Marner hoping to take 'confidence' from 4 Nations performance

Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner thinks he can glean plenty of positives from his strong performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

"Confidence. I mean, just belief, also, in a way," he said Thursday after Canada beat the United States 3-2 in overtime to win the inaugural championship. "I'll try to take (this) the rest of this season and then going forward."

Marner recorded three points in the tournament, all of which came at big moments. He scored the overtime winner in Canada's first game against Sweden and recorded two assists in the final versus Team USA. The first helper came on Sam Bennett's equalizer, and the other came on Connor McDavid's overtime tally.

The 27-year-old revealed he felt some "relief" while lifting the trophy.

"It's something we had to earn and work through, and compete against some very high-end players," Marner said.

He added, "It's cool to win something and hoist something."

Marner has long faced criticism for his performance in high-pressure moments.

He leads the Maple Leafs with 39 assists and 50 points in 57 playoff games since his debut season in 2016-17, but he mustered just one goal and three points during Toronto's first-round loss to the Boston Bruins last spring. He also hasn't scored a goal in 16 instances of Games 5-7 in the last five seasons and has just five assists in those matchups.

Marner was enjoying a strong season before the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off and is pacing his team with 71 points (16 goals, 55 assists) in 54 outings. He's on pace to record his first-ever 100-point campaign.

The Ontario native is currently playing out the final season of the six-year, $65.41-million deal he signed as a restricted free agent in 2019.

Marner can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and though he's reiterated his desire to remain in Toronto, he wasn't eager to address his contract status prior to this campaign.

The Maple Leafs (33-20-2) are currently three points behind the Florida Panthers for top spot in the Atlantic Division and have two games in hand. They've won just one playoff series since 2005.

Toronto will resume its regular-season schedule Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET.