Another year, another postseason Patrick Marleau leaves without a Stanley Cup.
On Tuesday night, Marleau and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates saw their 2018-19 campaign come to an end with yet another Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins. The defeat marked the second in as many seasons and third since 2013, leaving Toronto without a playoffs series win since 2004. In his 21 season career, the 39-year-old has missed the playoffs twice, accumulated 191 games played, but no hardware to show for it. Following the loss, Marleau admitted that it “stings the same as always.”
Ouch…. Ouch.
Marleau finished the series with two assists and played at least 13:40 in each game excluding Game 3 (11:08). Despite finishing sixth among forwards in scoring, head coach Mike Babcock sent the veteran out during the last two minutes as the Leafs attempted to mount a comeback. Babcock explained his decision following the loss.
The 2019-20 season will mark the third and final year of Marleau’s $18,750,000 contract and at 39, he only has so many more opportunities to win his first Cup. Meanwhile, his former Sharks teammate Joe Thornton still has a shot at winning his first after helping complete one of the wildest wins in recent NHL history.
(H/T Kristen Shilton)
