The Toronto Maple Leafs took a big step back from a competitive standpoint last season, but that could ultimately lead to a massive leap toward genuine title contention. No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna will one day be tasked with leading this franchise past its longstanding Stanley Cup Playoff woes, but for now, he is just trying to score goals and points at the NHL level. He figured it out during Tuesday's 5-4 comeback win over the Nashville Predators.
With the Leafs trailing 3-1 at home, the 18-year-old left wing assisted on a John Tavares goal about five minutes into the second period. He was far from done, though, lighting the lamp for the first time in his NHL career almost 10 minutes later. McKenna's emergence helped Toronto send the action into overtime, where franchise cornerstone Auston Matthews clinched the game-winner.