I paid close attention to Marner this game and I was pretty fine with his performance. I'm not saying he created a lot and just wasn't rewarded. He didn't. But he moved well, he took the right decisions at the right time, and had a good process. There was just nothing there, the Caps killed space and passing lanes and Tavares in particular offered nothing for him to work with. Even those who can and should create magic can't do it out of thin air.
Not to sound funny, but think you're trying too hard to be balanced and reasonable and it doesn't make sense.
This is exactly the kind of game Marner runs into a brick wall, just like the Minnesota game is where his stats line balloons. It's not coincidence or circumstance that he gets shut down, it's called a game plan.
And if he's going to thump his chest about being paid X, threaten offer sheets and pull those kind of stunts in the offseason, it's his job to create magic out of nothing. Get better at spacing out there, get more explosive in your skating, open up seams where there are none and find Tavares. Do something unexpected, pull a Brayden Point and drive to the net.
Otherwise, he's just a mercenary who can't deliver. And I think we can all agree we have no time for that.
