While Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner may not be the biggest dog in the fight, he is absolutely and unequivocally a "heart and soul" type of player.
On Saturday, during the third period of a very close Leafs vs Rangers game in front of the home town crowd in Toronto, Marner was hit by a hard clearing attempt by Jacob Trouba just above his left ear in a very small, unprotected area of his head.
Marner went down in a hurry, but quickly popped back up and skated toward the bench, removing his helmet to reveal the cut to the Maple Leafs trainers before leaving the ice for repairs. The video can be seen below:
In what can only be described as a showcase of heart, tenacity and all-out desire to get back out on the ice to help give his team a chance to win the hockey game, Marner told Leafs doctor Noah Forman to glue his head wound shut quickly, so he could resume playing.
For obvious reasons, Forman could not oblige Marner's request. The cut was far too deep and bleeding too rapidly. Ultimately, the star winger was forced to remain in the dressing room as the medical staff stitched him up.
He would eventually return to the game, but the Leafs came up just short, dropping a 5-4 OT decision to the Rangers.
Really, though.. Let's be honest. Marner is a savage in his own right.
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