Mitch Marner Reveals the Unexpected Factor Behind His Playoff Confidence
Mitch Marner had a very solid start to his Stanley Cup Playoffs and he explained that one factor certainly helped with things, and it's not exactly what you expect.
Safe to say for the Maple Leafs, Game One against the Ottawa Senators went pretty well. Not only did they come out with a dominant 6-2 victory, but it was a complete effort from top to bottom, in a positive sign that signals good things are coming for the team.
What was a great sign was seeing the Core Four being not only productive, but dominant, each having multiple points and setting the tone for the game. A lot of credit has to be given to Mitch Marner, who is using his 100-point season's momentum and riding it into the playoffs.
But on the back of a three-point night, Marner admitted that while he's used to playoff hockey, one particular moment gave him the confidence and ability to perform under pressure: The 4 Nations Face-Off.
When asked post-game about how he felt going into the game and what led to his performance, he credited the mid-season tournament for giving him the calmness and confidence to play well in such high-stakes:
Maybe just a sense of calmness, confidence. That tournament was pretty quick, obviously very intense, and that's kind of what playoffs is.
It kind of happens quickly, games go by fast and you have to look forward to the next one and realize that it's going to be even harder. So, just calmness and confidence from that tournament, which helps.
It kind of happens quickly, games go by fast and you have to look forward to the next one and realize that it's going to be even harder. So, just calmness and confidence from that tournament, which helps.
The 4 Nations did have a playoff atmosphere, and while it wasn't exactly the same scenario, that final game between Team Canada and Team USA had the intensity level of not only a Stanley Cup Playoff game, but a Game 7 and even arguably the Olympics.
Marner also acknowledged the intensity of the game, and how the team and himself were able to stay calm even with a raucous crowd atmosphere:
«I think just like everyone talked about, it was intense. You knew it was going to be a fiery series, and that's what tonight showed. I thought we did a good job of just staying calm in the moment, and when we had our looks, we made good on them.
Make good on them they did, as the Core Four had a combined nine points (3G, 6A) and it showed that not only are good things to come for the four players, but everyone else on the team.
Let's keep the intensity and the production up, so that Toronto can finally lift the Stanley Cup because 58 years is just way, way too long.
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