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Pat Maroon has elevated himself to the Oilers top-line left-wing spot this season, and there is a responsibility to perform that comes with it.
On Monday night, Maroon answered the bell in more ways than one. He scored his 25th goal of the season and dropped the gloves with a big-name, long-time NHL player in Jarome Iginla.
"He asked me to go so I gave him a shot," said Maroon.
"Patty plays better when someone is mad at him, and not the coach, but somebody on the other team," said Oilers Head Coach Todd McLellan. "I've used that with him a few times when he kind of goes into a bit of a funk, I ask him, who is mad at him on the other team? That's part of his game. That's part of the fabric of who he is and why he got here. He has to maintain that.
"A pretty good player engaged him. It wasn't a fourth-line player that can't score and doesn't get involved in the game. We all have a ton of respect for Jarome and the impact he can have on a game."
Maroon has four goals and an assist in his last four games. On Monday night, he had five shots on goal, tying him with Milan Lucic for the team lead.
BLOG: Maroon answers the bell
