SUNRISE, Florida — As warm-ups concluded, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were seen exchanging pucks, seemingly focused solely on their game, while fans eagerly sought souvenirs by banging on the glass. Toronto`s star duo consistently maintains that they block out external noise in the intense hockey market.
Despite their claims, the pressure had intensified significantly following a thoroughly disappointing performance in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers, a loss that pushed the Maple Leafs to the brink of elimination.
Adding to the stakes, with Marner approaching unrestricted free agency on July 1, Friday`s pre-game passing routine could potentially have been their last together wearing the blue and white uniforms.
However, they ensured that wouldn`t be the case, delivering a performance that extended their season and partnership for at least one more pivotal game.