'It's A Confidence Thing': Gavin McKenna's Ability To Rise In Big Moments For Maple Leafs An Indication Of The NHL Player He Wants To Be

The Toronto Maple Leafs have snapped their three-game losing streak on Monday with a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena. It was a tight contest throughout the night, but Gavin McKenna scoring Toronto's second goal of the game was the breakthrough for the home team and led to the two points in the Leafs' favor.

"Yeah, that's a huge night for the group," McKenna said after the game. "I thought San Jose played a good game, but I thought we played a full sixty minutes, which you know, something we wanted to do all season. And I thought guys were working from the first line to the fourth line, so it was a huge night."

McKenna's power-play tally early in the third period turned out to be the game-winning goal, and the rookie's third of the season.

"I think that whole shift, puck was kind of bouncing around a little bit, and then a lot of battle wins from the guys," McKenna said of his goal. "Saw Auston (Matthews) won that puck battle, and then had a little bit of time and space in front, and then yeah, shot low glove, and lucky went in."

Though he believes his goal was lucky, what can't be argued is that it came at a significant moment in the hockey game for the Maple Leafs. Given their losing streak and the strength of the Atlantic Division, they couldn't afford to fall behind in the standings early, and McKenna's goal did just that.

"Even his first goal, talked about Gavin a lot, but he's just not afraid of the moment," Toronto's head coach Jim Hiller said post-game. "He enjoys the moment. You know, you saw his celebration, and you could say, 'yeah, well, shouldn't everybody do that?' There's lots there, and you have to want to be that big-time player, and that's what he has in spades."

"He's not shy at the moment at all," Matthews echoed, who had a goal and three points on the night himself. "I think, you give him a little bit of time and space like he had there, he's going to make something happen, and he did. So he's been fine his last couple games, and even what happened a couple nights ago, that stuff doesn't shake him. He keeps churning away, and it's impressive."

McKenna was asked about his ability to come through in big moments and delicate situations.

"I think it's just a confidence thing," the 18-year-old said. "For me, you want to be a guy who's known for those big moments, and when you get that time and an opportunity to be out there on the ice, you want to make the most out of it. So, I think you're playing with guys like Auston, (William Nylander) and those guys. I think it just brings confidence in itself. So, for me, that's something I've taken a lot of passion in, trying to be known as a guy who's able to perform in those situations."

The Maple Leafs' rookie now has three goals and six points in 10 games this season. Among rookies, that makes him tied for second in scoring, with only Trevor Connelly of the Vegas Golden Knights ahead with seven points.

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