Mitch Marner is ridiculous, other takeaways from Leafs vs. Bruins Game 6

The Toronto Maple Leafs won again tonight, beating the Boston Bruins 3-1 in a wild Game 6 in Toronto. Here are three takeaways from the game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up another win on the back of goaltender Frederik Andersen in Game 6 tonight. The two teams head back to Boston for what will be an intense Game 7 on Wednesday night.

The Bruins dominated early on, looking much like they did in Game 5, but the Leafs managed to balance the game out in the third when it mattered.  They protected their Mitch Marner-given one goal lead through the period.

There are areas of improvement for both teams heading into Game 7. The Bruins need to find a way to score on Andersen. The shots are there, they just can’t seem to beat the red-hot goaltender when  it matters. The Maple Leafs would love to keep playing the way they did in the third period of this game. They made stops, kept the Bruins attack at bay and finally gave some support to their goaltender, who has been earning every penny of his paycheck this series.

Here are three specific takeaways from Game 6:

1. The Bruins need to score more goals

The key to winning hockey games is to outscore your opponent. In the last two games, the Bruins have not done that. While the opportunities are there, pucks are not going in to the net (or they are being stopped by a flailing stick paddle). The B’s could sure use more scoring from everyone right now, but specifically from the second and third lines.

The chances are there and the Bruins, for the most part, have been outshooting the Leafs in this series, including a Game 5 in which he made 19 of his 42 saves in the third period. If the Bruins want to win this series, they need to find a way to beat Andersen. Perhaps they have someone in-waiting who can provide immediate scoring…

The Bruins need more goal scoring, and who better to provide this than young phenom Ryan Donato. Donato has been sitting on the outside of this line up through this series, but perhaps it’s time to give him a shot. The B’s have Donato as an option if they want to add some goal scoring ability. Donato being great is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Why not now? If Cassidy chooses to go with Donato in Game 7 and it works, he looks like a genius. And if it doesn’t…. no. It will work.

2. Mitch Marner is very, very good

20-year old Mitch Marner has been the second-best player in this series, bested only by his goaltender. He’s been the Leafs’ best two-way player, constantly working the Bruins top line while remaining productive on offense. With a goal and an assist in this one, Marner is riding a five game point streak, capped by this beautiful backhander that beat Rask tonight:

Most Leafs fans could tell you how good this kid was going to be but the mainstream media focuses most of their attention on Auston Matthews. If the Leafs win Game 7 of this series, Frederik Andersen will likely get the glory, but Mitch Marner deserves to be right there with him. Regardless of what happens in this series, Toronto has a very bright future.

The announcers are going out of their way to make sure they don’t call the Marner line a checking line. Mitch Marner is out here playing against the best line in hockey and is looking like the best player on the ice while doing so. Wild.

3. Frederik Andersen is playing the best hockey of his career at the perfect time

Even though the Bruins are getting shots on net and scoring chances, Andersen is stopping nearly everything. The Bruins are frustrated, rightfully, and it has led to players trying to do more with the puck or trying to be too fancy with shots. The Bruins need to get their confidence back going in to Game 7, and beating Andersen early will be the key to this.

Who could have seen this coming after Andersen was so pedestrian in Games 1 and 2. He is red hot right now and if he keeps it up, the Leafs might actually win this series. What else is there to say about Andersen? Just watch this:

How? Expect more of this insanity in Game 7.

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The Bruins need to look at Game 7 with a clean slate. Forget everything about the last two games and focus on winning one and moving on. If the Leafs want to steal this series in Boston, they will have to play like they did in the third period of this one. Break up scoring chances, play smart hockey, don’t take dumb penalties and let Freddy be Freddy.

This series has become everything the hockey world has hoped for, unless you are a fan of the Bruins and are losing years off your life watching Andersen knock pucks out of the air with his paddle. He’s looking like your younger brother being peppered with shots by you and your friends in a game of street hockey, except he can’t be beat.

Expect another great game on Wednesday.

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