Mark Stone is to takeaways as Alexander Ovechkin is to goals. As Joe Thornton is to assists. As Connor McDavid is to speed.
It’s become somewhat of an art form for the Senators forward, now nearly three full seasons into his NHL career. Stone does it like absolutely no one else.
“It’s literally every game,” said teammate Zack Smith after practice Monday morning. “He’ll hit the guy next to him and you’ll be like ‘did he just steal the puck there?’”
“He’s gotten so good at, not just catching guys by surprise, because they know he’s coming, but just using his stick at the right time and being smart with the timing of it,” said Kyle Turris.