The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Nashville Predators 5-4 in overtime on Tuesday night, and nhl.com's video log shows how the night pivoted: Gavin McKenna, scoreless through his first three NHL games, picked up his first career point with an assist on John Tavares' goal, then whipped a shot from the circle past Predators goaltender Juuse Saros for his first career goal. For a Nashville fanbase, it was the kind of comeback loss where the visiting cage becomes the footnote everyone else leads with.

The Leafs Nation reports McKenna was glowing afterward, telling reporters 'that's a goal I'll obviously remember for forever,' and that he loved hearing the crowd erupt when his name was announced after his assist — 'definitely feeling the love from the fans... love this fanbase.' Coach Jim Hiller called it 'a goal-scorer's goal' with 'some zip' on it, and Yahoo Sports quotes Hiller stressing it came in an important moment of the game, not a blowout. Nylander, per The Leafs Nation, had predicted at Monday's practice it was only a matter of time, then repeated postgame that the moment is one McKenna will never forget.

The Hockey News rounded up the reaction to the two-point night: Sportsnet's Sam McKee called it 'a first career goal fit for a future super star,' JD Bunkis joked about 'back to overreacting to McKenna in a positive way,' and Spittin' Chiclets host Ryan Whitney wrote the kid 'is going to be so nasty.' The Hockey News also notes McKenna was named the first star of the game, even after Matthews completed the comeback in overtime, and that one fan already called him a Calder favourite — a label that publication itself cautions is far too early to hand out. For a player who missed the scoresheet for three games, the outside noise flipped overnight.

The Leafs Nation reports McKenna and the Maple Leafs now head on the road for the first time this season, starting with a date against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, looking to build momentum from the 5-4 comeback. For Nashville, the taped-up whiteboard says it all: a 4-2 lead, an 18-year-old's first NHL goal past Saros, and an overtime loss in which McKenna — per The Hockey News — was named first star. McKenna also framed the scrutiny as a privilege, telling reporters he tries not to look into the chatter too much, because having people watching and wanting him to succeed is 'pretty special.'