TORONTO

If Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle had Phil Kessel's shooting eye and the one-piece technology of today's sticks, he would have scored a lot more than 148 goals in more than 1,000 games.

"He's got a lot of natural ability that he doesn't need a lot of space or a big windup," the coach said after Kessel pumped in his 31st on Saturday.

"With the technology in hockey sticks, he's found that with quick hands he can fire with a wrist shot as quickly, as accurately and as hard as people can take slap shots with. That's a tribute to the skill of the player and the technology of the sticks.

"Everybody shoots 85 to 90 miles an hour when back in the day you were lucky to have had two guys on your team who could do that. Most were around 75."

Kessel's goal was his fifth game-winner this year and his 150th goal as a Leaf.

NORTHERN LEAF LIGHTS

Many members of the 1964 Cup champion Leafs wished Carlyle luck as they departed the ice Saturday following the pregame ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the Leafs' third straight title. Carlyle needed no introduction to the group, many of whom were big names in and around Sudbury when he was a kid.

"I was yelling at Eddie Shack,Jimmy Pappin from Northern Ontario and The Chief (captain George Armstrong) from Falconbridge, near Sudbury. Bobby Baun I've known a long time andRed Kellycoached me my first year in the NHL (with the Leafs). There are some ties there and I hoped they enjoyed it."

Carlyle was glad to see Dave Keon, another northerner who ranks third in franchise scoring with 858 points in 1,062 games and took just 75 penalty minutes.

"It's amazing. When I played, he was in Hartford. Just to play against him, the accolades he received and the history behind Keon as captain, the goals he scored ... I don't know if that many players have accomplished what he did for the Leafs in his time. He'd be a pretty significant superstar by today's standards."

SPOTT CHECKS

Marlies coach Steve Spottwas at the game Saturday, seeing what a couple of his call-ups are doing.

Troy Bodie is the latest to make a contribution to the big team, while Spott has been able to keep the Marlies in first place without players such as Trevor Smith, Carter Ashton andJerred Smithson.

Spott will use part of the AHL all-star break to visit the Leafs' ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears, and run some practices. He'll be evaluating one of the club's new acquisitions, forward Cameron Abney, who was picked up with KHLerTeemu Hartikainenin the Mark Fraserdeal with Edmonton.

LOOSE LEAFS

CentreJay McClement passed his concussion test Saturday and other than the gash over his eye, should be fine ... Smithson was reassigned to the Marlies after the Leafs beat Vancouver on Saturday. No other roster moves are taking place during the break ... Carlyle will spend the first couple of days of the break at the wake of a friend who passed in Northern Ontario, then take time off in San Diego ... James van Riemsdyk is travelling alone to Sochi, but insists he's not worried about all the security scares and horror stories about hotels missing basic amenities. "I've seen some stuff on Twitter that can make you chuckle, but we'll see when we get over there," he said. "There's more to the Olympics than little things like that, I won't let it ruin my experience. They've assured us everything will be fine over there." ... Kessel and van Riemsdyk did stock up on movie and TV show downloads ... Kessel says he hopes to catch other events while in Sochi, most likely including his sister Amanda's games with the Team USA women's hockey team.