Marner benched, smashes stick in frustration after two giveaways lead to goals against
Mitch Marner has had a rough start to the season, and so have the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sunday night, they lost their 4th straight game. The team now falls to 4-4-2 on the season, or, more accurately, 4 wins and 6 losses. The game agains the Ducks was particularly painful, the Buds blew a 3-1 lead in the third and if not for a timely Coach's Challenge from Sheldon Keefe, wouldn't have even gotten a point against the NHL's last place team.
Marner's problems started on Anaheim's first goal. With the puck on his stick and pressure coming, Marner got too cute with the puck and turned it over. Seconds later, the puck was behind goaltender Erik Kallgren.
One turnover is bad, but not a back breaker. The Leafs quickly re-took the lead thanks to the good work of Keefe's new look 3rd line before Calle Jarnkrok scored a beauty shorthanded goal to put the Leafs up 3-1. With just 13 minutes left in the third, Marner turned the puck over again, this time in the Ducks' end. Trevor Zegras sped off on a breakaway and beat Erik Kallgren, bringing the Ducks within one.
Marner was clearly not happy with himself after that one. The cameras caught him leaving the bench, stopping to pick up a stick from the equipment manager before heading down the tunnel to smash it to smithereens. We know Marner is hard on himself. Clearly Sunday's game was something of a boiling point for him.
Marner was then benched by Sheldon Keefe. It was clear that his play and his attitude were not up to the coach's standards in this one. Unfortunately for the Leafs, the Ducks would tie it up shortly afterwards and Keefe was forced to send Marner back over the boards.
To add insult to injury, and put a stamp on Marner's rough night, He was absolutely robbed of the OT winner by Ducks goaltender John Gibson.
Post game, Marner was defiant in his media availability. Clearly frustrated and feeling the pressure, Marner lashed out at fans and the media who are doubting the Leafs.
- Mitch Marner
As a part of the media, and a fan of the Leafs, I feel like I have to say; I'd much rather be writing something positive about the Leafs. Unfortunately until Marner and the rest of the team pull themselves together and stop choking away very winnable games to bottom-feeding teams, there isn't much positive news to write about.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 31 | 310 ANSWERS Marner benched, smashes stick in frustration after two giveaways lead to goals against Will Mitch Marner break 100 points this season? | ||
| Yes | 71 | 22.9 % |
| No | 239 | 77.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
