Golden Knights top Maple Leafs in Mitch Marner’s emotional Toronto return

Vegas Golden Knights teammates Shea Theodore (27), Pavel Dorofeyev (16) and Mitch Marner (93) celebrate a goal against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Mark Stone had two goals and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights topped the Maple Leafs 6-3 in Mitch Marner’s emotional return to Toronto on Friday night.

Jack Eichel Pavel Dorofeyev, Braeden Bowman and Keegan Kolesar had the other goals for Vegas (25-13-12). Adin Hill made 18 saves while Ivan Barbashev added three assists.

Marner, who played nine seasons with the Maple Leafs before his long march out the door ended with a new address in Sin City last summer, was booed every time he touched the puck by the crowd at Scotiabank Arena.

• Mitch Marner gets chilly reception in return to Toronto

John Tavares, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann replied for Toronto (24-18-9). Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots in his return from injury. Matthew Knies had two assists.

Playing in the second of a back-to-back, Vegas won for the first time in three contests following a seven-game winning streak, including a 6-5 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs last week.

Toronto, meanwhile, has dropped three in a row and five of six (1-3-2) after an 8-0-2 stretch.

TAKEAWAYS

Maple Leafs: Stolarz played for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury Nov. 11. Veteran defencemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson suited up following an early departure from Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings with a lower-body injury.

Golden Knights: Rasmus Andersson made his debut for the club after the blueliner was acquired from the Calgary Flames in a trade Sunday.

KEY MOMENT

Bowman scored his seventh goal of the season at 5:16 of the second period to extend the visitors’ lead to 4-1 after Toronto failed to clear the puck in front of Stolarz.

KEY STAT

Marner ranks among the top-10 on the Maple Leafs’ all-time list for assists (fourth; 520), points (sixth; 741), power-play assists (fourth; 178), power-play points (fifth; 228), short-handed goals (tied for ninth; 10) and short-handed points (tied for 10th; 18).

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Golden Knights: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press