In a game that featured the top two picks of the 2026 draft — Toronto’s Gavin McKenna and San Jose centre Ivar Stenberg — it was the Maple Leafs star youngster who shone brighter.
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who → feature → draft
McKenna scored the game-winner on the power play early in the third period as the Maple Leafs beat the Sharks 3-1 Monday night to end a three-game winless skid (0-2-1).
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Leafs → score → skid
Auston Matthews set up McKenna, also scored on the power play and assisted on Nick Paul’s empty-netter in a low-hitting game in which the Leafs usually thrive.
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Leafs → set → which
Matthews had his fourth multiple-point game of the season.
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Matthews → have → season
“That’s a huge night for the group,” said McKenna.
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McKenna → ’ → group
“Guys were working from the first line to the fourth line.”
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Guys → work → line
It was the first game-winning goal of his career.
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It → win → career
“Auston won that puck battle and I had a little time and space in front, then shot low-glove.
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I → win → front
Lucky it went in,” said McKenna.
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McKenna → go → ?
“It’s a hard league to score.
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It → ’ → ?
When you put one in the back of the net, it feels pretty good.”
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it → put → net
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 31 shots for his first win as a Leaf on home ice, aided by a team that protected its lead more by attacking than defending.
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that → stop → defending
The NHL’s No. 1 pick played less than seven minutes in Thursday night’s overtime loss against
That puts their record after 10 games at 4-4-2, a .500 points pace that doesn’t translate to a playoff spot over an 84-game schedule.
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that → play → schedule
But they’re hanging tight in a very tough Atlantic Division despite injuries to key players such as Chris Tanev and John Tavares and a roster that is still getting to know each other.
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that → hang → other
The pre-game hype involved McKenna and Stenberg.
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hype → involve → McKenna
It was rumoured over the summer the Leafs coveted Stenberg as well but couldn’t pry the second overall pick from San Jose.
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Leafs → rumour → Jose
“He’s a good player, having a good start to the year,” McKenna said of Stenberg.
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McKenna → ’ → Stenberg
“But I don’t go out there thinking it’s McKenna vs. Stenberg.
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it → go → Stenberg
It’s Leafs vs. Sharks.
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It → ’ → Sharks
It’s a team game.”
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It → ’ → ?
Both came into the game with two goals.
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Both → come → goals
McKenna now has three goals, three assists and became the second Maple Leafs player age 18 or younger in the modern era (since 1943-44) with at least six points through 10 career games alongside Russ Courtnall (10 points in 1983-84).
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McKenna → have → 1983
A Matthews giveaway — to Tyler Toffoli — in his own zone led to a 1-0 San Jose lead when Toffoli found Mason Marchment alone in front of Bobrovsky.
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Toffoli → lead → Bobrovsky
The Leafs had a few chances, but failed to convert on two power plays that included 1:02 of a 5-on-3.
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that → have → 5
Time was winding down, San Jose had control and somehow managed to put too many men on the ice with 19 seconds to go.
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Jose → wind → seconds
Five seconds later, Matthews tied the game going into the third period tied 1-1.
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Matthews → tie → period
The results haven’t been what has been expected of the Leafs, and the heat is starting to get turned up on coach Jim Hiller.
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heat → expect → Hiller
“I don’t really feel like I’m dealing with that,” Hiller said before the game.
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Hiller → feel → game
I’ve had these press conferences.
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I → have → conferences
These questions have been asked.
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questions → ask → ?
We talk about the team, how it’s going.
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it → talk → team
Then we go forward.
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we → go → ?
And try to coach the team to a win and make the team better.”
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team → try → win
Notes: Winger Vinni Lettieri, 31, was called up from the Marlies and played his first NHL game since the 2024-25 season when he had three goals and two assists in 26 games for the Boston Bruins.
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he → call → Bruins
Lettieri wore No. 71, last worn by Nikita Grebenkin.
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Lettieri → wear → Grebenkin
… The Leafs also called up goalie Artur Akhtyamov to back up Bobrovsky for Monday’s game.
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Leafs → call → game
Anthony Stolarz was given the night off, but will start Tuesday’s game in Columbus.
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Stolarz → give → Columbus
The Aporia
