The San Jose Sharks faced a 3-1 defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, a game decided by Toronto's Gavin McKenna. The 18-year-old forward's winning goal in the third period broke a 1-1 tie and simultaneously ended a three-game losing streak for the Maple Leafs.
McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NHL draft, scored on a power play. He secured a loose puck after Toronto captain Auston Matthews won a battle down low and fired a shot low glove side past Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. This marked McKenna's third professional goal. Following the score, McKenna dropped to one knee in celebration, stating he was "Pretty fired up" and acknowledging the difficulty of scoring in the league.
This performance followed a challenging period for McKenna. The previous Thursday, he experienced his toughest night in the league against Buffalo, where he was benched after the midway point of the second period, logging only six minutes and 36 seconds of ice time. Toronto head coach Jim Hiller later confirmed he had a "good talk" with McKenna in the aftermath of that game, where the Maple Leafs lost 5-4 in overtime.
McKenna quickly saw his ice time increase. On Saturday, he skated a career-high 17 minutes and 56 seconds in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. Against the San Jose Sharks, he made the most of his 11 minutes and 30 seconds on the ice, directly contributing to the winning effort. McKenna reflected on the importance of staying focused, indicating his approach to the game is about "trying to be where your feet are" and a desire to "bounce back" after a tough game.
Captain Auston Matthews, who contributed a goal and two assists in the game despite an early turnover that led to the Sharks' opening goal, praised McKenna's composure. Matthews noted that his young teammate "doesn’t shy away from the limelight" and that setbacks do not "shake him." Coach Hiller reiterated McKenna's consistent demeanor, describing him as "just the same guy" and highlighting his comfort with the pressure associated with being a high-prospect player.
McKenna now has six points in 10 NHL games for the Maple Leafs, who currently hold a 4-4-2 record. Monday's game also featured the first NHL meeting between McKenna and San Jose Sharks winger Ivar Stenberg, who was the No. 2 overall pick in June. On this occasion, McKenna, whose name was called first in the draft, proved to be the difference-maker. Coach Hiller added that McKenna is "not afraid of the moment" and "enjoys the moment," wanting to be a "big-time player." McKenna himself stated he feels "built for situations like Monday" and takes pride in "perform[ing] in those situations."
