TAMPA — Mitch Marner made history on Saturday night.
The Maple Leafs winger scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, extending his point streak to 19 games and breaking the Leafs franchise record of 18 games.
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The mark was set by Darryl Sittler in 1977-78 and tied by Eddie Olczyk in 1989-90.
Marner’s milestone point came at 5:18 of the second period, and considering the accolades he gets for his defensive work, it was fitting that his goal came while the Leafs were shorthanded.
Marner and David Kampf applied pressure on the penalty kill, forcing the Lightning into some temporary sloppiness with the puck. Kampf got control and passed to Marner, who beat goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy with a low shot from the hash marks.
Marner went one further in the third period, scoring on a Leafs power play at 11:55 to tie the game 3-3.
In the first meeting between the clubs since the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Lightning won in seven games, Tampa prevailed 4-3 in overtime.
Alex Killorn scored at 33 seconds of the extra period, beating Matt Murray with a shot that appeared stoppable.
The Leafs are 1-6 in overtime this season, including six losses in a row.
The Leafs’ five-game winning streak came to an end, and so did their six-game road winning streak. Toronto had not lost on the road since Oct. 30 in Anaheim.
An apparent go-ahead goal by John Tavares with four minutes left in the third was not allowed as the Leafs captain kicked the puck into the net.
Tampa had taken a 3-2 lead at 4:34 of the third with its second power-play goal of the period. Ross Colton had an open net after the Lightning moved the puck around and made good on his shot.
The first Marner goal gave the Leafs a 1-0 lead, though the Lightning tied the game less than three minutes later on a goal by Vladislav Namestnikov.
Tampa tied the game 2-2 on a power-play goal by Nikita Kucherov at 1:51 of the third, coming when Murray was screened and did not pick up the shot. Marner was in the box, serving a tripping minor.
The Nylander goal was key at the time, as it came 22 seconds after it appeared that Brayden Point put Tampa up by one.
Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe challenged for offside, and sure enough, a quick review revealed the Lightning clearly was offside.
The Lightning was 2-for-6 on the power play as the Leafs were undisciplined, which is out of character for the group. Toronto was 1-for-5.
During his prolific run, Marner has eight goals and 17 assists. Next in Marner’s sights is a Leafs record held by Doug Gilmour, who had a point in 12 consecutive road games in 1993-94. Marner would hit 11 games in a row with a point in Dallas against the Stars on Tuesday.
After the morning skate, Leafs defenceman Rasmus Sandin predicted that Marner would break the record.
“I think so,” Sandin said. “I don’t think that’s what his main focus is right now, but I don’t see an ending for it with how good he is playing.
“It’s a treat to play with him. I probably have the best seat in the building to watch it. It’s unbelievable. The way he skates, the way he is handing the puck, the plays that he makes, some plays I don’t think anyone else in the building sees but him.”
And former Leafs defenceman Zach Bogosian, now with the Lightning, chimed in on his former teammate.
“It’s good to see a friend having success,” Bogosian said. “He’s such a complete player. It’s talked about how many games he’s putting together in points, but just as impressive is the impact he has defensively and away from the puck.”
Each team a couple of chances in the first period, but neither could get one to drop.
Marner generated on two Leafs power plays and at five-on-five, yet there was nothing to show following 20 minutes.
Of Murray’s 11 saves, his best was on Corey Perry, who swept to the hashmarks on an odd-man rush and was denied by the Leafs goalie.
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At the Tampa end, Vasilevskiy thwarted Auston Matthews with a pad save during a Leafs man-advantage and earlier got a toe on a Nick Robertson shot.
The start of the game was delayed, for good reason. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos was honoured in a ceremony, involving his wife, two sons and parents, for recording his 1,000th NHL point on Thursday in Philadelphia. Stamkos is the first player in Lightning history to reach the milestone.
More than $250,000, meanwhile, had been raised for ALS Action Canada through the sales of the Borje Salming patch and the auction of Leafs game-worn sweaters. Though the Leafs no longer are wearing the Salming patch, it still can be purchased.
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