Leafs stars make due without Matthews
TORONTO — At this point of the season, Mitch Marner has played on just about every line on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not just one-offs. He’s had long stretches as a first-liner, second-liner, third-liner and, infamously, as a fourth-liner. And with the continued absence of Auston Matthews, Marner worked out Monday Matthews’ regular linemates. Marner was at right wing with Zach Hyman at left wing and William Nylander at centre, the same spot he played Saturday against the Penguins when he scored and got an assist. “Mitch is an elite passer, elite vision, makes plays,” said Hyman. “It’s fun playing with both guys. Auston does his thing, one of the best goal scorers in the league, great both ways, a great scorer. Mitch creates so many chances.” In Buffalo a week ago, Marner played with Nazem Kadri and Patrick Marleau. Lately, anyway, Marner has thrived no matter what line he’s been on. “I try to adjust to them, I’d say,” said Marner. “Try to make the plays off knowing who I’m with. I adjust to who my linemates are. “The thing about our team is that all our lines are very similar. We have a guy that can always get the puck back, that’s always around the net. There’s a guy that makes plays. A guy that works down low and does all the work. “It doesn’t matter who you play with, it’s kind of playing with the same guys constantly, because everyone is kind of the same.” Marner still gets out with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk — the two he launched his career with last year and stuck with most of this season — on one of the power play units. “He’s one of those wingers’ that’s able to drive a line,” coach Mike Babcock said of Marner. “We try to put him in a spot to generate offence. Home and away (with last line changes) is a little bit different. We adjust accordingly.” The 20-year-old Marner leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 19 goals, 37 assists for 56 points. He has goals in back-to-back games, and has scored in five of his last seven games. Marner has risen to the occasion with Matthews continuing to nurse a sore shoulder. “Everyone in this room has stepped up,” said Marner. “That’s the thing about this team. If you lose someone that is important to this team, everyone takes it up a notch. We’re like a brotherhood. We try to protect each other. When one of us goes down, we try to step up.” Marner’s next goal will establish a career-high as he’s developed a bit more of shoot-first mentality, even with his elite pass-making skills. “Just hanging on the puck a bit more, and the puck is going in right now,” said Marner. “When that starts happening, you gain more confidence and you want to make more plays. That’s what happens.” Of course, some of it has been puck luck — shots going off legs and in — something his teammates are quick to remind him about. “I’ve noticed a lot of pucks going off people and in,” said defenceman Morgan Rielly. “I don’t know whether that’s on purpose. “But he’s playing great. Mitch has been outstanding. You can tell he’s playing with a lot of speed, great on the power play. He’s just trying to do his thing.” Babcock said he thinks the difference in Marner’s game at this point in the season is work ethic. “He started slow, but he’s got confidence right now and confidence is everything in the game. He feels good about himself,” said Babcock.