LAS VEGAS (AP) – Mitch Marner isn’t about to start bragging, or show any feelings of vindication in proving wrong those who questioned and even doubted whether he could deliver at this time of year.
There has indeed been magic in Marner’s play as he leads the Vegas Golden Knights into their Western Conference final series that opens Wednesday night at Colorado.
His 18 points led all NHL skaters through Sunday and includes possibly the goal of the year in Thursday’s 5-1 close-out victory at Anaheim.
This production is what his hometown Maple Leafs expected when Toronto drafted him fourth overall in 2015. While Marner became one of the NHL’s top play-making forwards, he took the brunt of criticism for the Leafs failing to advance beyond the second round.
“I don’t care what anyone says,” Marner said. “I’ve been in the league a long time now, so I’ll focus on what I can control.”
That includes leading the Golden Knights to the NHL’s final four.
“I think the media in Toronto is pretty big and they put a lot of pressure on the players,” Golden Knights wing Ivan Barbashev said. “He’s showing completely different things over here. He’s been scoring and making a lot of plays, so hopefully he stays the same way.”
Vegas has never been afraid to chase big names and it has a locker room full of such players. Acquiring Marner in a sign-and-trade was the splash deal of last year’s offseason, reaching an agreement on an eight-year, $96 million contract.
This postseason is why the Golden Knights pursued him. They followed their 2023 Stanley Cup title team by getting bounced in the first round the following year and then again last season.
Marner produced two goals and an assist in Game 6 of the opening series to eliminate Utah 5-1. He had a hat trick and an assist to take back home-ice advantage in Game 3 of Round 2 at Anaheim, and ended that series by setting the tone with a goal just over a minute into Game 6 clincher that few players on earth could pull off.
William Karlsson began by hitting Marner in stride with a perfect stretch pass to spring him for a breakaway. But with Jackson La Combe staying close behind, he fought off the Ducks defenseman, turned his back to goal and shot between his legs to put Vegas ahead 1-0.
“His IQ is on a different level,” Barbashev said. “He plays defensively and is a 200(-foot) player. He does it all.”
John Tortorella, who became head coach for Vegas with eight games left in regular season play, sees similar qualities in Marner.
“When you’re with him every day, you can see his habits,” Tortorella said. “You can see all those little things he does during games. Other people notice his goals and assists-like that recent goal he scored-but I focus on small details that many overlook which lead to bigger outcomes.”
Tortorella hasn’t hesitated to use Marner creatively; whether that’s as center or wing, first line or second line.
The Golden Knights ran a five-forward power play where Marner played quarterback at top position. Now with defenseman Shea Theodore taking over there with top unit duties, they’ve moved Marner lower down to better utilize his scoring skills or help others find net opportunities.
“There are times when opposing teams control play but still lose because they lack patience while making plays-and that’s where Marner shines,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Power plays? Short-handed situations? Five-on-five? He excels everywhere.”
Mitch didn’t fall short when playing well back in Toronto either-he hit career-highs scoring over 100 points during one season while consistently surpassing ninety points multiple times throughout seasons past.
This last playoff run saw him racking up thirteen points across thirteen games just last year along with fourteen points from eleven postseason appearances before that.
The Maple Leafs may not have lived up fully-to expectations team-wise; hence why they chose trade-off sending Mitch out west towards Vegas.
The Golden Knights now stand just one series away from potentially clinching their third Stanley Cup Final appearance within nine seasons-while meanwhile-the Maple Leafs failed this time around reaching playoffs yet managed winning draft lottery instead.
Might there be another star like Mitch heading their way soon?
“I’ve always believed I’m a good player,” Marner stated simply without hesitation.”I’m not thinking about anything else besides going out there having fun playing hockey.” ___
AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed reporting from Centennial Colorado.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews. com/hub/stanley-cupand https://apnews. com/hub/nhl
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This last playoff run saw him racking up thirteen points across thirteen games just last year along with fourteen points from eleven postseason appearances before that.
The Maple Leafs may not have lived up fully-to expectations team-wise; hence why they chose trade-off sending Mitch out west towards Vegas.
The Golden Knights now stand just one series away from potentially clinching their third Stanley Cup Final appearance within nine seasons-while meanwhile-the Maple Leafs failed this time around reaching playoffs yet managed winning draft lottery instead.
Might there be another star like Mitch heading their way soon?
“I’ve always believed I’m a good player,” Marner stated simply without hesitation.”I’m not thinking about anything else besides going out there having fun playing hockey.” ___
AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed reporting from Centennial Colorado.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews. com/hub/stanley-cupand https://apnews. com/hub/nhl
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