Mitch Marner sends Canada through, then two postgame quotes set off Leafs fans

Of all the people who could have played the hero for Team Canada against Team Czechia on Wednesday, it was Mitch Marner who came through in the clutch and finally cemented himself as someone who can pull it together when it matters most.

While it may have caused some Maple Leafs fans strife considering he never really did the same thing when he played there, as a Canadian fan you have to be excited and thankful that Marner spared the Canadians a shocking loss to David Pastrnak and the Czechia squad.

But it wasn't just the fact that Marner scored that brought a little frustration to Maple Leafs fans as two of Marner's Canadian teammates took shots at his former club.

First, it was Brandon Hagel who explained that those who doubted Marner for not being clutch have some explaining to do -- and it was clear it was directed towards Leafs fans:

Then it was Marner's Golden Knights teammate Mark Stone who added more fuel to the fire and took a direct shot at the Maple Leafs for being unable to get it done:

Ouch.

While Marner certainly didn't exactly do his part, there really aren't any excuses anymore. The Maple Leafs had loads of chances to win and others like Auston Matthews and William Nylander weren't pulling their weight either.

Marner often received a lot of criticism for not taking more accountability when things got bad, and Stone realized that maybe was a little bit overblown considering that Marner has now shown he can do it.

But don't expect Leafs Nation to feel any better about things, as the last thing they would like to hear is how good Marner is elsewhere meanwhile the years of disappointment and failure still haunts their dreams to this day.

If Marner comes out again and scores another game-winner or a clutch goal to even things up, there's a point where you have to stop the criticism.

Mitch Marner has shown he can do it when it matters, it's just a shame it's too little too late for him to do it in Toronto.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Brad Marchand sat out two Team Canada games, and we now know why