I always laughed at that sentiment. Two of the most skilled players in the league and BFF’s have no chemistry.
Mitch Marner went on a heater with 3 points in 59 seconds with 9 minutes left in the third starting with this insane spinning pass from Matthews which I’ve watched 100 times now.

bUt mArNeR aNd mAtThEwS dOnT hAVe cHeMiStRy pic.twitter.com/0MPmwUlaeM

— Saint Nicky Pizazz (@NickyPizazz) December 23, 2019

Followed by this solo effort and I can’t even.

Here’s Marner with his 3rd point in 59 seconds. Just goes for a rip right off the draw. Can’t make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/mK3dziM1mL

— Pavel Barber (@HeyBarber) December 23, 2019

I love that the kids get to finally play.  If Auston Matthews attempted that pass a month ago, Babcock would’ve found a way to criticize him for hot dogging despite the goal.  Mike had every player’s nut’s in his purse so I doubt Matthews attempts that pass a month ago.

But what a game. 15 goals in 60 minutes

It was an early 2 pm game which was perfect for the ‘f**k work’ booze can Leaf fan and it was a goddamned derby.

The Leafs scored the first three followed by five unanswered goals from a really good Canes team.

But today was Mitchy Marner’s day.  He’s a freak.

It started a game ago with that strip play resulting in him scoring surrounded by four Rangers getting punched in the head for his efforts.  Savage.

Mitch had 5 pts (2G, 3A) tonight and was clearly the best player on the ice on a night when Freddy was shit (34/40, .850 SV%). Bumper to bumper, that might have been the most entertaining game I’ve seen in this team play in 7 years and a perfect way to start the Holidays if you’re a Leaf Psycho.

If you missed the game or wanna relive the highlights of this gift from Christmas present, you can watch it in its glory with the boring parts taken out, here:

The Leafs go into the break 20-14-4, good for second in the Atlantic division, 6pts back of Boston who’ve been shitting their pants (2-4-4 in their last 10) and you should be hopeful Leaf Nation.  There’s a human being behind the bench who wants the players to play the game they love, the way they want to play.  It’s what you’ve drafted, and signed guys to do and it’s better hockey so I hope the NHL takes note

If Babcock was still here, that’s a 6-1 loss.  Hundo P.

All hail Sheldon Keefe…

We’ve been waiting for this for four years.