It's time to continue looking at Mitch Marner's past history against Eastern Conference teams. While the last iteration produced paltry results, that doesn't mean that the superstar doesn't have some points in him. In fact, he can score at will against anybody.
Take the last Golden Knights win as a perfect example. Marner took the team and carried them past the Detroit Red Wings, scoring a goal and two assists. Performances like that will carry Vegas to new heights, washing away the worries of Las Vegas residents everywhere.
And guess what? He has a "golden" opportunity to repeat that performance on Thursday. The opponent? The Pittsburgh Penguins. Like the Red Wings, Pittsburgh holds a playoff position (uh oh, Spaghetti-O's!). That could mean doom and gloom for a franchise looking to kick things up a notch.
But does Marner's career stats tell that scary story that Golden Knights fans suddenly dread? Believe it or not, the history for Marner has been surprisingly friendly towards Sidney Crosbuy's squad.
Mitch Marner has six goals, 19 assists and a plus/minus of +7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins
On the surface, it might appear that Marner has thrived against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Scoring 25 points in 24 games is something to sing home about, you know. However, there's a caveat to this.
Marner has nine career multi-point games against the Penguins. That has led to some blanks in the scoresheet, raising questions about consistency in his performance. However, that shouldn't deter fans from brushing him off just yet.
The Canadian Olympian has 14 points in the last 11 games against Pittsburgh. He's put up electric performances along the way, scoring five goals and adding nine assists. That should ease the tension for Golden Knights fans needing reassurance from the dismal performance in recent weeks.
Will it be the fix-all solution for Vegas? Definitely not. The Golden Knights need more than Marner to step up and take the reins. However, the former "Core Four" member can be the sparkplug that gets the team going. Sometimes, that's all you need to go on a run.