Mitch Marner spoiled Todd McLellan’s debut in Detroit.
Marner potted a natural hat trick in Friday’s contest against the Red Wings, leading the Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory in Motown. Per the Maple Leafs, it was Marner’s third career hat trick and his second career natural hat trick against the Red Wings.
With his goal at 16:23 of the second period, Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner recorded his third career hat trick and his second career natural hat trick (February 26, 2022 at Detroit).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 28, 2024
Marner loves facing the Red Wings. He now has registered 18 goals in 27 career games against the franchise. Toronto was once again without captain Auston Matthews, who is nursing an upper-body injury and won’t play at all this weekend, meanwhile, Marner continues to showcase he’s a game-changing superstar, who the Leafs can lean on in big moments. At least in the regular season, that is, but that’s a story for another day.
This was a game the Maple Leafs were ‘supposed’ to win, and it’s a great sign to see them dominate a bottom-feeder like the Red Wings. Even with a new coach behind the bench in McLellan, Detroit couldn’t do anything to impress their bench boss, and were behind the eight ball early on as David Kampf opened the scoring just over two minutes in. Kampf was appearing in his 500th career NHL game, and was able to get on the scoresheet with his first goal of the season.
Marner’s first of the night was the prettiest goal of the game, thanks to a slick feed from John Tavares between his legs.
Johnny T with some tricks of his own 🪄 pic.twitter.com/uc7L2LKPxo
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 28, 2024
Nick Robertson also scored for the Maple Leafs, as the chemistry on the third line continues to shine for the Leafs. Meanwhile, Joseph Woll won his ninth game of the season, stopping 23 of 25 shots. With a back-to-back this weekend, look for Matt Murray to make his second start of the season Saturday night at home against the Washington Capitals.
Per the NHL, Marner’s second career natural hat trick now puts him just one shy of the Maple Leafs’ franchise leader, Darryl Sittler.
Mitch Marner joined John Tavares as the second @MapleLeafs player with a natural hat trick this season, marking the first time that Toronto has recorded multiple in a campaign since 1975-76.#NHLStats: https://t.co/5tcFfES66l pic.twitter.com/VrgF7fs0LA
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 28, 2024
This was a game of two teams heading in opposite directions. The Maple Leafs continue to climb the Atlantic Division standings, meanwhile Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman spent the day defending the ‘Yzerplan’, while his new head coach stated the team needed to find some spirit.
The Maple Leafs are now 22-12-2 on the season, and continue to secure points without Matthews. Marner doesn’t seem to mind, as 10 of his 13 goals this season have come without Matthews in the lineup. Next up, the Washington Capitals, in what could be a potential Stanley Cup Playoff matchup.