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Toronto Maple Leafs: Three Takeaways From the Home Opener

By David Morassutti

Oct 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) embraces goalie Frederik Andersen (31) as they celebrate a 4-1 win over Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) embraces goalie Frederik Andersen (31) as they celebrate a 4-1 win over Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Oct 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) celebrates his first career goal with forward Tyler Bozak (42 during the first period against Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Mitch “The Magician” Marner

Mitch Marner had a strong game against the Ottawa Senators, but fellow rookie Auston Matthews stole the show with his four-goal performance. Saturday night was Marner’s turn to steal the spotlight, though.

He scored his first career NHL goal off of a nice play started by Nikita Zaitsev. Unfortunately for Marner, his mother was washing her hands when the goal happened, but I think she will get many chances to see him score more goals moving forward. Marner did not stop his dominant play after his goal as he continued to give the Bruins defence problems all night.

Many wondered if Marner would have issues at the NHL level because of his size, but that has not happened. If anything, Marner has made it tough for opposing players to take the puck off him because he is able to move around more freely because of his size. It is like he has a magnet that constantly attracts him to the puck. He is always trying to retrieve the puck and once he has it he will only give it up to get a quality shot on goal or set up a linemate with a quality scoring chance. He can surprise a lot of people this season and has shown that he is ready for a full season in the NHL.

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