Leafs’ Marner has weight lifted off his back
The young forward had a career-high four-point game on Tuesday afternoon
COLUMBUS — The Maple Leafs flight to Ohio took off with significantly less weight.
Something about Mitch Marner shedding some cumbersome baggage with a career-high fourpoint game against Carolina on Tuesday.
“The No. 1 thing that happened with Mitch was that he was ready to go,” head coach Mike Babcock told reporters before Wednesday’s game here. “He made a really good play on the power play and scored (his first since Remembrance Day) then the weight of the world — which he put on his back — came off. Then he was suddenly Mitch, flying all over the ice, having the puck hit his stick and not bounce off it.
“That just goes to show you the kind off pressure you can create for yourself and make it hard on yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are first year in the league or your 20th. The best thing to do is work hard all the time, enjoy it, don’t spend time on your phone (Babcock sees texting and social media as distractions when young players hit a wall) and life will be easier for you.”
Babcock could see many Leafs were having a rough go of in the four games preceding the 8-1 blowout of Carolina, marred by three losses and only four goals.
“It’s a different feeling for everybody when you’re a good team in the league and haven’t won in a bit,” Babcock said. “No one wants to come to work and not have a good time. I guarantee you Mitch feels lighter, slept better and you can joke around with him a little. William Nylander (who also broke a December goal drought Tuesday), is the same.
“But now you live scared. Work that friggin’ hard, understand how bad you felt and don’t get that feeling again.”
The Leafs skipped the morning skate at Nationwide Arena with it being back-to-back matches.
“This game is going to be different, it’s a new day, we all have to make sure we come ready to play,” Marner warned. “Keep taking care of yourself (off the ice), especially on back-to-backs. I think everyone will get a lot of minutes on the ice tonight, we have to make the most of it.”
Marner was part of an 11-point night with linemates James van Riemsdyk and centre Tyler Bozak. While Babcock thought Marner had to persevere to recover his scoring touch, it should be noted the coach stopped the line rotations and restored Marner on Tuesday to the care of the veterans with which he’s had the most success.
“We were moving the puck well, opening up chances for each other and finally doing what we want to do, especially our line getting the puck out and creating chances down low,” Marner said. “Let’s just carry the puck in.”