Marner raises his game
With Auston Matthews out with a shoulder injury, Marner has become Leafs’ top scorer and a ‘real game-changer’
TORONTO — Mitch Marner says it’s no big deal for him that he is now the leading scorer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. But it’s certainly notable that he is. In the continued absence of all-star centre Auston Matthews with a shoulder injury, Marner has raised his game to new heights. “It’s obviously cool,” Marner said of topping the National Hockey League club’s scoring list with 53 points. “I just want to help this team win. Whether that’s putting up points, blocking shots — do whatever to help out.” Marner’s quick-thinking passes and plays are a joy to watch. But defenceman Morgan Rielly says he’s even more fun to play with. “Mitch has been outstanding,” said Rielly. “I think he’s a real game-changer, a real good player. The way he works, the things he brings to the game, it’s pretty impressive. He’s a guy that can change the outcome of a game. He’s playing well. He has confidence. “He’s great to play with. He sees everything. He’s a great skater, he’s got a great attitude. He’s a great teammate.” While elsewhere, hockey watchers talk about Taylor Hall as a Hart Trophy candidate, or marvel at the scoring of Alex Ovechkin or Nikita Kucherov, it should be noted that Marner has been scoring at a pace with the league’s best of late. Since being put on Nazem Kadri’s wing on Jan. 24, Marner is the top scorer on the Leafs with 11 goals, 10 assists. That’s seventh best in the league in that time-span, a point behind Hall, three behind Kucherov, and tied with Ovechkin. “Just got to be comfortable with yourself and stay responsible defensively,” said Marner. “Right now, I’m coming back, trying to help our defencemen more, get the puck on my hands more. When you get the puck on your hands at the start of the game, you just feel confident throughout.” Heading into Monday night’s game in Buffalo, Marner had 17 goals, 36 assists for 53 points in 67 games. He’s closing in on the career high he established in his rookie season last year (19 goal, 42 assists, 61 points) despite an incredibly uneven start. He moved between lines in the early part of the season, sometimes landing on the fourth line. He went stretches of 10 and 17 games without scoring, including one stretch of seven games without even an assist. “Nobody likes that, it sucked,” said Marner. “You come in every day and work at getting better and not take a day for granted. This is a great place to play. The fans are great. The locker-room is great. I just had to enjoy every moment and make sure I came to work every day trying to get better.” To lead the Leafs in scoring for a season is to join an exclusive club. In the salary cap era (post-2005-06) only Phil Kessel (six times) Mats Sundin (three times), Jason Blake, Nazem Kadri and Matthews (once each) have done it. “Pucks are going in for him,” winger James van Riemsdyk said of Marner. “He’s making good plays. But when you get a couple that go in, you start to feel good and things snowball that way. He seems to be rolling with it and doing good things.” Matthews has missed 15 games, including Monday’s, due to three different injuries. No one really replaces Matthews, who scores 0.94 points per game to lead the Leafs (to Marner’s 0.79 points-per game). “It’s easy to say that everyone has to pick up the slack, but not a guy like him,” says goalie Frederik Andersen. “But it does give opportunities for other guys to step up. If you’re his linemate, or a guy that’s in the lineup because he’s out, you get more opportunities. It’s something we all should embrace.” Marner’s minutes haven’t changed since Matthews’ has been out of the lineup. But the reliance on Marner’s offence has. “He seems like a guy that has chemistry with everyone,” said Andersen. “He’s got vision. He makes plays look easy. That’s one of my favourite things about Mitch, he’s so creative. He plays with that energy and joy.”