The Maple Leafs didn’t wilt against the Edmonton Oilers and their leading scorer made the difference in the end.
Our takeaways on the play of Mitch Marner and the Leafs’ exhilarating 4-3 overtime win on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena:
MARNER SHINES AGAIN
Mitch Marner won’t soon forget his 200th goal in the National Hockey League.
We don’t think Leafs Nation will have a hard time recalling it in the days to come either.
After breaking up a 2-on-1 between Oilers stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, Marner took the puck the other way, creating a 2-on-1 with John Tavares. Rather than do what we all figured he would — pass the puck — Marner shot and beat Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner at 40 seconds of the extra period.
The goal encapsulated Marner’s value to the Leafs at both ends: A sound defensive play followed by yet another fine piece of creativity.
Marner’s 24 points in 19 games are most among the Leafs, four more than William Nylander.
“He’s in a real good spot right now,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said of Marner. “He’s just playing hockey, and he’s enjoying it. Every day, this guy has tons of energy and life at the rink and on the ice in practice and during the games.”
Said goalie Anthony Stolarz: “It’s just another day for for Mitch Marner. He’s a great two-way player and someone that we appreciate. You watch his game, the way he goes up and down the ice and gives it his all … I’m happy he got rewarded with that goal.”
As we’ve written before, Marner clearly has deflected any contract thoughts. That he is in the last year of his contract has not weighed on him at all.
Without captain Auston Matthews in the six games that he has missed with an upper-body injury, the Leafs are 5-1-0.
Marner has been crucial in that success, recording two points in each of the five victories. Underestimating Marner’s value would be foolish.
“I try to play with excitement and fun out there,” Marner said. “Those are games you kind of live for.
“Lucky enough, got the shot, saw it went in (on the winner).”
RELISHING RESILIENCY
That’s the second game in a row that the Leafs have rallied in third period and eventually won.
On Wednesday in Washington, it was erasing a 3-1 Capitals lead in the latter stage of the third period to win in overtime on a Tavares goal; on Saturday, goals by Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann 59 seconds apart put Toronto up 3-2. Draisaitl tied the game with Skinner on the bench for an extra skater, but Marner was the one who emerged as the OT hero.
The Leafs continue to play smart defence under Berube.
“We’re staying in games, we’re keeping it tight, and we’re doing what we’re supposed to do without the puck,” Berube said. “We’re checking hard.
“Overall, we’re really not panicking in these situations. We’re playing the game. We’re not trying to open the game up. We’re staying with it, and that’s what we did tonight, and we ended up getting the lead.
“We’re not, ‘Oh, we have to score. We have to open it up.’ We’re not doing that, which is good. Just have to stay with it.”
It would be one thing for Berube to have to hammer that into his players with much proof as to why it would work. When they’re playing that way and winning in the end, going over video when they meet again is a lot more pleasant.
That the Leafs are getting the hang of it now is paramount. Trying to catch up later in the season would be risking not getting a grip on Berube’s style at all, at least not in time for the playoffs.
Another example of the Leafs’ desire to bear down came in the second period, when the Oilers didn’t get a heck of a lot during a five-minute major to the Leafs’ Ryan Reaves for his hit on Darnell Nurse. Toronto held Edmonton to a mere two shots on goal as it killed off the penalty.
PAIR OF ACES
It was fitting that McMann scored two goals and Knies added one as well.
The big wingers fit Berube’s game perfectly. Their strength and speed, especially in the offensive zone, continue to be a boon for the Leafs.
“Well, I like those guys,” Berube said with a chuckle. “They both had strong games, with their size and their ability to skate and get in on the forecheck and be around the net.
“They can create some separation from people. They’re big-body guys that are effective.”
Both are playing with confidence. For McMann, that’s three goals in two games after he went 13 games without scoring. When he blew past Oilers defenceman Mattias Ekholm to score the Leafs’ third goal, it was another indication of how dangerous he can be.
“It feels nice (to get the offence going again),” McMann said. “I think more than anything, we’re finding a way to string together some wins, and I’m trying to help contribute. And that’s most important.”
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