Jan 19, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) collides with New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner (16) skates on the ice against the New York Islanders during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few people to thank for the goals they continue to pile up and one of them is Mitch Marner.
Again, I’m not suggesting that physicality is a huge part of his game, it’s not. But, he’s capable of tossing the salad around every once in a while.
Now, he hasn’t produced the same amount of goals as Auston Matthews. But, the goals he does score are quite pretty.
Marner is known for his flash and flair he brings to the game, similar to that of Patrick Kane. When he has the puck on his stick, it’s tied to a string. One blink and you miss the action. That’s how quick his game his. Small in size but large in personality and skill.
He has produced an inordinate amount of points in his rookie season, exceeding everyone but his own expectations. In 59 games played he has scored 15 goals and 50 points. Let’s count down to his best goal of the season.
5. v. Buffalo Sabres
James van Riemsdyk chips the puck in front of the net and it gets intercepted by the opposition for a moment. Marner sneaks his way in and strips the puck as Jeff suggested. He takes a directed on net whack at it and collects his own rebound.
He pops it in, all while he’s falling to the ice. When he’s on his way down the puck’s close to his feet making it even harder to control it. It takes a lot of skill to gather your own rebound, control it and take another shot while at the same time falling down.
I had to watch this one a few times before considering it for one of his better goals. After watching it a few times, I was aware of the beauty of it.
4. v. Nashville Predators
I remember watching this goal live and just being in awe. There’s so much more to this than the puck hitting twine. He starts the play out by being in the right position and also by protecting the puck with his body. He moves it towards his teammate, keeping the play alive. The puck comes back to him and he collects it. Again, he turns his body to protect it from the opposition.
This kind of play is often overlooked. Just by turning the angle of his skates to show his back, Marner is guarding and maintaining puck possession. He skates out along the boards with his head up and fires it home from a sharp angle. Pretty sweet goal involving a lot of creativity to turn nothing into something. A bit of good luck but the hard work paid off in the end.
3. v. Philadelphia Flyers
I debated for a while whether or not this goal should have been #4 or #3. It ended up taking this spot because the toe drag here is just too filthy. Let’s take a closer look and break it down a bit. Marner collects the pass at the top of the circle and adjusts his focus on the back of the net. He’s moving forward as a defender approaches.
Realizing he has limited time and space he knows his reaction has to be quick. With the patience of a seasoned veteran, he outwaits the defenseman. His body demeanor suggests he’s going to shoot the puck with a quick release. This simple but effective head fake by Marner limits his opponents ability to poke the puck away because he now has to react as if he were going to block the shot by kneeling down.
Magic Marner does a dirty backhand, forehand giving him the space he needs to deliver a well-paced shot. Making no mistake, he buries it past Steve Mason.
2. v. Ottawa Senators
Now, I would have considered this goal to be #1 if it weren’t scored in a shootout. Remember this? It was the one where they had to call Kris King and the guys in the Toronto office because it was unclear if it was a good goal or not. They decided it was a goal but not without contesting it upstairs.
One on one in a game or a shootout provides any player a unique opportunity to be a little creative. More so in a shootout, because you have the time and nobody’s backchecking you. Marner comes in slow and does a couple of crossovers to adjust his positioning. A few moves and a wave of his magic wand later, it’s in the back of the net.
It’s not that simple, though. Marner manages to pull off a Datsyukian deke where he pushes the puck to one side and then draws it over on his backhand to slide it home. Pavel Datsyuk was a maven of this art form.
Notice his left skate. He just has the back edge touching the ice to allow him to pivot his body, an excellent tool to make a quick shift. It’s such a creative goal, although it was justified for being challenged. Too bad for the Ottawa Senators, good goal.
1. v. Florida Panthers
I got to see this goal live and went nuts when I realized he tucked it in. Ironic that in another one of my articles, I was also there for the Matthews goal I selected as #1. I promise I’m not being biased in my picks, these are just their best goals each.
Marner has the puck on a breakaway but is being prodded by Michael Matheson the whole time. He fends him off and skates towards former Leafs goalie, James Reimer. He pulls it from his forehand to his backhand doing a great job at protecting the puck. Getting in real tight on Reimer and running out of time, he just outmaneuvers him for a disgusting goal. He tucks it in glove side.
By far his filthiest goal and one of the best, I’ve seen all season. Not as good as Matthews goal against the Carolina Hurricanes. Still, it’s up there for me. Again, I promise I’m not being biased.
Bonus
My goodness, this Mitch Marner pass to Tyler Bozak on the 3-2 go-ahead goal. He's unreal already. pic.twitter.com/HkDWFyj45f
Who would I be if I didn’t include a bonus? As I said for the one I included in the Matthews article, I wish Marner was the one to set himself up here. Too bad that’s impossible. We do get to marvel at the incredible play he makes here resulting in a goal scored by Tyler Bozak.
The pass from Nazem Kadri to Marner ends up behind him. He stops, turns, and passes the puck in a spinning motion to the right of Roberto Luongo where Bozak creeps up and sneaks it in. The fact that Marner had the hockey IQ and awareness to know where his linemates are is just uncanny. Remember, he’s just a rookie.
I don’t remember all of Marner’s 35 assists off the top of my head. But, if I were a betting man, I’d be pretty comfortable saying that this was his best by far. He’s a special player, the Leafs community should be more than happy to have him on the roster for year’s to come.
