The Toronto Maple Leafs need every point they can get, especially on the road, and after winning two straight games in overtime in Philadelphia and Colorado, the Leafs fell in what would be accurately described as a “schedule” loss to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. Toronto has the chance to flip the script with their opposition traveling and playing the second of back-to-back games, as the Leafs take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the third game of their four-game road swing.
The contest marks the first time Toronto faces former Leaf Mitch Marner since last season’s leading scorer departed via free agency to Sin City last July, but the game is more important for the Leafs in the playoff race than anything. The real signature moment for the 2015 fourth overall pick will be in just over a week, when Marner returns to Scotiabank Arena for the first time.
Unlike the mixed response that former captain Mats Sundin initially received when he came back to Toronto wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey in February 2009, there is likely to be unanimity in how the Scotiabank Arena faithful receive a player who attempted to use the narrative of fearing for the safety of his family as the primary reason why he left Toronto for Vegas six months ago, when it was highly probable that his camp led by his father Paul and agent Darren Ferris had designs on Marner leaving going back nearly two year earlier.
If you want to get a more detailed analysis and rundown on how the situation played out, watch these episodes of the Steve Dangle podcast:
Focusing on the game, Marner is playing center for the Golden Knights (due to the injury to William Karlsson) on their second line, and on Wednesday he scored his 11th goal of the season in a 3-2 overtime victory in Los Angeles over the Kings. Vegas has won five games in a row and will welcome back starting goalie Adin Hill back, who has been out for nearly three months with a lower body injury.
Joseph Woll will make the start for Toronto. Matthew Knies did not take part in the Leafs morning skate on Thursday, but it was for maintenance reasons, according to head coach Craig Berube. Toronto will get Nick Robertson back in the lineup after the winger missed the 6-1 loss in Salt Lake City. Robertson left the game against Colorado in the first period on Monday after blocking a shot.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (23-16-7 – 53 POINTS)
at
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (22-11-12 – 56 POINTS)
JANUARY 15, 2026 ▪ 9:30 PM EST ▪ T-MOBILE ARENA (LAS VEGAS, NV)
TV: TSN ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY vs. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
| All-Time Record: | 8-5-1 (14 Games) |
| All-Time Road Record: | 3-4-0 (7 Games) |
| 2024-25: | 1-1-0 |
| Last Five: | 2-2-1 |
| Last 10: | 5-4-1 |
| First Matchup Between Clubs: | November 6, 2017 (Toronto 4 vs. Vegas 3 – SOW) |
| All-Time Record: | 8-5-1 (14 Games) |
| All-Time Home Record: | 5-1-1 (7 Games) |
| All-Time Road Record: | 3-4-0 (7 Games) |
| Last Road Win vs. Opponent: | February 22, 2024 (Toronto 7 at Vegas 3) |
MAPLE LEAFS / GOLDEN KNIGHTS – 2025-26 TEAM STATS
| TORONTO | VEGAS | |
| Goals For Per Game: | 3.33 (6th) | 3.24 (10th-T) |
| Goals Against Per Game: | 3.22 (24th) | 2.96 (11th) |
| Power Play %: | 16.5 (26th) | 26.5 (4th) |
| Penalty Kill %: | 85.1 (3rd) | 82.2 (8th) |
| Shots For Per Game: | 26.8 (22nd) | 28.8 (10th-T) |
| Shots Against Per Game: | 31.4 (32nd) | 24.6 (2nd) |
| Faceoff %: | 56.3 (1st) | 51.1 (10th-T) |
| (NHL rank in parenthesis) | ||
Home › Forums › Victory More Important Than Revenge
Tagged: nhl, Toronto Maple Leafs