Samsonov struggles again, Leaf errors costly in OT loss to Jackets

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Before any more armchair psychoanalysts try and find out what’s gone wrong in Ilya Samsonov’s head, maybe call a lawyer, too, about lack of support.

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While four goals on the first 11 shots on net on Saturday did little for Samsonov’s shaken confidence, the Maple Leafs continue to do the Russian very few favours, other than try scoring their way past his and their mistakes.

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For the first time in a road game, the Core Four of Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares struck in the same game, in that order. But they couldn’t hold a late third-period lead and lost 6-5 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Johnny Gaudreau’s overtime goal.

Just as it seemed Samsonov would get it together in the third, young star Adam Fantilli rushed through the Leaf ranks to snap in the 5-5 equalizer. A couple of Samsonov stops in the extra period went for naught.

Before the game, Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe rationalized putting Samsonov back in again, with only one other healthy goalie while Joseph Woll recovers from a high ankle sprain. He also acknowledged Samsonov’s last couple of results have been skewered by mates.

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“You’ve got a goaltender that’s starting to fight it and question it,” Keefe told Sportsnet. “We’ve got to defend better, take care of him.

“Most teams have been through this at different times and now is the time when the team needs him.”

It was hoped having Samsonov’s family here from overseas for the Christmas break and a few days of dedicated practice would see an improvement. Instead, his save percentage fell to the low .800s.

Martin Jones is expected to start Saturday’s home game against Carolina to end the club’s calendar year and likely Tuesday against his first NHL team, the L.A. Kings, as Toronto begins a California road trip.

At the other end, Elvis Merzlikins had to pull himself with an illness after one period, leaving Spencer Martin to clean up.

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Keefe’s 300th NHL game was Toronto’s third against the Jackets this month, totalling 27 goals, including the Leafs’ five-goal comeback in Toronto two weeks ago.

The Jackets added to the group of bottom seven NHL clubs that have kept frustrating the Leafs this season, a 6-3-2 record against them this year as well as cure their third-period ills, minus 29 coming in. Toronto also lost three of four against bottom feeder teams this month.

At least the Leafs stuck to the script early on to keep pressure off Samsonov. Until Timothy Liljegren stumbled on a breakout to give Cole Sillinger a puck in the slot with maximum bodies in front.

With a two-goal lead, the Leafs were slow on a shift change in which Brendan Gaunce scored, Samsonov’s puck control once again under scrutiny when he couldn’t find a high rebound that landed behind him.

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But Marner had opened the scoring and assisted on Matthews’ precision shot, his league-leading 29th goal. Matthews has been murder on the Jackets, netting 13 goals in 15 games against them and 15 in his past 11 overall.

He also became the fourth player in franchise history with a 15-goal month, joining Rick Vaive, who had 17 in January of 1983, Frank Mahovlich with 15 in December of 1960 and Babe Dye of the St. Patricks, 15 in February of 1921.

Nylander had another nifty delivery under the bar on a power play, but Samsonov couldn’t hold the lead. Big Dmitri Voronkov both screened and nicely deflected on a 4-on-3 power play from a needless Nylander minor, then the Leafs defensive pair of Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie coughed up an open look for Kent Johnson.

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Nick Robertson earlier ended a 14-game goal slump when he cruised through the slot and had a Liljegren shot deflect off of him.

With Mark Giordano back after 12 games recovering from a broken finger, William Lagesson joined Conor Timmins as a healthy scratch on defence. Giordano was with Liljegren, who was recently activated from an ankle injury as Simon Benoit held his spot in the lineup, now with Jake McCabe, an effective duo most of the evening.

But until they get the goaltending and defence straightened away, there’s little to celebrate.

lhornby@postmedia.com

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