Mitch Marner instructs Leafs to wake up after trailing 3-0 in Game 7 vs. Panthers

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was predictably furious after the Florida Panthers took a commanding 3-0 lead midway through the second period of Game 7.

After a scoreless first period, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich got on the board for the Panthers. Gadjovich’s goal may have been the breaking point for Marner and company, and the Leafs’ star winger appeared to mouth ‘wake the f— up’ at the bench in frustration.

Marner, for what it’s worth, registered one shot through the opening two periods as the Maple Leafs’ stars produced a listless effort through forty minutes for the second consecutive home game. The 28-year-old submitted the worst game of his career during a 6-1 loss in Game 5 and it’s shaping up to be another brutal loss for Marner and the Maple Leafs, in what could be the winger’s final home game with the club. Marner is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

“It’s what you wanna play for,” Marner said following a Game 6 victory on Friday. “Especially when you’re going down 3-2 into an away building, you wanna bring your best and I thought we did.  The job’s only gonna get harder, so can’t be satisfied.  Gotta take care of yourself, take the rest you need and be ready for a hard game.”