Tyler Kennedy: Now Is Your Time To Shine With Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin

The Pittsburgh Penguins' blowout 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning was a lot of fun to watch for Pens fans, but there was one aspect of the game that I was most interested in.

With several days off prior to Wednesday's game to work Jordan Staal back into the swing of things, I wanted to see how the new Malkin-Staal-Kennedy line would do.

The result was a success, with Evgeni Malkin scoring just seven seconds into the game.

What was more intriguing to watch was the play of Tyler Kennedy.

Kennedy has had a lot of ups and downs in his Penguins career, and many Pens fans are becoming annoyed with his inconsistency.

Well, now is his golden opportunity to get something going in a positive direction. He is now playing with two superstars, and watching how the Lightning defended Malkin and Staal, there is going to be a lot of space for Kennedy to get shots.

Kennedy finished Wednesday's game with a goal, an assist and a plus-two rating, all while playing left wing, a position he has never played before.

Kennedy finally played aggressively and looked far more comfortable than he ever has in a Penguins uniform.

The next few weeks will be telling as to whether Kennedy can be consistent while getting to play alongside Malkin and Staal. This may be his last shot to prove himself to Penguins brass, or he may be on the trading block.