Marner hunts 100 points in Maple Leafs' season finale: 'It means a lot to guys'

NEW YORK — By head coach Sheldon Keefe’s math, Mitch Marner is already a 100-point player.

And yet, officially, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2022-23 regular-season MVP is stuck at 99 with just one game to touch triple digits — Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

“Trying to play with the right mindset here and try not to cheat for anything,” the top-line winger said. “If it gets rewarded, it gets rewarded. But try not to focus on it too much. Just try and finish out the regular season with wins.”

Marner is directing attention toward the group, instead of the individual. He's saying the right things.

But if you believe he’s not thinking about reaching the century mark, Steven Stamkos is around to splash a glass of reality on your face.

When the Leafs and Lightning did battle Tuesday, the Tampa captain's teammate, Brayden Point, was at 49 goals and hunting a milestone of his own. (Point fired seven shots at Leafs goalie Joseph Woll in a 4-3 loss but couldn’t find the net.)

Now both stars are down to one last chance.

“I think guys try to downplay it when you’re close and you don’t get it. But when you finally do get it, it’s nice,” Stamkos said. “Listen, for as long a history as this game has had, 50 goals and 100 points have always been pretty cool markers as an offensive player to hit."

Stamkos speaks from experience, having topped out at 97 points in 2011-12 and 98 in 2018-19, before eventually crushing 106 last season, at age 32.

“You don’t want to be stuck at a number that’s one less or two less. I’ve done that before, and it lingers with you a bit,” Stamkos said.

Marner reached 94 points in 82 games in 2018-19. The pandemic-shortened seasons of 2019-20 (67 in 59 games) and 2020-21 (67 in 55) had him on pace for 93- and 99-point showings in a full 82.

Last season, a healthy Marner would’ve cruised past 100. He got left with 97 in 72 games played, however.

“I think it means a lot to guys. We were in a similar situation last year,” Keefe said. “You want to get there. But all of our players, Mitch included, are looking big picture.”

Only three Maple Leafs — all centres — have racked up 100 points in a single season: Darryl Sittler (twice), Doug Gilmour (twice), and Auston Matthews, who accomplished the feat as part of his 60-goal, Hart Trophy campaign last season. 

The catch in Marner’s chase is that he has been scratched for load management in the second half of two recent back-to-backs.

“Obviously, it sucks. You don't want to miss games. You want to be out there with your team and help them win. Sometimes, we got people in here that do all the stats… I guess that's what they're paid for, to make sure we're looking at a bigger picture,” Marner said after the first healthy scratch, a 5-2 home loss to lottery-bound Detroit on April 2. “Definitely a tough one, but there's bigger things.”

Marner's tone made it clear he's not a big fan of load management. Still, he's respecting the decisions from above.

“I don’t think anybody is a big fan of sitting out games, but I think the conversations he has with me are different than he has with you,” Keefe said, prior to having Marner watch Tuesday’s win in Tampa from the press box.

“Mitch has played more than anybody on our team and is going to play more than anybody on our team when it counts the most. That’s the most important thing.”

Heck, Keefe doesn’t see a large discrepancy between 99 and 100.

“In my mind, you round up. That’s the way it works. I can’t remember what grade it was when my kids went through the rounding stage, but they know how to do that. To me, you’re a 100-point guy as it is,” Keefe said.

“You’d like to get there. But all our players are focused on bigger things.”

Matthews has reminded Marner over the past couple of days that he’ll be trying to find him in the O-zone at MSG, so no rounding will be necessary.

Like many viewers, Marner has wondered why he wasn’t awarded an assist on this Matthews goal during Saturday’s blowout win over Montreal and not have 100 already.

“That’s a great question,” Marner said.

“I dunno. The NHL doesn’t think so. But I dunno. It’s a great question.”

One-Timers: Keefe’s approach to a relatively meaningless Game 82: “Try to manage everybody’s minutes and look to get out of here unscathed.”… Mark Giordano is dealing with a minor injury and, although he skated Thursday morning, will sit out Thursday…. John Tavares and Sam Lafferty, who is progressing well from an undisclosed injury, both returned home early due to personal reasons…. For the fourth consecutive game, the Leafs have signed an amateur to back up their starter. Tonight’s lucky winner: 22-year-old Ste-Catherine, Que., native Samuel Richard. He played for the University of New Brunswick this season…. William Nylander is one goal away from 40 on the year, and Matthews is one away from 300 on the career.

Maple Leafs projected lines in New York Thursday

Bunting – Matthews – Marner

Knies – O'Reilly – Nylander

Kerfoot – Acciari – Järnkrok

Aston-Reese – Kämpf – Timmins

Brodie – Holl

McCabe – Lilejegren

Rielly – Schenn

Woll starts

Richard (ATO)