Young Leafs receives opportunity of a lifetime after traveling to Tampa and missing out on being able to see Matthews and Marner

Last night's game between the Leafs and Lightning was an exciting affair - perhaps more so than anyone was expecting with the Leafs already having secured home ice against Tampa in Round 1. The Buds have a pretty strong contingent of fans who travel to watch them play in other areas, thanks to the sky-high prices at Scotiabank Arena.

Florida is an especially popular location to visit for games, as it is a great vacation spot to escape the cold winters and soggy, muddy springs in Ontario. One young fan made the trek from Toronto to watch Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner play against the Lightning in their season series finale. He even brought a sign with him. While he did get to see an exciting game, he didn't get to see Matthews and Marner, as they were both scratched for rest on Monday.


Fortunately for the young fan, the Leafs caught wind of this story and tracked down the young fan for a special meeting with both Matthews and Marner after the game. While he didn't get to see them play, both Leafs superstars made sure he left with his smile on his face, autographs on his shirt, sign and a stick.



This is what being a star in the National Hockey League is all about. Yes, these guys have a responsibility to go out there and play the games each and every night. They're expected to perform at the highest level and that's what their salaries warrant. But going the extra mile to create a lasting moment for a young hockey fan - that's something special that he'll never forget. Kudos to Matthews, Marner and the Leafs for making it all happen.