After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in back to back overtimes in game 3 and game 4 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs have taken a 3-1 lead in their best of seven series.
The core four of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been the stars of the show so far and no one player exemplifies that more than generational superstar Mitch Marner who leads the entire 22-23 NHL playoffs with 10 points. (Possibly not including last night’s games).
Through those first four games Mitch Marner has amassed a league leading 8 assists. five of those being primary assists, at least one in each game.
More than half (6) of his points are at even strength too, meaning he is producing at 5v5. The remaining 4 are on the Powerplay which has also been one of the Leafs strengths this post season with some extremely clutch goals.
Mitch Marner’s excellent performance so far is one of the main reasons the Leafs have a stranglehold on the series heading into game five.
Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner Is a Playoff Powerhouse
Marner scored two goals in game 2, both slapshots from the point.
The first got the game started early scoring only 47 seconds into the game after he drew an early penalty for the Lightning, and the second was the 6-1 dagger to seal the deal.
Letting go another slapshot from the point in game 3 that got tipped in by Matthews, it is clear that “muffin” shot of his is ancient history.
He has passed Scott Gomez’s 16 points for most points against the Tampa Bay Lightning in NHL playoff History at 18 (SN Stats on twitter). He’s the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to have 6 points after 2 games as well as the most points a Leaf has scored in 3 games since Daryl Sittler in 1977.
That’s not all, he also has the longest multi point streak at 4 games, since Sittler in 1977, and the most points by a Toronto Maple Leafs player in a single playoff round (10) since Gary Roberts in 2002. (NHL Public Relations on twitter)
Something is different this year and playoff Mitch and playoff Auston have come to play. Marner may have missed out on his first 100 point season, but his play this year has been inspired.
However now is not the time to take their foot off the gas. With game 5 on Thursday the Toronto Maple Leafs just need to keep pushing and these boys might finally exorcise their demons and get it done!