It’s finally here. The moment we have ALL been waiting for.
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins will square off in a decisive Game 7 at TD Garden. The contest will mark the second one in as many years, and third since 2013 (sorry to bring that one up Leaf fans). The Buds will need their top guys firing at all cylinders if they hope to reverse the curse, including leading goal scorer Mitch Marner, who’s failed to register a single shot on net over his past two games. Head coach Mike Babcock offered up some advice to the 21-year-old, essentially telling his star to just go out there and play.
We’ve all imagined being in that position before!
Through six games, Marner has registered two goals (both scored in Game 1) and back to back assists in Games 3 and 4 while registering a collective -3 +/- rating. Meanwhile, teammate Auston Matthews has scored five goals and an assist over his last four.
As for Babs, he seems pretty ready to go for tonight’s contest. The Leafs' Bench Boss has participated in his share of Game 7’s (including an unsucceful one with the Red Wings in the 2009 stanley Cup Final) and was seen with a huge smile to start off his media scrum on Tuesday morning.
If there was ever a time for Marner to break out of his 'slump'… It’s now.
(H/T Kristen Shilton)
