'We Try To Step Up When Guys Go Out': Mitch Marner's Hat Trick Pushes Maple Leafs Past Red Wings With Auston Matthews Out Of Lineup

Ten of Marner's 13 goals this season have come while Matthews is out of Toronto's lineup.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs need goals with Auston Matthews out of the lineup, Mitch Marner has provided them.

The 27-year-old registered a natural hat trick on Friday night in the Maple Leafs' 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He scored two goals in the first period and one in the second — which ended up being the game-winner — for the third hat trick of his NHL career.

Marner finished the game with 19:25 of ice time, the third-most among Toronto forwards, behind William Nylander (19:35) and Matthew Knies (20:05). John Tavares had two assists, including one highlight-reel pass for Marner's first goal of the game.

"Well, I mean, tonight, two goals off of great plays off of other people making a pass. Just trying to find quiet ice and lucky enough I was able to capitalize on them," said Marner on Friday night. 

"The other one, just try to get to the net and got a tip on that. I don't know. Like we've talked about, we try to step up when guys go out and guys have done that." 

Toronto has been strong this season with Matthews out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury. They've won eight of 12 games with their captain out. Marner, better known for his playmaking abilities, has scored 13 goals this season, and 10 have come while Matthews is out.

"Mitchy's one of the best in the league. His ability to play in all situations, the difference he can make for us offensively, defensively," said Tavares following Toronto's win on Friday.

"His hockey sense is world-class and not many players in the game can do what he does and sees it the way he sees it. Whether Auston's in or he's not, what Mitchy provides for us in how he plays is unbelievable and we're really lucky to have him."

Marner is on pace for 30 goals by the end of this season, which, if he does achieve that, will be the third time he's reached that milestone in his career. (His career-high for goals in a season was 35 during 2021-22.)

Aside from the goals, playmaking, and strength on the defensive end, Toronto needs production in the playoffs. Marner has two game-winning goals this season, including one in overtime against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 16.

It's difficult to say whether that trend will continue in the postseason, but Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube likes what he sees out of Marner while a player of Matthews' calibre is out of the lineup.

"We need him to come up big and score goals, right? Like other guys, and he does it," Berube said on Friday. "He has five shots on net tonight. I mean, that's the difference for me. He's just shooting the puck. He's got a good shot and he can score goals. He's a great playmaker, but there's times we need him to shoot too."