Mitch Marner is off to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.
The 29-year-old winger, who leads all players in the postseason with 21 points in 16 games, was held off the scoresheet in Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche to complete a four-game sweep in the Western Conference Final.
Marner was emotional as the horn sounded on the victory as he reflected on his journey to play for a championship.
“It was a special moment,” he said. “There’s been some dark times in hockey for myself, but I’m honestly thankful for my family, my brother, my mom and dad, my wife, my son, all my friends around me. So, yeah, that was the moment I just expressed some joy and some fun there.
“I’ll enjoy the night and get ready to go to work.”
The Markham, Ont. native joined the Golden Knights last summer on a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Maple Leafs after being selected fourth overall in 2015, but never advanced past the second round of the playoffs despite reaching the postseason in all nine years.
Marner told TSN’s Mark Masters in August that he had hired a mental coach to deal with pressures of playing in Toronto for the final three seasons of his tenure, noting that his address was leaked online after a Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers last spring.
Marner saw a slight drop off in his production during the regular season, posting 24 goals and 80 points in the regular season after topping 96 points in three of the previous four years. He has, however, been at his best in the postseason for the Golden Knights.
This spring marks the fifth time Marner has averaged a point-per-game pace or better in the postseason and unlike in years past, team success has come along with it.
“Obviously, it’s something you dreamt of as a kid,” Marner said of playing for the Stanley Cup. “So, obviously really excited about it.
“The work keeps going.”
Vegas could have an extended break before the final series gets underway with the Carolina Hurricanes currently leading the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 4 in that series is set for Wednesday, with Game 5 on Friday.
