Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner has hit the score sheet in every Toronto game since Oct. 27.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
His smile wide, Ilya Samsonov looked into an array of video cameras and tape recorders on Tuesday and described what it has been like for him to watch Mitch Marner play recently.
The Maple Leafs’ big Russian goalie was every bit as excited as anyone else in Leaf Nation at this point in time.
“He’s ... hot,” Samsonov said excitedly.
Hurt while trying to stop a penalty shot against Boston on Nov. 5, Samsonov is edging closer to a return and could possibly be in the lineup on Wednesday when San Jose pays a visit to Scotiabank Arena.
It would be good to have him back but no matter, the spotlight will fall on Marner. With a point, the 25-year-old right winger will tie a franchise record with points in 18 consecutive games.
Marner has hit the score sheet in every Toronto game since Oct. 27, a loss in overtime at San Jose. After a somewhat pedestrian start where he posted one goal and five points in seven games, he has since had six goals and 23 points.
It is a career-best streak and one shy of the club record achieved by Darryl Sittler in 1978 and Eddie Olczyk in 1989-90. During those streaks, Sittler had 33 points, while Olczyk had 28.
Aaron Dell will get the start in the crease for the Sharks, who were at Montreal on Tuesday. San Jose has lost three in a row and is 7-13-4 overall.
Toronto is 14-5-5, 7-0-2 in its past nine and has 14 points in its past 15 outings.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will raise funds for ALS Action Canada in memory of Hall of Fame defenceman Borje Salming by offering a promotion with all net proceeds from the sales of the team’s Reverse Retro sweater going to the charity.
In addition, the commemorative sweater patch worn by the team to honour Salming after his death last week will be made available for purchase with all proceeds from the sales going to the charity for the remainder of the season.
Marner had a goal in Monday’s 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The triumph helped to complete a road sweep that also included wins over New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. When the Maple Leafs beat them, the Devils had won 13 straight, the Penguins five in a row and the Red Wings four.
Marner scored 52 seconds into the second period. He streaked from one end of the ice to another to accept a pass from Mark Giordano and deposited it past the goalie.
Realizing he was about to get loose, Marner screamed at Giordano to get his attention.
“I heard him for sure,” Giordano said after practice at the Ford Performance Centre. “It was good on him to find a scoring lane and put it in.
“Right from the start he was feeling it and making plays. It has been that way for quite a stretch now.”
Opponents are trying their best to limit the damage but Marner has been flying as fast as his beloved Ford GT.
“You know he is getting the toughest defensive matchup,” Giordano, Toronto’s 39-year-old defender, said. “They are keying on him, but he still makes things happen.”
Marner had a 21-game points streak in 2015-16, his last season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. That is so long ago that he doesn’t remember much about it.
“I am just trying to do my thing,” Marner said his Movember mustache finally showing a bit. “I am trying not to worry about too much stuff. It is all about us winning games here and it has been fun to do it.”
Around him, others are marvelling.
“It is hard to put into perspective because it is so hard to do,” John Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain, said of Marner’s 17-game point streak. “He is such a smart player and has the ability to find out where the opportunities are on the ice.
“What he has done is impressive no matter what era you consider. It is really impressive when you consider the way teams prepare for a player now and understand what you do well.
“Just as any player continues to broaden his understanding of the game, that is happening with him. I think everything about him is a little more well-rounded now.”
Samsonov has gotten an eyeful while watching from the press box. He says that his left knee is well healed now.
“I am happy to be back,” he said. “The last couple of days I have not had any pain. I am so excited and ready to play.”