If I had told you before the game that Morgan Rielly, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner were all out of the lineup, would you think the Toronto Maple Leafs could pull off the win? Well, thanks to Bobby McMann and some stellar defence, the Maple Leafs were able to pull off the upset 4-1 over the St. Louis Blues.
Not only did they win, they dominated. The Blues had just 15 shots, which was the lowest shot total by an opponent all season. Games like this help teams pull together, especially when you face as much adversity as the Maple Leafs did last night. Now, there isn’t a timeline on how long Marner and Tavares will be out, as they are both dealing with illnesses.
Related: Morgan Rielly Suspended 5 Games for Cross-Checking
Latest News & Highlight
However, we all know Rielly is going to be out for five games; this depleted lineup needed a hero against a team in the Blues that had come in winning seven of eight. Well, a hero is what they got, thanks to the aforementioned McMann, who had the best game of his NHL career.
McMann’s Career Night
McMann showed up to the rink ahead of the game and was preparing to sit in the press box. He was announced as the extra forward after coach Sheldon Keefe talked to the media as the morning skate ended. When Marner and Tavares’ scratches were announced, McMann was told that he was drawing into the lineup, and he did not disappoint. He opened the scoring just five minutes into the game and scored his second eight minutes into the third with an incredible shot. He was then given the vote of confidence by the coach and was sent out when the Blues’ net was empty. He was able to bank the puck off of the wall and get the angle perfect for it to go in for his third.
McMann recorded his first career NHL hat trick, which has to be an amazing feeling for any NHL player, but more specifically for him. He was an undrafted rookie who worked his hardest to get to where he is. The 27-year-old has battled adversity his whole career, and when his club needed it most, he put the team on his back and showed his teammates he could step up and deliver. After his performance last night, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him earn a few more games as a regular in the lineup, especially since Marner and Tavares are out for another game.
Great Character Win
The Maple Leafs as a whole had a great character win last night against the Blues. They had a depleted lineup, with…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…