Mitch Marner Notches 2 Points Against Former Team in Emotional Return

The Vegas Golden Knights staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to six games. The matchup was particularly significant for Mitch Marner, who faced his former team for the first time since being traded from Toronto to Vegas last summer.

Marner Returns to Toronto — On Vegas Ice

Tonight was far from an ordinary regular-season game for Marner. Nearly a decade ago, he was drafted by his childhood team, the Toronto Maple Leafs — a dream come true for a kid who grew up skating on Toronto ice, wearing the iconic crest long before putting on an NHL jersey.

Now with the Golden Knights, Marner faced the organization and city that shaped him. The game was an emotional one for both Marner and Maple Leafs fans, many of whom traveled to Las Vegas to see him play. Reactions in the arena were mixed: boos echoed every time Marner touched the puck, but cheers also came down from the crowd. 

Early Leafs Pressure

Toronto came out of the gate in high gear, exploiting a rusty Adin Hill in net, who was making his first start since October 20, 2025, due to a lower-body injury. Morgan Reilly struck just seconds into the game, beating Hill high on the blocker side, and the Leafs added two more goals in the opening 10 minutes, including one from Auston Matthews. Matthews has been on a tear lately, registering 15 points in 12 games and recently setting the all-time Maple Leafs goal-scoring record with over 420 career goals.

In between those three goals, Vegas managed to get a powerplay goal from Pavel Dorofeyev and was assisted by Mitch Marner picking up his first point against his former team. 

Back-and-Forth Offense

The second period continued the high-tempo, offense-driven pace. Keegan Kolesar battled in front of the net, finding Braden Bowman’s rebound for his second goal of the season, narrowing the score to 3-2. Toronto responded on the power play with John Tavares scoring his 17th goal of the season, keeping the Leafs in control.

Vegas found momentum again in the third period. On another power play, Marner once again assisted Dorofeyev for his second goal, bringing the Knights closer. The Leafs countered immediately, with Scott Laughton scoring on a two-on-one play to reestablish a two-goal lead. Mark Stone kept the Golden Knights in the hunt, extending his point streak to 10 games and scoring his ninth goal in 10 contests.

A potential hat trick for Dorofeyev was waved off due to an offside call, frustrating Vegas as plenty of fans lost there hat that night.

Dramatic Finish in Overtime

With the game tied late, Vegas pulled Hill in favor of an extra attacker. Just seven seconds left in regulation, Jack Eichel found Tomas Hertl in the slot, who converted to force overtime. In OT, Mark Stone set up Eichel behind the net for the game-winning backhand goal, finalizing the score at 6-5. This marked the Golden Knights’ 19th overtime game of the season — the most in the NHL.

Eichel finished with four points, while Stone, Marner, Dorofeyev, and Hertl combined for nine points, showcasing the offensive depth of Vegas’s roster.

After the game, Mitch Marner spoke about playing former team for the first time and what’s fueling the Golden Knights’ six-game run.

The Golden Knights will continue their three game home stretch this Saturday against the Nashville Predators. 

Make sure to stay tuned on Vegas Sports Today for all VGK coverage.