The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1.
The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Flames with solid defense, good goaltending and timely goals. They didn’t need any offense from Mitch Marner in order to secure the win. This is a good thing because Marner took being unlucky to whole new levels last night.
If you’ve been following the Leafs so far this year, you’re no doubt aware of the unfair criticism being leveled at two of the Leafs best young players. Mitch Marner has two goals in 26 games. William Nylander has four.
The media is seemingly obsessed with goal totals. No one really seems to care how players are playing, they are only interested in results. And this is a shame because even though Marner and Nylander have played – for the most part – great this season, they don’t have the kinds of totals that are expected from such talented players.
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
It’s easy to sit back and just wait for the luck to turn around when the team is this deep and playing this well. Despite next to no offense from two of their better players, the Leafs are in the hunt for the President’s Trophy.
But for Nylander and Marner it has to be frustrating. And, for Marner, after last night, it must be driving him insane.
Marner’s Big Night That Wasn’t
Last night Mitch Marner perfectly demonstrated that you can play at an elite level and still not score. Not only did he have one of his best games ever, he looked like a hall-of -famer doing it.
But alas, no goals to show for it.
In almost 16 minutes of ice-time, Marner had five shots and I think all of them were grade A scoring chances. In the first period alone, he could have had a hattrick, if not for one wide shot and two great saves by Flames goalie Mike Smith.
In the end, he didn’t even pick up an assist, but the Leafs did control 52% of the play while he was on the ice. Going forward, if Marner plays like he did last night, he’s not only going to help the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’s going to be one of the best players in the NHL. It really doesn’t matter that he didn’t score. The effort is what’s important. The fact that he can just take over a game like that is what’s important. If he keeps doing it, eventually the puck is going in the net.
It is seriously crazy to think about where the Leafs currently are and where they will be once they start getting offensive contributions from Matthews (missed four games and has been uncharacteristically cold since coming back), Nylander and Marner.
Next: Newest EIL Roundtable: What's the Optimal Leafs Lineup?
There is a very good chance all three could end up being among the best players the Toronto Maple Leafs have ever had.