Marner on Vegas Comeback: ‘We Don’t Turn On Each Other’

Mitch Marner had a pretty simple read on why Vegas didn’t fall apart.

“I think we obviously have an older group that just stays patient and calm, and we don’t turn on each other, we don’t get mad at each other,” Marner said after the Golden Knights stormed back from a 3-0 first-period hole to beat Colorado 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday night.

Marner was asked how Vegas kept its head on straight during that 20-minute disaster at T-Mobile Arena. He pointed at the room.

“We know everyone is trying to do their best out there, every single shift. So that was kind of the talk throughout that intermission, just, keep doing what we’re doing, we’re doing the right things.”

Watch the full postgame availability with Marner, Karlsson, Stone, Hertl and John Tortorella:

The line landed loudly in Toronto, where Marner’s old running mates Auston Matthews and William Nylander watched their playoff run end in a different kind of crater earlier this spring. Marner hasn’t aimed anything at anyone publicly since leaving, but the contrast wasn’t subtle to anyone listening.

What’s not up for debate is who’s been the best player on the ice in this series. Marner set up Mark Stone for a power-play goal 19 seconds into the second period to crack the shutout, then fed William Karlsson 4:05 later to make it a one-goal game.

Those two assists pushed his playoff totals to seven goals and 14 helpers for 21 points in 15 games, which leads everyone still skating. We covered his scoring lead heading into this round, and the gap has only grown.

Here are the full Game 3 highlights:

Before Sunday, Vegas had gone 0-19 all-time in playoff games where they trailed by three or more goals. They’re 1-19 now, and one win from a Stanley Cup Final.

Game 4 goes Tuesday night back at T-Mobile.