‘I’m just doing me.’ Mitch Marner is taking over games for the Maple Leafs
Marner #Marner
Mitch Marner is the hottest player in the NHL these days.
He’s on a 12-game points streak — the longest active streak in the league — and has a chance to tie his personal best of 13 on Monday when the New York Islanders visit.
“Just trying to make plays,” said Marner. “I’m trying to hold onto the puck, try to make the plays that I can, and try to get pucks towards the net. It’s been working like that. So I’m just trying to keep putting myself in areas that I can make plays from and if not trying to get it on net for rebounds or second opportunities. I’m trying to throw towards the net a little more and see what happens with it.”
Marner has 17 points during this streak, and 22 on the season (four goals, 18 assists) to lead the Leafs by one point in scoring over John Tavares and by two points over William Nylander and Auston Matthews.
“I just feel like I’m just doing me like usual,” said Marner. “I’m just trying to buzz out there, trying to be the best I can be. Lucky enough to have some great people to put some pucks in the net and find me in spots that I can do the same.
“I’ve just got to keep working and keep trying to get better. And don’t think about it too much. Be ready to try and help this team beat the Islanders on Monday.”
In some ways, it’s just Marner being Marner.
“It’s just pretty standard for him with the way he can play and his ability to make plays and make the people around him better and play in all situations,” said Tavares. “He just does what he does.”
Marner certainly doesn’t get the credit for being a defensive forward even though he’s a key penalty killer and is often assigned the job of shutting down the opposition’s best line at even strength, whether he plays with Matthews or Tavares.
And maybe that’s because his creativity is highlight-reel off-the-charts.
One of his assists in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Buffalo showed his creativity. Short-handed, he was a on a partial breakaway and drew Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen to one side, then dropped a pass to Mark Giordano. The Sabres dislodged the net from its moorings, but Giordano put the puck over the line and the goal was awarded upon video review.
“Seen Marner do that play against me a lot,” said Giordano, a former Calgary Flame and Seattle Kraken. “He had one in Seattle, buried me for a minus on that one last year, so I was expecting it and it was a great play by him.”
Marner — and Matthews to some degree — had less than stellar Octobers. But no one ever lost faith in their ability to score. Now Marner’s points streak suggests better times are to come.
“He just finds a way,” said Keefe. “He’s making an impact in the game in so many ways, but just finds a way to contribute to our team, whether it’s a big goal like he scored in Pittsburgh, or just finding ways to contribute offensively to help our team score goals or to defend. He’s just doing a lot of things that are helping our team.”
Marner and Matthews were split up for a few games, but Keefe put them back together when the Sabres top line — led by Tage Thompson — seemed to be having its way with the Matthews line (with Michael Bunting and Nylander). Marner and Nylander flipped lines.
“Early on, we were making some mistakes that were really allowing that (Thompson) group to really get going,” said Keefe. “They were really controlling things, too. I wanted to make that switch to Mitch. Defensively, what he brings to our group with a matchup that challenging, I thought it was important to put those guys together.
“We talk about their offence, but you forget that Matthews and Marner are two of the best defensive players in the league. And when they’re committed to defending and being hard to play against, it’s tough on the opposition. So I thought those guys did a nice job.”
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