Overview
- Gavin McKenna scored the go‑ahead power‑play goal in the third period on Monday to give the Maple Leafs a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks and end a three‑game losing streak.
- Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves to earn his first home win for Toronto in the game.
- The Leafs killed all four Sharks power plays, continuing a top‑ranked penalty kill that entered the night at better than 96 percent and played a decisive role in the victory.
- McKenna’s goal followed a recent benching in Buffalo and a private conversation with coach Jim Hiller in which Hiller told him the benching was not a reflection on his play, underscoring questions about how the team will manage his minutes.
- The game featured the first NHL meeting between 2026’s No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks, McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, and McKenna’s early output (three goals, six points in 10 games) is shaping expectations for his development in Toronto’s mentorship‑led plan.