Will the Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner’s Scoring Ever Slow Down?

How good was the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner last month? He was good enough to be named the first star for the entire NHL’s first star for February. During the team’s last 12 games, Marner’s name was written on the scoresheet eight times. He led the NHL in goals with nine, in assists with 14, and obviously in points with 23.

That very prolific month of February moved him (at the beginning of the month) from 72nd in NHL scoring to where he now sits at 16th in the Art Ross Trophy race with 57 points in 45 games.

Related: Three Takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 5-1 Loss to the Sabres

Marner’s Recent Streak Stated Against the Minnesota Wild

Late in February, Marner posted three assists in two games. In the team’s 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, he registered two assists. However, after a goal-scoring clinic in mid-February, he’d gone eight games but with only a single goal. At that point in time, he’d scored 48 points (with 31 of them being assists) in 42 games on the season.

Marner Has Career Night Against the Detriot Red Wings

The real breakthrough for Marner came against the Red Wings when he scored four goals and added two assists (for six points) in a 10-7 win. It was a career for Marner. First, it was his first NHL hat trick and it was even better when he scored four goals.

The first three of those four goals were a natural hat trick he put together during the first half of the second period. That night gave Marner a three-game, nine-point scoring streak (which included four goals and five assists). It moved his scoring dramatically up to 54 points in 43 games.

Marner Continued to Shine Against the Washington Capitals

Against a strong Washington Capitals team, Marner registered a pair of assists in the team’s 5-3 win. While only two assists seems moderate after a huge six-point performance, the important point was that Marner simply continued to play well. As a result of this stellar play, Marner finished February red-hot — he logged nine goals and 14 assists (for 23 points) in just 12 games. That huge move pushed the amazing 24-year-old winger to 56 points with a plus-18 rating through 44 games.

Related: 18 Odd Facts from a Game for the Ages: Maple Leafs Beat Red Wings 10-7

Marner Even Logs an Assist in His Team’s Poor Showing Against the Sabres

Although Marner and his first-line teammates Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting played poorly overall against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss, he had another fine assist on the team’s only goal of the game. That assist put him at 57 points in 45 games on the season.

No one is as hot as Marner currently is. During his past four games, he’s totaled four goals and seven assists. When you’re hot your hot, and Marner is hot.

Marner Is Part of a Great Maple Leafs Top Line

Is there any reason to believe that Marner will slow down for the remainder of the season? Sure a game or two without multiple points, but he has a great line to play with. As a team, the Maple Leafs have so many great playmakers. Together, with Marner and Matthews leading the way, who’s to say they can’t continue to put up points – and lots of them?

The question is: Can the Maple Leafs translate that scoring into playoff success? History suggests that task might be difficult; however, the first line has such great chemistry that there’s always a good chance the team can put together a playoff run.

In the meantime, with Marner putting the puck on the sticks of his linemates Matthews and Bunting, there’s a lot of scoring left to do and points to pick up.

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