Marner dedicates three-point game to friend celebrating seventh birthday

TORONTO -- Mitchell Marner made Hayden Foulon's seventh birthday her best ever.

The Toronto Maple Leafs right wing supplied Hayden and her family with tickets for the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, then dedicated his three-point performance (one goal, two assists) to her in the 5-2 victory.
After showering and speaking with the media, Marner and his family met the Foulons outside the Maple Leafs family room and presented Hayden with a birthday cake. The top of it had an icing photo of Hayden and Mitch taken at the beginning of the season.
"I love Mitch One-Six," Hayden said.

Hayden has been battling leukemia for most of her life. The two became friends when Marner met Hayden during a hospital tour while he was playing for London of the Ontario Hockely League and have stayed close even as Marner reached the NHL. He gifted her
a shopping spree
in January and wished her
a happy sixth birthday
on Twitter last year.
"I've said it before: She is my hero," Marner said. "I love her."
Marner also gave Hayden a necklace with heart-shaped locket.
"She can put a photo of the two of us in it so she can always keep me close to her heart," he said.
A special night for two special friends.