This Mitch Marner point streak had already secured a new record within the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ when he recorded a point in 19 straight games. This happened during the team’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month. The record-breaking point was a shorthanded goal during the second period of the home game. Not only a hot streak for the Maple Leafs but one for Marner especially.
It seems for Marner though just breaking the record was not enough as in Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames, Marner reached a streak of 22 games straight by securing a point.
Within the first period, Marner got an assist on William Nylander’s goal during a power play. Overachieving Marner then scored a goal of his own in overtime.
Overtime began with the teams tied at 4-4 and only lasted 43 seconds before Marner secured the game and his 22-game-point streak.
Even with his overtime goal the spotlight of the game definitely shined on both him and Calgary-born William Nylander as he had a 5-point game against his hometown team. Nylander came in hot with an assist to alternate captain Auston Matthews in the first period before his own goal. The assist was flipped in the second period with Nylander’s second goal with an assist from Mathews. In the third period, Nylander had another assist with Micheal Bunting to send the game into overtime.
And to end the game, and hit 5 points, Nylander assisted Marner with his overtime point. The Mitch Marner point streak continued in a fantastic fashion.
“It’s my job scoring goals so hopefully I can score so more,” Nylander said in a post-game interview.
Yet the fans focus on Marner to see how long he can continue this streak and what it means personally for Marner.
Marner had already surpassed both past title holders for the Leafs, Darryl Sittler in the 1977-78 season and Eddie Olczyk in the 1989-90 season. Now he sits tied for 20th for the longest-game point streak in NHL history. Meaning that the Ontario-born 25-year-old is now tied with league legends such as Steve Yzerman, Dany Heatley, and Bronco Horvath.
It was a hometown win when he secured the breaking streak and to have it happen at home meant a lot to the player.
“It’s special to me, it’s special growing up to watch this team play hockey. Now to have my name on something pretty amazing,”
Mitch Marner
If Marner continues on his conquest and gets to 23 games on Tuesday the 13th against the Anaheim Ducks he could be tied with Wayne Gretzky and his 7th longest streak during Gretzky’s 1988-89 season with Los Angeles Kings.
22 straight is an impressive feat but nonetheless a long way to go to beat the overall record, held by Gretzky at 51 games straight in his 1985-86 season with the Edmonton Oilers.
No matter what, Marner has been overjoyed with his success and thankful for the support of his team, especially in the nail-bitingly close game that was Saturday’s game. The entire team has been playing well, especially goalie Matt Murray even after his injuries. Marner had this to say about the team.
“It was a bit of an ugly one there… Just great we stayed with it and great night tonight from [the Auston Matthews‘] line just carrying us really and leading the way.” Marner said, as quoted by nhl.com
No matter how the Tuesday game shakes out, it is certain that fans will be on the edge of their seats to see if Mitch Marner can continue what he has started.
main image credits: Getty Images
awesome stuff