The Leafs were without agitating forward Darcy Tucker. "He's not playing?" said Thomas following the morning workout. "Well, he wasn't supposed to play the last game, either, so, I'm counting on seeing him in the warm-ups." Tucker's injured foot indeed kept him from suiting up . . . Toronto captain Mats Sundin picked up only one assist, and had his pocket picked by Mark Mowers on a faceoff that led to Wayne Primeau's goal for a brief 2-1 lead in the first period . . . Perhaps the head-scratching stat of the night: The Bruins won 53 percent of the faceoffs, with Marc Savard winning 17 of 25 . . . The Bruins will practice at the Garden at noon today . . . Bruins executive vice president Charlie Jacobs will be on the New England Hockey Journal Show, on ESPN Radio (890), from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, prior to the Causeway Street matinee against the Flyers.

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com.