Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who took on a supportive role away from the ice over the weekend, is expected to be a key player in Monday night`s game. Marner joined the team for its optional morning skate and is confirmed to play in the opening game of the second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Florida Panthers. His return follows the recent birth of his first child with his wife, Stephanie.
“Really special moment … it`s hard to explain,” Marner commented at Scotiabank Arena, speaking about 26 hours after his son, Miles, was born. “As a parent, I think everyone feels it, but it`s something really cool.”
The forward, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Monday, indicated he`s managing well on the sleep front, despite spending Sunday night at the hospital with his family. “I was just trying to support my wife as much as possible,” Marner said. “Just tried to help out as much as I could.”
Leafs head coach Craig Berube expressed confidence that Marner will perform with energy despite the significant personal development. The Toronto team is now focused on their next playoff opponent after defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 in the previous series.
“He`s in a good spot,” the veteran coach stated. “A lot of good things that are happening in his life — positive things.”
Toronto defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was part of the Panthers team that won the Cup last June, also welcomed a newborn shortly before those playoffs began. “One of the best things that can happen to you, right?” he shared. “It helped me get away from the hockey in between games.”
Florida head coach Paul Maurice humorously suggested his team could almost operate a daycare given the recent arrivals of players` children. “There`s certainly a lightness when they come to the rink,” he observed. “That perspective does change, for sure, especially all of us who`ve been through it. It changes everything in such a positive way.”
Marner explained that he and Stephanie had a plan ready in case she went into labor during the first-round series against the Senators. “That was on our mind quite a bit,” he noted. “You never know when labour is going to hit. We were prepared if something did happen in Ottawa so that there was a way for me to get to Toronto quickly. Family always comes first.”
With a smile, Marner joked that their son, Miles, seemed to have good timing. “My son was lucky enough — smart enough — to know don`t come on a hockey day,” he quipped. “We wanted to try to end that series and try to get the baby coming out before the next one started. It worked out.”
Many Toronto sports fans fondly remember the performance surge from Fred VanVleet during the Raptors` 2019 NBA Championship run, which coincided with the birth of his son.
That event prompted Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to joke in 2020, “Look at Fred VanVleet, he started making all those shots when he had his kid. Maybe that happens to me also. Who knows?”
Panthers Player Absence
Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad is unavailable for Monday`s game as he concludes a two-game suspension issued by the NHL. The suspension resulted from a blow to the head on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in their recent five-game series victory.
Stolarz`s Performance Noted
Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz served as Sergei Bobrovsky`s backup during the Panthers` Stanley Cup run last season. Coach Maurice commented on observing an improvement in Stolarz`s game midway through the current season, which has carried into these playoffs.
“One of the wonderful personalities in the game that you cheer for,” Maurice remarked. “We hope we can find a way to get a few by him, but good for him. He did it right by his teammates.”
“Great personality, really team-first guy. You love seeing those guys have success,” he added.