MILAN — Mitch Marner just had a standout moment as a Maple Leaf.
To set the record straight, this might be one of the best experiences he’s ever had on the ice.
When asked if the backhand shot that clinched the match against the Czech Republic 4-3 in a thrilling overtime moment, just 1 minute and 22 seconds in, could be considered his biggest goal ever, he hesitated. “It’s hard not to say probably not,” Marner replied, acknowledging the significance. “That’s pretty special.”
A little over a year ago, he also netted an overtime goal at the Bell Center, leading Canada to victory against Sweden in the opening match of the Quadrangle.
After that game, he expressed disbelief that “young Mitch” would score such a critical goal, especially off Sidney Crosby.
This time, Marner seized control, snagging the puck from the left post, turning what appeared to be an unexpected opportunity into a game-winning moment.
Interestingly, Canadian captain Crosby wasn’t on the ice for this round; he had exited during the second period after a hit from Radko Gudas.
So, what would a 10-year-old Mitch think now?
“Same kind of emotions. Just shock and excitement; really cool stuff,” Marner shared. “It’s even more special now since my son is here with me. He’s still young, so he probably won’t remember this. Maybe he’s dozing off on his mom, but someday it’ll be incredible to look back with him and show him where he was and what he was experiencing at this moment.”
It’s quite ironic, though, that Marner—often criticized as one of the most scrutinized players in the NHL for his playoff performances—seems to shine brightest when playing for his country. Leafs fans had pretty much pushed him out due to his postseason difficulties.
“I think this is a Toronto thing,” Mark Stone quipped, mixing humor with reality.
Brandon Hagel added, “I didn’t think he was a big-game player. But he just showed the world.”
He certainly did. It’s worth noting that this is the second time in recent years that Canada found itself in a precarious position.
The Czech Republic held a lead of 2-1 for an extensive amount of time—805 minutes and 1 second—marking the first occasion since Vancouver in 2010 that Canada was behind in an elite Olympic competition.
They were once again trailing with under four minutes left, and had Canada lost in the quarterfinals, it would have felt like a major crisis up north.
Even following Nick Suzuki’s equalizer in regulation, Martin Necas had the best chance to secure the game in overtime, but Jordan Binnington turned away his breakaway.
Before I could even process it, Marner came through and changed everything.
“That’s an important factor. Mitch understands that,” said coach Jon Cooper. “I’ve seen it all with him at world championships, Quads, and Olympics. I never doubt tossing him out there because he consistently delivers. Sure, he sometimes gets frustrated, but ultimately, he never lets us down.”
