Marner Sheds Playoff Choker Label With Natural Hat Trick as Golden Knights Take 2-1 Lead

Mitch Marner Finally Shows Up When It Matters Most If you've been waiting for Mitch Marner to show up in the playoffs, the wait is officially over. The former Maple Leaf, now starring for the Vegas Golden Knights, erupted for a natural hat trick in a dominant 6-2 beatdown of the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3. Vegas now holds a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. For years, Marner was the poster child for playoff disappointment in Toronto. His points-per-game average dropped from 1.13 in the regular season to 0.90 in the playoffs during his Leafs tenure. He was called "pathetic" and "disengaged" on national broadcasts. He went scoreless in six Game 7 losses. Now? He leads the entire 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in scoring with 13 points in nine games. "People give him s--- all the time about playoffs and this and that. I don't think it bothers him a lick. He just plays," Vegas coach John Tortorella said. The Hat Trick Breakdown Marner's night was a masterclass in complete hockey. It started with a shorthanded assist on Brayden McNabb's goal after Marner intercepted the puck in his own zone during an Anaheim power play. Then came the goals: - Goal 1: Power-play finish, collecting a loose puck in the crease with 4.6 seconds left in the first period - Goal 2: Patient deke on Ville Husso (who replaced starter Lukas Dostal) at 9:19 of the second - Goal 3: Snuck the puck between Husso and the right post at 17:56 of the second to complete the natural hat trick "I feel like I just want to go out there and play my game," Marner said. "Sometimes the results weren't coming in the past. Sometimes that's what happens." Canadiens Tie It Up Against the Sabres In the Eastern Conference, the Montreal Canadiens bounced back with a dominant 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres to tie their second-round series at one game apiece. Alex Newhook netted two goals for Montreal, who looked completely re-energized after dropping Game 1. NHL Betting Takeaways Vegas continues to look like a juggernaut, especially with Marner finding his scoring touch to complement his elite two-way play. The Golden Knights have now won a Game 3 on the road to take a series lead for the sixth time in franchise history, and they went on to win each of their previous five series after doing so. For the Canadiens-Sabres series, this looks destined to go the distance. Buffalo will need to find an answer for Montreal's speed in transition heading into Game 3. One concern for Vegas: captain Mark Stone left Game 3 after the first period with an undisclosed injury. Tortorella had no update postgame. If Stone misses time, the Knights will need Marner to keep up this level of play. --- Related reading: - Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2: Sabres Take Game 1, Ducks Even Series With Vegas - Ducks Eliminate 2-Time Defending West Champ Oilers in Game 6 - NHL Playoff Drama: Hurricanes Complete OT Comeback, Controversial Goal Lifts Vegas in Game 1