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“Everything seems to be going really well, so I’m just real happy for them,” said captain Auston Matthews, Marner’s long-time friend. “It’s very exciting for him as well.”

Nick Robertson took Marner’s place practising on the first line with Matthews and Matt Knies.

Marner had a goal and seven assists in six games against Ottawa, so it didn’t appear that he let worry about the impending birth affect his play.

“He was great,” veteran John Tavares said. “That almost takes your mind away from it a little bit, wondering when it’s going to come, when it’s going to happen. So he did a good job of just focusing on playing and worrying about what what he could and knowing when the time comes, it’ll all work out which, which it did.”

Tavares, himself the father of three, had some advice.

“Just enjoy it, it’s really special,” Tavares said. “Obviously, it gives you tremendous perspective and meaning to life. You see things differently. So anyone becoming a parent, becoming a father, it’s pretty remarkable. So I think for him it was also very emotional. So try to soak it all in. Really happy for (Marner), his wife and his family.”

Given that birth can be unpredictable, it worked out well from a team point of view that Marner won’t need to miss a game.

“As a dad, you’re always a little bit on edge  or just thinking about things,” said coach Craig Berube. “It all worked out, which is great. Obviously he’s in a good mood. He’s probably flying high. I remember I had my first child and it’s a different feeling. It’s one of the best feelings you’ll ever have in my opinion. And I’m sure he’s very excited. And, you know, he’ll be excited tomorrow. He’ll get a little skate in the morning and there’ll be a lot of good, positive things on his mind, which is good.”