TORONTO -- It was a family reunion for David Moss at the Air Canada Centre.
The best part for the Flames right winger was he didn't have to organize the fun.
With Moss and his first cousin, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, facing off against each other, it was a chance for family members to gather last night at the Air Canada Centre.
"He took care of the tickets, so that was nice," Moss said.
The mothers of the two NHLers are sisters.
In a way, though, Moss could provide Kessel some big-brother advice.
After all, he knows about some of the scrutiny that awaits a NHL player in a Canadian city, although life in Toronto is a whole different beast compared to Calgary.
"When he got traded here I told him playing in a Canadian market is a lot of fun even if it's a lot of pressure," Moss said. "He knew what to expect. It's Toronto. I think he's handled it well."
Kessel has been under one big microscope since arriving in Toronto from Boston because of the manner in which he came.
Acquired for first round picks in the next two drafts, as well as a 2010 second-round pick, the 22-year-old from Madison, Wisc., is facing extra strain.
When the Leafs were languishing at the bottom of the NHL standings and he was still out of the lineup while recuperating from off-season shoulder surgery, fears were high in Leaf Nation the 2010 first-rounder would be first overall.
It was up to Kessel to prove the deal, as well as the five-year, US$27-million contract was worth it.
"He's a pretty laid-back guy. I don't think that will bother him at all," Moss said. "He handles it well for a young guy, so I think he'll be fine.
"He'll hear it a lot but knows he's got to let it go in one ear and out the other and take it all in stride. It's good to have that attitude if you're in a Canadian market.
"He really doesn't let too much bother him. I don't think people in Toronto will have a problem with him. He's a great player and he'll help the team."
No kidding. Despite missing the first 12 games, Kessel went into last night's game with four goals -- third most on the Leafs -- in five games.
He added an assist in last night's 5-2 loss.
On Friday night, he scored twice with a couple of pinpoint shots from the high slot in a 3-2 Toronto loss to Chicago.
"I saw that he scored two. Were they nice goals? Were they snipes?" Moss asked. "That's the player he is. He'll score a lot more like that, I'm sure."
Although Moss is nearly six years old than Kessel and grew up near Detroit, the pair did spend time together while growing up, with the bond of their hockey dreams.
"Then hockey took hold of everything, we were so busy," Moss said. "We were in Las Vegas in the summer for the NHLPA meetings, all our families got together, and it was fun to relax and see each other again.
"He was really good when he was young. I'd go watch his games and he was so much better than anybody else. He was fun to watch."
randy.sportak@sunmedia.ca
