Johnston: Facing massive expectations, the Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner searches for his moment
Johnston: Facing massive expectations, the Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner searches for his moment
Marner has no goals or points for Toronto so far in the 2024 postseason and just one goal to show for his past 11 playoff outings.
When you’re expected to score in the Stanley Cup playoffs, time is rarely on your side.
Just ask Mitch Marner, who arrived back home in this deadlocked Toronto Maple Leafs–Boston Bruins series to a cacophony of debate and discussion about the 0-0-0 entry beside his name on the stats sheet.
It’s Marner’s first time going multiple games without a point since Dec. 30 and Jan. 2. He actually briefly registered an assist during Monday’s win in Boston before video review took it away because Tyler Bertuzzi directed the puck in with a high stick.
No matter.
By both the eye test and underlying numbers, it’s clear that Marner has yet to make the kind of ice-tilting impact expected of someone with his immense talent. He is still looking to stake claim to a big moment with Game 3 on tap at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night.
I kinda think this narrative about Marner (and Matthews) is pretty suspect.
Over his career, Marner is a 1.1ppg player. In the playoffs he's 0.9. Last season both he and Matthews had 1.4 points per game.
His moments are the 3 OT goals in a row starting tonight...