Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna feels he can take a deep sigh of relief after scoring his first career NHL goal in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators.
"A big monkey off the back," McKenna told reporters postgame. "That one felt good. That's a goal I'll obviously remember forever."
McKenna took a pass from Auston Matthews and ripped one over Juuse Saros' blocker during the second period of his fourth game in the pros.
GAVIN MCKENNA'S FIRST NHL GOAL!!! 🤩 https://t.co/OBvMoAGVn5
— NHL (@NHL) October 7, 2026
McKenna, who was held without a point through his first three NHL games, notched his first career point earlier in the period with an assist when he sprung John Tavares for a goal.
"Once you get that first (point) I think your confidence goes up from there," McKenna said. "Hopefully it keeps rolling."
McKenna, the first overall pick in June's draft, credited Tavares and Matthews - both former first overall picks themselves - for helping show him the ropes early in his career. McKenna is living with Tavares and said he slept over at Matthews' place Sunday.
"They've been awesome," McKenna said. "Obviously living at John's, I think I've learned a lot from him. So for my first point to be from him is pretty special. And then with Auston, we had a little sleepover on Sunday, so we might have to have a weekly sleepover now. I've learned so much from those two. They've been very special to me. They've helped me a lot. Just being around those guys, learning from them, seeing how they carry themselves every single day on and off the ice is kind of implemented into me in a way."
He added that he and Matthews ate sandwiches and watched football at their sleepover.
McKenna is the first 18-year-old to score a goal for the Maple Leafs since Luke Richardson in 1987, per Sportsnet.
