(Sunrise) Mitch Marner has repeatedly pointed out the lack of attention he pays to anything that does not stem from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The winger insists he stays away from social media and doesn’t read or watch what’s on it.
As the pressure mounts, fans in a hockey-loving city panic, and the team faces second-round playoff elimination against the Florida Panthers, he hasn’t changed his mind.
“We don’t care what you (the reporters) say,” Marner said Tuesday after the team practiced at FLA Live Arena. We don’t listen to you outside this locker room. We focus on ourselves and our group. »
This group has an almost impossible challenge.
After overcoming a painful playoff trauma that included a number of crushing disappointments, including six straight playoff losses, the Maple Leafs took a heavyweight hit by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, thus qualifying for the first round. second round for the first time since 2004.
A lot has happened, or not, in the 10 days since.
The Panthers hold a surprisingly dominant 3-0 lead over the Maple Leafs in the series, and can send the Maple Leafs on vacation with a Game 4 victory on Wednesday.
Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares and William Nylander failed to find the back of the net against the Panthers.
Matthews hasn’t scored in this series and Marner and Nylander haven’t moved the ropes in seven straight games.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says the focus on his roster’s lack of production against Florida is one thing, but there are many other factors that contributed to the current difficult situation.
“These guys carried us offensively during the series against the Lightning and they rose to the occasion in the crucial moments, they scored important goals, he said. We are here playing, thanks in large part to the way they have helped us. »