Holiday break 'vital' for Maple Leafs, especially Ilya Samsonov

TORONTO — Whether you’re operating breezily at the height of your powers (like Toronto’s elite forwards), battling your way through another nail-biting 60 minutes (like Ilya Samsonov), or finally get to hit pause on the video autopsies for four days (like Sheldon Keefe), the Christmas break provides a welcome breather in the relentless 82-game marathon.

“Vital,” Toronto Maple Leafs coach Keefe said, following Thursday’s 4-3 matinee win over the Philadelphia Flyers. 

“With the early game here today, it's great. I’m still gonna get to see both my kids play hockey games tonight. This is good stuff. 

“The schedule is not easy. So, the time to breathe and recover and have some fun and be with your family, I think is terrific. And it’s needed.”

Perhaps no one needs a respite more than fan favourite Samsonov, who gathered his ninth consecutive victory inside his new home barn in spite of himself.

Last time we saw the smiling Russian, he was nervous and taking blame for a loss in Washington. On Thursday, he let in the Flyers’ first shot — a power-play point blast by Tony DeAngelo — and gave up two more in the final eight minutes, making the contest much tighter than necessary.

The Maple Leafs in front of him executed another defensive clinic, building a 4-1 lead and limiting their visitors to a scant eight shots through the first 40 minutes.

Keefe wants his skaters to limit chances and keep shot counts low, yet Samsonov suggests cold feet contributed to performance. 

“That’s hardest game for goalie,” Samsonov said. “It’s OK. It’s hockey.

“Sometimes we have bad days, yeah. It’s life. I will be back on (December) 27th and do a little bit of work on my mental in the Christmas break. Maybe fishing. New energy. New power.”

Samsonov’s most recent starts have resulted in save percentages of .821 and .842, his two worst as a Leaf. The goaltender realizes the run support from his star forwards is bailing him out: “Little bit Christmas gift for me, yeah?”

William Nylander arrived at his post-game scrum decked out in one of those festive Ryan Reynolds Christmas sweaters. Having just tucked the game-winner and registering a fifth 20-goal season (in 34 games), his game is as loud as his outfits.

Michael Bunting handed the player-of-the-game belt to his fellow top-line winger.

“Three points, 20 goals. He’s rolling,” Bunting smiled. “An easy choice.”

The Maple Leafs cruise into a hard-earned holiday break with a sparkling 21-7-6 record and plus-29 goal differential.

Solid performances that were so scarce in October are becoming routine. Expected.

Yet even in a ho-ho-ho-hum win over a talent-deprived Flyers squad, one can spot new wrinkles.

Keefe’s experimental five-forward power-play clicked. And during an extended Flyers’ 5-on-3 opportunity late, penalty killer Mitch Marner, realizing he had some extra time, peeled back with the puck in the neutral zone and passed back to his defenceman instead of dumping it in.

The smart but unusual decision in a close game allowed Toronto to kill a few more precious seconds.

A small detail, sure. But it was one of those detailed plays you only see from a group brimming with confidence.

“It’s next-level stuff,” Keefe said. “Not many guys are processing the game in that manner, in terms of timing and space and all those things. It's a little dangerous, just in the fact that the other guys on the ice probably aren't thinking the same way. But in that case, huge by him.”

After proclaiming his love for afternoon games, Marner skipped off for his holiday, but not before wishing everyone within earshot a merry one.

“You want to go into Christmas with a win under your belt,” Marner said.

“It’s about enjoying your time with friends and family and having a great time with one another.”

And fishing, apparently.

Fox’s Fast 5

• Dryden Hunt told reporters he was “shocked” to get dealt by Colorado simply because he was so new to the Mile High City. 

“Didn’t even seem like two months,” said the B.C.-born Hunt, a reformed Canucks fan who is ready to embrace life as a Leaf. 

“Just a really good team. You’re a little bit nervous to come in. They’ve been playing so well, you don’t want to disrupt anything. Just really excited. I’m a Canadian guy. Playing in a Canadian city is pretty special.”

Hunt should debut on the fourth line following the break. He vows to inject a jolt of energy and a hard forecheck. Any uptick in production will be a bonus.

“Lots of personality to him,” Keefe said.

• No official wants to become a story.

The NHL had a chat with linesman Dan Kelly after he got handsy with Michael Bunting Tuesday.

No reprimand. Instead, a reminder to slow down and don’t get too aggressive. The sense is that Kelly was trying to rush Bunting off the ice so he could skate back and help with the rest of the scrum.

Kelly, 33, is what they refer to as a “40/40 guy,” meaning he spends half his season working AHL games. As a young man trying to earn his stripes, he should learn from the incident.

Bunting did everyone a solid by publicly saying it wasn’t a big deal.

• Stray thought: Next time the Leafs need to recall a goaltender, I wonder if Joseph Woll gets a look.

Shoulder and ankle ailments delayed the 24-year-old prospect’s season, but Woll is now 5-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and 0.932 save percentage in the AHL.

“He’s beyond (where he was last season),” Marlies coach Greg Moore said. “It’s really impressive right now how calm and easy he’s making the game look. You wouldn’t think that he’s been out with the injuries he’s had and missed the games that he’s missed. 

“He looks like he’s midseason form, been playing every day for the last four years.”

• Rasmus Sandin (neck) was placed on injured reserve and will not play Dec. 27 in St. Louis. There is no timeline for his return. The club will evaluate his injury following some holiday rest. He plans to celebrate Christmas in Toronto with the Nylander family.

• Happy holidays!