Every squad is in full sprint mode, chasing that golden ticket to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the postseason kicking off in late April and the grand finale set for June, the battle for a playoff spot is reaching fever pitch. And right now, all eyes are on the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs—two powerhouse teams locked in a high-stakes showdown. Fresh off a heart-pounding 4-3 overtime thriller against the Dallas Stars, the Avs are rolling into enemy territory, kicking off a tough-as-nails Canadian road trip.

Meanwhile, the Leafs are just as hungry, clawing their way up the Atlantic Division standings, fighting not only for home-ice advantage but also to dodge a brutal first-round matchup against Florida’s hockey titans. The stakes? Sky-high. The pressure? Unbearable. The action? Absolutely electric. But just when you thought this game couldn’t get any wilder, something unexpected stole the show. Right in the middle of the second period, with the scoreboard reading 1-1, an NHL star decided to put his soccer skills on full display, adding an unexpected twist to this already intense playoff-caliber battle.

NHL game meets some soccer moves!

B/R Open Ice couldn’t resist dropping a mid-game gem on X, and honestly, who could blame them? Right in the heat of battle, Mitch Marner decided to ditch the usual stick play and channel his inner soccer star, pulling off a slick little header to keep the puck in the zone. They couldn’t help but hype up the moment, sharing, “Mitch Marner really tried the header to get the puck back into the zone.” Talk about style points!

If you missed the madness, NHL’s Toronto came out on top with a gritty 2-1 win over Colorado, thanks to Joseph Woll standing on his head with 38 saves and Steven Lorentz delivering a clutch short-handed goal. In a bizarre twist, Simon Benoit’s clearing attempt bounced off an official, setting Lorentz up for a beauty over Mackenzie Blackwood’s glove. Oh, and Auston Matthews? Yeah, he kept his goal streak alive, because of course he did.

Colorado didn’t go down easy—Valeri Nichushkin buried a slick power-play goal off a Nathan MacKinnon pass, and the Avs outshot the Leafs 15-10 in the second. But Woll wasn’t letting anything past him, flashing the glove on Brock Nelson’s dangerous third-period shot. Toronto’s back on a winning streak, while Colorado’s nine-game point run just hit a wall. But coming back to Mitch Marner, he has been in the news not just for his soccer moves, but for some contract drama too!

Mitch Marner’s trade news!

The Mitch Marner contract saga? Yeah, it’s still hanging in the air like a last-second OT shot. Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving isn’t spilling any secrets just yet, doubling down on his ‘we’ll talk when there’s news’ stance. When TSN’s Gino Reda pressed him on Tuesday, Treliving kept it cool, saying the team’s locked in on the ice. But let’s not forget—Marner’s sitting on an expiring six-year, $65.41 million deal, and if he doesn’t ink an extension post-playoffs, he’s skating straight into unrestricted free agency on July 1.

Oh, and about those trade whispers? Word on the street was Toronto nudged him to waive his no-trade clause for a potential Carolina Hurricanes swap involving Mikko Rantanen, but Marner shut that down fast.

His focus? Finishing what he started with the NHL Leafs. And honestly, the guy’s been cooking this season. With 82 points in 66 games, he’s leading the Leafs in style, dishing out assists like a magician and hunting down his first-ever 100-point campaign. Two years ago, he missed it by a single point—so you know he’s itching to hit that milestone.

Treliving gave him his flowers, calling him a key piece of the puzzle as Toronto grinds through the final 14 games, eyes locked on the bigger prize. No distractions, no drama—just a squad trying to hit their stride at the perfect time. And with playoff positioning tighter than ever, every single shift matters.

Speaking of, the Eastern Conference race is pure chaos. Toronto and Tampa Bay are neck and neck with 83 points, just two shy of division leader Florida, who’s got a game in hand. But as Treliving pointed out, it’s not just about where you land—it’s about bringing your A-game when the playoffs roll in. No easy matchups, no freebies. Just war on the ice. And for Marner? Whether he’s rocking blue and white next season or not, you best believe he’s going all-in on this one.