McKenna gets benched, scores as scuffling Leafs lose for fourth time in five games

TORONTO– Gavin McKenna had the puck on his stick, seeking to make a play in the offending zone with the Maple Leafs currently in a hole.

The No. 1 total choice in June’s NHL draft found Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe in open ice on the opposite side of the rink.

Canadiens forward Chris Kreider checked out the novice winger’s mind, obstructed the pass and raced the other method before burying a breakaway opportunity for a 3-0 lead.

McKenna discovered himself stapled to the bench for the remainder of the 2nd duration before scoring in the 3rd as part of Toronto’s stopped working resurgence effort, which ended in a 4-2 Montreal success.

The 18-year-old’s efficiency Saturday was a lot like the Maple Leafs’ very first 18 video games– some great, some bad, and inadequate general.

Toronto, simply put, requires to discover some traction quick.

The club sits with the exact same record– an 8-8-2 mark– as it did at this phase of last season’s dreadful 78-point revealing that ended with its very first playoff-less project in a years.

“There were some advantages,” stated veteran defenceman Chris Tanev. “We require to do it for 60 (minutes), and we’ve been stating that for a very long time now.”

The Maple Leafs have actually lost 4 of their last 5 video games in policy and sit second-last in the high-flying Atlantic Division. Toronto opened a season-high six-game homestand with Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth and remains in the middle of a hard onslaught that consists of a Sunday date with the red-hot New Jersey Devils, followed by matches versus the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers.

“Urgency constantly needs to be high,” stated Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, back Saturday after a nine-game lack with a lower-body injury. “We can take a look at all that and who we’re betting and the calibre and expectations of particular groups. In this league, every video game’s crucial– they all matter.

“Important for us to regroup and get back at it.”

That’s what McKenna stated after his second-period turnover, which began the series resulting in Montreal’s very first objective.

“I understood I was gon na most likely sit for that a person,” he stated. “My colleagues, in the 2nd intermission, can be found in and spoke with me, and (head coach Jim Hiller) pulled me aside and spoke to me.

“He stated he was gon na get me out there once again, which felt great. I valued that from him, and truthfully, it fired me up. Simply a regrettable bounce.”

Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored Toronto’s very first objective in the 3rd on a power play before McKenna made it 3-2 simply 55 seconds later on. He liked the child’s action.

“Obviously does not wish to make that turnover,” Nylander stated. “He recognizes it when he makes the play … it’s terrific for him to come back and get a big objective. Often that takes place. You simply got ta forget it and proceed.

“He addressed the bell.”

Hiller, who benched McKenna for the 2nd half of a video game last month, kept the information of their intermission discussion personal.

“You simply can’t do it– you can’t continue to do it– you understand what I indicate?” he stated of turning the puck over. “But he’s an excellent young gamer. Recuperated, excellent mindset, all that sort of things.

(He’s) attempting, discovering, come a long method, so it’s all great. It’s simply difficult often.”

The exact same might be stated for the Maple Leafs today.

“Sometimes we begin the video game well, and after that we dip off,” Nylander stated of Toronto’s irregular efficiencies. “It’s been hard. Often very first duration’s excellent, 2nd duration’s excellent, 3rd duration’s excellent. I could not inform you why.”

The responses require to come quickly.

“If there’s no seriousness, then you’re in the incorrect league,” Tanev stated. “It’s simply playing smarter hockey, supporting each other and understanding scenarios.”

EARLY DEPARTURE

Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly didn’t return after Saturday’s very first duration with a lower-body injury.

“He’s played actually well,” stated Hiller, who didn’t have an upgrade post-game. “He’s had a truly excellent, most likely 3 weeks, as great as I’ve seen him in a long period of time. Actually been assisting us.

“His self-confidence is back. It’s a huge blow, so ideally it’s not too long.”

This report by The Canadian Press was very first released Nov. 7, 2026.