LAS VEGAS (AP) \u2014 There were all sorts of signs this wasn\u2019t a typical January NHL game.<\/p>\n
Mitch Marner was featured prominently in the Golden Knights\u2019 pregame video, and when his picture was shown on the large video boards as Vegas\u2019 starting lineup was announced Thursday night, the large contingent of Toronto Maple Leafs fans booed someone who used to be one of their own.<\/p>\n
And booed loudly.<\/p>\n
They let Marner hear it all night, though he and Vegas got the final say in a 6-5 overtime victory over Toronto<\/a>. Marner had two assists in one of the wildest games of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found a way to win an important game for a lot of guys in the room, especially Mitch,\u201d Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. \u201cLet\u2019s call it what it is. It\u2019s his former team. A lot of people have been there. When that happens, you want to play well. I think the guys understood that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack Eichel certainly did.<\/p>\n He gets berated every time he returns to Buffalo and has especially been motivated playing the Sabres. Eichel has four goals and an assist in three games at Buffalo.<\/p>\n He put the capper on a four-point performance against Toronto by scoring the winning goal at 2:44 of overtime. Eichel looked over at Marner after hitting the back of the net and the two embraced.<\/p>\n \u201cThey knew it was a special one for me tonight,\u201d Marner said of his teammates. \u201cThey knew it meant a little more than a usual hockey game.\u201d<\/p>\n Though the many Maple Leafs fans made it clear who enemy No. 1 was in their eyes, the reception that Marner received probably is nothing compared to what\u2019s in store for when the Golden Knights play at Toronto on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I think I know kind of going in,\u201d Marner said of what he expects. \u201cThey got a passionate fan base. They got a lot of love for their team. So got a lot of games in between now and then, and just going to focus on the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n Marner grew up in the Toronto area as a Maple Leafs fan and was drafted fourth overall in 2015. He had spent his career in a Maple Leafs sweater, but despite becoming one of the league\u2019s top forwards \u2014 Marner had 102 points last season \u2014 one of the NHL\u2019s most rabid fanbases often focused their frustrations over the club\u2019s playoff shortcomings on him.<\/p>\n The Maple Leafs have made the postseason each year since 2017, but have yet to advance out of the second round over that time.<\/p>\n Vegas has had considerably more playoff success, twice making the Stanley Cup Final since its first season in 2017-18 and winning it all three years ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Golden Knights are among the most aggressive teams when it comes to pursuing talented players, and they set their sights on Marner, who was more than ready to leave the Maple Leafs. He told TSN in August that one reason he wanted out was because of concerns for his family\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n