McKenna scores go-ahead power-play goal as Maple Leafs beat Sharks 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Gavin McKenna scored the go-ahead goal at 4:56 of the third period as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. Toronto also got a power-play goal from McKenna, who found space in the slot after taking possession from the bottom of the right face-off dot, then beat Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov with a wrist shot glove side to give the Leafs the lead for good.

The matchup featured a notable draft connection between Toronto’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna, and San Jose’s 2026 draft selection with the No. 2 pick, Ivar Stenberg. Monday marked their first meeting in the NHL, with McKenna scoring the game-winner and Stenberg recording one shot on goal while finishing minus-1 in 14:27 of ice time.

Toronto’s scoring continued with Auston Matthews posting a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthews’ goal tied the game 1-1 when he scored on the power play at 19:48 of the second period, finishing a play that started behind the net with Kirill Marchenko, who found Matthews in the slot for a one-timer that beat Askarov over the blocker.

The Sharks opened the scoring early, taking a 1-0 lead at 13:54 of the first period on Mason Marchment’s goal. Tyler Toffoli sent a puck from the left point toward the net, where Marchment gloved it down at the top of the crease and lifted a backhander over Bobrovsky’s left pad to put San Jose in front.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves for Toronto, including as the Maple Leafs secured their first home win with the goaltender between the pipes. The victory snapped Toronto’s three-game losing streak, leaving the Leafs’ record at 4-4-2 as of Monday.

Nick Paul extended Toronto’s lead late, scoring an empty-net goal at 19:20 of the third period to make it 3-1. Paul raced down the right wing and scored from the top of the circle as the Sharks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

For San Jose, Yaroslav Askarov finished with 29 saves in the loss. The Sharks’ defeat left them 1-3-1 over their past five games, and it came during a stretch on the road, where they were 1-1-1 on a current six-game trip.

The loss was San Jose’s first game against Toronto in this matchup series on Monday, and the Sharks will play their next contest against the Montreal Canadiens. The NHL game schedule places that Canadiens matchup as the second game of a back-to-back on Tuesday, following Monday’s visit to Scotiabank Arena.