Marner closes in on 100 points, Lorentz in playoff mode

Going into Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers and with six games remaining, Marner had 94 points.

We figure it’s safe to predict that he will reach the milestone, as Marner has produced at much better than a point-a-game clip in his NHL career.

Through his first 651 NHL games, Marner had 733 points. His average of 1.13 points a game had him at 24th in NHL history and eighth among active players.

The significance of reaching 100 points wasn’t lost on Leafs coach Craig Berube.

“It’s like a guy scoring 50 goals,” Berube told media in Florida on Tuesday, hours before the Leafs and Panthers met at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. “It means a lot to the player, the individual, and to our team and to our organization.

“He just has to make sure he stays in the moment with things and plays the right way and the points will come. He has to stay focused and keep playing his game and focus on playing the team game.”

That shouldn’t be an issue. It’s how Marner plays the game. He doesn’t cheat by any stretch.

Marner’s career high came two seasons ago when he had 99 points, one year after he recorded 97 points.

LORENTZ LOCKED IN

Steven Lorentz is in playoff mode.

The Leafs winger might know a thing or two about the intensity of the Stanley Cup playoffs, having played in 16 of the Panthers’ 24 post-season games last year on their charge to winning the Cup.

When the Leafs arrived in south Florida on Monday for their two-game trip with games against the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, Lorentz didn’t try to catch up with any of his former Panthers teammates. Dinner plans with some of his old pals? Not a chance.

“We wouldn’t hold it against a guy if he was going to see someone on the other team but at this time of year, I want to keep everything internal,” Lorentz said. “You want your group to be as tight as possible and I’m going to keep it inside the group.

“There’s no secret with what’s going on in the standings. It’s a battle right now.”

We can’t argue with that mindset. And certainly not when it pertains to a player who has a Cup ring to his name.

Leafs teammate John Tavares could see where Lorentz was coming from.

“I wouldn’t say we just decided to get a real seriousness, but there is a recognition of where we’re at in the season and the way we want our game trending and how we’re approaching it on a daily basis,” Tavares said. “We know playoffs are coming and what that time of year is all about, but trying to flip a switch or look to change certain things, you want to build yourself throughout the year.”

Perhaps it was no coincidence that Lorentz had his first fight in the NHL on Saturday, scrapping with Sean Kuraly of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“It was a heat-of-the-moment type thing and for me, it’s the time do it is when emotions are high, there’s a scrum in front of the net,” Lorentz said. “I’m not going to plan one and square up with a guy, probably get my teeth knocked out.”

Lorentz wasn’t going to get caught up in nostalgia in playing in Florida.

“Good memories, but that’s in the past,” Lorentz said. “We have a job to do, so that’s the focus right now. I’ve been on a new team all season and this is where my heart is and this is where we want to win. That’s where my mind is.”

CARLO CLEANS UP WELL

Tavares agreed when he was told that Berube recently referred to defenceman Brandon Carlo as a “vacuum” in that Carlo keeps things clean around the Leafs net.

“Never heard that type of analogy before, but that makes a lot of sense with his size and his reach, and the length of his (stick) blade,” Tavares said. “There is a lot of it that can get a piece of something and make it difficult to find passing lanes. That has been a hallmark of his game for a long time and he has been a nice addition for us. He defends really well.”

Carlo smiled at Berube’s description of him.

“I’ve always loved the defensive part of the game, one-on-one battles, that’s where I was competing while I was growing up,” Carlo said. “I had a lot of great resources with coaches, but as I have gone throughout my NHL career, having the likes of Zdeno Chara, Adam McQuaid, Kevan Miller (with the Boston Bruins), guys who take a lot of onus on the defensive side of the puck, that was great for me to learn from.

“I try to have the confidence within myself to recognize that’s a strong part of my game and that’s the part that I can contribute to the group, so I enjoy that.”

LOOSE LEAFS

Panthers coach Paul Maurice offered condolences to the family of former NHL goalie and broadcaster Greg Millen, who died on Monday at the age of 67. “We’re going to miss him,” Maurice said. “Great personality and a great friend to our team and our coaching staff. We were really sad for the family today.” … Maurice on goalie Anthony Stolarz, who departed Florida to sign with the Leafs last summer: “I know that Sergei (Bobrovsky) loved him as a partner because he told me that directly. We loved him here in the room. He is one of those guys, that when he got the opportunity, he got a payday a little bit (a two-year, $5-million US pact with Toronto), he had earned it. Everybody was happy (for him). We would have loved to have kept him. Loved the guy, he was great for us, good for you and your family, hope it works out great for you.” … Maurice said forward Sam Bennett (upper body) won’t play again in the regular season, but had no doubt that Bennett will be ready for the first game of the playoffs … The Leafs were mourning the passing of Alex Faulkner, who played in one game for the team in the 1961-62 season, becoming the first Newfoundland-born player to play in an NHL game. Faulkner, who was 88, went on to play in 100 games for the Detroit Red Wings.