{
  "id": 12514815,
  "title": "Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna scores first NHL goal vs. Predators",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/maple-leafs-gavin-mckenna-scores-first-nhl-goal-vs-predators",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T01:26:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/06/maple-leafs-gavin-mckenna-scores-first-nhl-goal-vs-predators/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2026, scored his first NHL goal in a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The 18-year-old, who came up from the Canadian Hockey League and spent the 2025-26 season in the NCAA, took a pass from Auston Matthews before shooting the puck and dropping to one knee in celebration at Scotiabank Arena. McKenna also added an assist on Toronto's opening goal off William Nylander's stick for his first NHL point. The Whitehorse native's addition marked part of a significant off-season for the Maple Leafs, which included the signing of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenceman Darren Raddysh. McKenna, who averaged 14 minutes and 32 seconds of ice time with three shots on target and a -3 rating in his three NHL games, said his best performance to date was Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators. He was not concerned about his lack of points early in the season, saying he has been on other streaks where he had no points but eventually figured things out. McKenna emphasized the importance of confidence and continued improvement as he enters his pro career.",
  "summary": "Gavin McKenna has his first NHL goal. The No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs scored on Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game Tuesday. McKenna took a pass from Auston Matthews before ripping a shot upstairs and then dropping to one […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna scores first NHL goal, records first assist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/maple-leafs-gavin-mckenna-scores-first-nhl-goal-records-first-assist",
        "published": "2026-10-07T01:02:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Nashville Predators 'learning things the hard way' in OT loss to Toronto Maple Leafs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/nashville-predators-learning-things-the-hard-way-in-ot-loss-to",
        "published": "2026-10-07T03:17:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}