Gavin McKenna Scores First NHL Goal in Maple Leafs Comeback Win
Gavin McKenna scored his first NHL goal on October 6 against the Nashville Predators. The 18-year-old rookie also recorded his first NHL assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs won 5–4 in overtime. McKenna finished with his first two-point NHL performance as Toronto overcame a three-goal deficit.
The first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft entered the league with enormous expectations. Against Nashville, McKenna gave Maple Leafs fans an early glimpse of his offensive ability. He contributed to two important second-period goals and helped Toronto work its way back into a game that appeared to be slipping away.
McKenna Records His First NHL Assist and Goal
McKenna collected his first NHL point when he assisted on John Tavares‘ second-period goal. The play marked the beginning of a memorable night for the young forward, who was playing just his fourth NHL game.
Later in the period, Auston Matthews set up McKenna near the right faceoff circle. The rookie fired a shot past Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros at 14:31, cutting the Predators’ lead to 4–3. McKenna celebrated his first NHL goal after already earning his first career assist earlier in the game.
Both milestones came during a crucial stretch for Toronto. Rather than simply adding to his personal statistics, McKenna helped put the Maple Leafs in position to complete their comeback.
Maple Leafs Complete Comeback in Overtime
Toronto continued its rally after McKenna’s goal and eventually forced overtime. Matthews completed the comeback by scoring the winning goal with just 14 seconds remaining, securing a 5–4 victory over Nashville.
McKenna also became the youngest Maple Leafs player to score his first NHL goal since Luke Richardson in 1987. That distinction added historical significance to an already memorable performance.
For a rookie carrying the expectations of a first overall draft selection, recording his first goal and assist in the same game was an encouraging early achievement. It was also a reminder of why Toronto placed so much faith in McKenna’s offensive potential.
