Lafreniere's Hat Trick, Larkin's Return, and McKenna's First Points Highlight Tuesday's NHL Recap
The October 7 morning roundup reviews Tuesday's NHL action. Alexis Lafreniere posted a hat trick and an assist in the Rangers' 5-2 win over the Islanders. Dylan Larkin returned from an upper-body injury with a goal and an assist in Detroit's 5-3 victory over Ottawa, and Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna recorded his first NHL goal and assist in an overtime win against Nashville.
Toronto rookie Gavin McKenna recorded his first NHL goal and first assist in the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime win against Nashville. Auston Matthews scored the overtime winner and added three assists, while William Nylander contributed a goal and two assists for Toronto, which moved to 2-2-0.
Nashville received two goals apiece from Steven Stamkos and Nils Hoglander. Stamkos climbed to seventh on the all-time power-play goals list with 244, two behind Phil Esposito and three behind Luc Robitaille. The Predators’ record stood at 1-1-1.
Gavin McKenna’s first NHL points may give Toronto fans and young hockey players a memorable early-season moment. Increased attention could add pressure on the rookie, while a milestone like this may briefly boost local youth-hockey interest and merchandise visibility. The broader impact may remain modest unless McKenna sustains his production, and how he handles scrutiny could shape perceptions among fans and media.