Marchenko had a hat trick in his 300th NHL game, including a spectacular highlight-reel goal, but he blamed himself for the Buffalo Sabres rallying past his Toronto Maple Leafs for a 5-4 overtime win on Thursday.
asserted
Sabres → have → Thursday
Marchenko said that he was supposed to be marking Sabres defenceman Owen Power, who scored the winner 3:14 into the extra period.
asserted
who → say → period
“I will remember this night for sure, but it’s so, so bad, that we lost the game,” said Marchenko about having the fifth hat trick of his career.
asserted
Marchenko → remember → career
“A win, it’s more important, and I’m to blame because it’s my mistake in overtime.
asserted
it → ’ → overtime
“Good goals, but I want to win games more than that.
asserted
I → want → that
I’ll just learn from that.”
asserted
I → learn → that
Marchenko was traded by the Blue Jackets to Toronto on Sept. 28 in a blockbuster six-player trade that saw Matthew Knies dealt to Columbus.
asserted
Knies → trade → Columbus
As part of that trade, Marchenko, who could have become a restricted free agent this coming off-season, agreed to a six-year, US$75 million contract with the Maple Leafs that begins in 2027.
uncertain
that → become → 2027
He was put on Toronto’s top line with Auston Matthews to start the season, but struggled to click with the captain.
asserted
He → put → captain
Marchenko had a goal and five assists in his first seven games in a Maple Leafs sweater.
asserted
Marchenko → have → sweater
Head coach Jim Hiller decided to shake up his forwards before Thursday’s game against Buffalo.
asserted
Hiller → decide → Buffalo
He bumped William Nylander up to the top line with Matthews and put Marchenko on John Tavares’s wing.
asserted
He → bump → wing
“It’s a lot of skill with Matthews and with John Tavares too.
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It → ’ → Tavares
I’m so excited play with both these guys,” said Marchenko before the game.
asserted
Marchenko → ’m → game
“It kind of doesn’t matter for me.
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It → matter → me
I’m so excited.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
We’re all nervous, but it’s so funny.
asserted
it → ’re → ?
It’s so funny.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
“It’s unbelievable how the guys support me, help me.
asserted
guys → ’ → me
I just have to try to find chemistry together and do our best because our first goal is to win the games.
asserted
goal → have → games
If we can do that with John or with (Matthews), doesn’t matter.
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we → do → Matthews
We need to win the games.”
asserted
We → need → games
Marchenko and Tavares quickly found that chemistry, including on a highlight-reel power-play goal in the first period.
asserted
Marchenko → find → period
Tavares passed from the slot to Marchenko as he skated backwards across the Sabres’ crease.
asserted
he → pass → crease
Marchenko slid the puck between his own legs and then flipped it past Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen for a 2-1 lead 13:10 into the game.
asserted
Marchenko → slide → game
“I mean those were big-time goals, right?
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those → mean → ?
” said Hiller.
asserted
Hiller → say → ?
”(Marchenko’s) got that dynamicism for sure, and we’re going to need that.
asserted
we → get → that
“You knew it was going to come sooner or later, right?
asserted
it → know → ?
That’s what it is.
asserted
it → ’ → ?
You can’t be that talented and not score.”
asserted
You → score → ?
That chemistry was extinguished in the third period when Tavares was injured after falling awkwardly after a collision with Buffalo forward Josh Norris.
asserted
Tavares → extinguish → Norris
Tavares lay on the ice for a minute before skating off, appearing to favour his left leg.
asserted
Tavares → lie → leg
Tavares did not return to the ice and Hiller had no update on his condition after the game.
asserted
Hiller → return → game
“He’s a great, great player but it’s hockey and it doesn’t matter what happens on the ice, we need to come back to the game and play our way and win the games,” said Marchenko on losing Tavares.
asserted
Marchenko → ’ → Tavares
“I hope Johnny feel great, feel fine right now.”
asserted
Johnny → hope → ?
Marchenko wasn’t even aware that it was his 300th game in the NHL until a reporter asked him about it at Toronto’s morning skate on Thursday.
“Every time when you’re asked like, ‘How’s your career going?’
asserted
career → ask → Thursday
It’s a good career, but I hope it will be better, and I can be better, for sure,” said Marchenko.
asserted
Marchenko → ’ → ?
“What I can say right now is that I don’t think about 300 games.
asserted
I → say → games
“I just think about my game, about team game, and about Buffalo today.”
asserted
I → think → Buffalo
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
