Mark Stone blames stories surrounding Mitch Marner on Maple Leafs: ‘I think it’s a Toronto thing’

For the second time in two years, Marner scored in three-on-three overtime to give Canada a win on the world stage. Last year, Marner scored at the Four Nations Faceoff to beat Sweden 4-3 in the opening match of the Canadian tournament. Marner’s heroics weren’t done yet at the Four Nations, when he set up McDavid in overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory, getting the first assist on one of the greatest goals in Canadian hockey history.

“As a teammate, I haven’t experienced that yet,” Stone told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox after the game. “4 Nations, he gets a huge goal in extra time for us, makes an unbelievable play for the winner. And tonight, when we need him most, he makes the play.” So I think it’s a Toronto thing.

The “Toronto thing” Stone is referring to comes with the lack of success Marner and the Maple Leafs have experienced in the playoffs, more specifically Game 7s. In six career Game 7s, Marner has recorded just two assists, which comes with a plus-minus rating of minus-7.

While some Maple Leaf fans will never forgive Marner for this performance, his performances with the Canadian Maple Leaf on his chest were nothing to scoff at. In eight career matches, between the Four Nations and the Olympics, Marner has recorded two goals and six assists, three of which came in elimination games.

With both players and fans having gold aspirations, the grudge against Marner can be put aside for now for Maple Leaf fans as all eyes shift to Team Canada’s quest for gold in Milano Cortina.

Canada will face Finland in the semi-finals on Friday morning. The Puck Drop is scheduled for 10:40 AM EST.

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