Golden Knights beat Maple Leafs 6-3 in Marner’s emotional Toronto return

TORONTO (AP) — Mark Stone had two goals and an assist and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Maple Leafs 6-3 on Friday night in Mitch Marner’s emotional return to Toronto.

Jack Eichel Pavel Dorofeyev, Braeden Bowman and Keegan Kolesar also scored for Vegas. Adin Hill made 18 saves, and Ivan Barbashev had three assists.

Marner, who played nine seasons with the Maple Leafs before his long march out the door ended last summer, was booed every time he touched the puck.

John Tavares, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann scored for Toronto. Anthony Stolarz stopped 25 shots in his return from an upper-body injury.

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 has dropped three in a row and five of six.

Rasmus Andersson made his debut for Vegas after the blueliner was acquired from Calgary on Sunday.

Golden Knights: At Ottawa on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: Host Colorado on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner (93) tries a wrap around on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights Rasmus Andersson (4) battles for the puck with Toronto Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar (55) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, center top, with a black eye and stitches from a gym incident, looks on during first-period NHL hockey game action against the Vegas Golden Knights in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Shea Theodore (27), Pavel Dorofeyev (16) and Mitch Marner (93) celebrate a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel (9), Noah Hanifin (15) and Mark Stone (61) celebrate after a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Mitch Marner got a chilly — and loud reception — in his Toronto return.

The Vegas winger was booed loudly before even touching the puck Friday night in a 6-3 victory in his first game in Toronto since a long, drawn-out divorce from the Maple Leafs was finalized last summer.

The jeers grew more intense when Marner entered the action on the game’s first shift, followed by cheers after he exited the ice.

The Maple Leafs honored Marner, who spent nine seasons in Toronto playing for the team he cheered for as a kid, during the first television timeout. There was a mixture of boos and cheers throughout the 40-second video tribute as many fans rose to their feet. Marner raised his right arm and tapped his chest in acknowledgment with Vegas already up 2-0.

Marner failed to pick up any points and had one shot in 17:25.

Drafted fourth overall in 2015, Marner enjoyed plenty of regular-season success with the Maple Leafs, but was a lightning rod of criticism in hockey’s biggest media market for Toronto’s inability to break through in the playoffs.

A slow march out the door from his de facto hometown last season as unrestricted free agency loomed finally ended when the Maple Leafs shipped him to Vegas in a sign-and-trade deal that netted Marner an eight-year, $96 million extension.

“I don’t want to look back,” Marner said during a morning media availability at the team’s downtown hotel. “If you look back, you’ll not focus on what’s in front of you.”

The 28-year-old star was also asked about the video tribute.

“I’m sure it’ll really hit once it starts going,” said Marner, who had two assists against Toronto in a 6-5 overtime victory in Las Vegas last week.

Sporting his number from junior — a golden No. 93 in honor of former Maple Leafs great Doug Gilmour, which is retired in Toronto — a helmetless Marner went through his usual twirls around the ice during warmups. Some fans booed when he emerged from the tunnel, while others along the glass mostly held up signs of support.

Marner appeared to have a friendly word with Maple Leafs defenseman and former teammate Jake McCabe at the red line.

Marner, who said there would be family in attendance for his return, had 12 goals and 40 assists for 52 points in 49 games coming into Friday.

His new club sits comfortably in a playoff position atop the Pacific Division standings, while Toronto entered play three points out in the Eastern Conference post-season race.

“It’s not as chilly,” Marner said about life in Las Vegas. “But playing-wise, both passionate fan bases, both have a lot of love for their team. The media aspect of things is a little smaller, but the fan bases are both fantastic.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner (93) and Toronto Maple Leafs' Nicolas Roy, right, battle for the puck during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner warms up before playing against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner, center, waves to the crowd as they have a tribute to him while playing against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner warms up before playing against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, in NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights' Mitch Marner (93) waves to the crowd as they have a tribute to him while playing against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)