It was classic John Tortorella.
Asked about the play of Mitch Marner in the aftermath of his hat trick in Game 3 on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks, the fiery Vegas Golden Knights coach decided to take the question in a unique direction.
"You guys don't see the stuff he does," Tortorella told reporters Saturday. "People here, people in Toronto, all the people that talk about this guy, they don't see any of the things that he brings to a game even if he doesn't score a goal. I've known that coaching against him.
"That narrative (that Marner struggles in the playoffs) is a bunch of (expletive). Like I said last night, Mitch doesn't care. Mitch is a pro. He's a terrific player, one of the top players in this league and he plays for us."
Marner, of course, received a good deal of criticism in Toronto for being a key player on a Leafs team that didn't get past the second round the past nine years.
Marner leads the NHL with 13 points (six goals and seven assists) in nine playoff games in his first season with Vegas.
The native of Thornhill, Ont., had 63 points in 70 career playoff games for Toronto.
The Golden Knights lead the Ducks 2-1 in their second-round series. Watch Game 4 on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+.
