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Toronto Maple Leafs: Mitchell Marner’s Top Goals

By Andrew Boehmer

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
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 /
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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.

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