- Gavin McKenna scored the go-ahead power-play goal in the third period of a 3-1 Maple Leafs win over the Sharks
- It was the first NHL meeting between McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, the top two picks in the 2026 draft
- Read below for how Toronto snapped its three-game losing streak
Gavin McKenna won the first NHL showdown against Ivar Stenberg.
The No. 1 pick scored the go-ahead power-play goal at 4:56 of the third period Monday as the Maple Leafs beat the Sharks 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena, snapping a three-game losing streak.
McKenna took the puck from the bottom of the right face-off circle, dangled into the slot and beat San Jose goalie Yaroslav Askarov glove side with a wrist shot. Watch the goal:
Stenberg, the No. 2 pick, finished minus-1 with one shot on goal in 14:27 of ice time. This was the first time the two met in the NHL, and the game was billed that way all day. We had the first McKenna-Sharks meeting circled for Monday.
McKenna was asked before the game about facing Stenberg and tried to downplay it.
“I don’t really go out thinking it’s McKenna versus Stenberg,” McKenna said. “It’s Leafs versus the Sharks. It’s a team game.”
Auston Matthews had a goal and two assists for Toronto, which improved to 4-4-2. His power-play goal at 19:48 of the second period tied the game 1-1 after Kirill Marchenko found him in the slot. Check out the feed and the finish:
Mason Marchment had given San Jose a 1-0 lead in the first period. Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for his first home win as a Maple Leaf, and Nick Paul sealed it with an empty-net goal at 19:20 of the third.
McKenna now has three goals and six points in 10 games. Stenberg, who said he felt no interest from the Leafs at the draft meetings, came into the night with six points in eight games.
The Sharks fell to 4-4-1 and are 1-3-1 in their last five. They wrap a back-to-back Tuesday against the Canadiens, while the Leafs visit Columbus for Marchenko’s return.
