Leafs vs. Kraken: Montour’s late blast spoils Toronto comeback as Bobrovsky struggles continue - Toronto Star

Gavin McKenna's first two-goal game wasn't enough as Bobrovsky allowed at least three goals for ninth time this season.

Maple Leafs goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky allows the game-winning goal by Kraken defenceman Brandon Montour (not pictured) late in the third period Wednesday night in Seattle.

A pair of early goals by rookie Gavin McKenna and a third-period rally wasn’t enough for the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night as this western road trip looks close to a disaster.

Auston Matthews tied the game with 90 seconds to go, using a wicked one-timer for his third point of the night.

But Brandon Montour’s slap shot leaked through Sergei Bobrovsky with 33 seconds remaining as the Seattle Kraken beat Toronto 5-4 at Climate Pledge Arena.

“It’s tough,” Matthews told reporters in Seattle. “Despite not being that pretty of game, you work so hard to get yourself back in it and tie the game up and hopefully get at least one point. One breakdown. A pretty good defenceman took a slapshot right at our goalie.

“Definitely stings. Nothing we can do now. We have one more game on this road trip and have to do our best to come out with two points.”

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The trip started off so promising. The Leafs dominated the Oilers on Saturday night, winning their fourth in a row. But their penalty kill has come back to earth, injuries are piling up and Bobrovsky’s goaltending has been pedestrian at best as the Leafs lost two in a row in regulation — both Bobrovsky starts — for the first time this season.

The Leafs can salvage two points on Saturday against the lowly Vancouver Canucks, though whether Bobrovsky or backup Anthony Stolarz should start should dominate the talk among Leafs followers the next few days.

“They had good scoring chances,” said Bobrovsky. “It was a good challenge. I feel good. I feel strong. There is a lot of work going on. There is a process. There are mistakes sometimes. But overall, I feel confident. I feel good.”

McKenna had his first two-goal game in the NHL — both power-play markers. At 18 years, 312 days, he is the youngest player in Maple Leafs history to score twice on the power play in the same game. He’s also the youngest Maple Leafs player with a multi-goal game since Jack Hamilton on Feb. 19, 1944 (18 years, 262 days).

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“That helps the confidence,” said McKenna, who played most of the night with Matthews and had his first three-point night. “Going into the next game, do the same things I was doing tonight.”

While McKenna was a bright light, the Leafs were slow and sloppy and took too many penalties in a second period when Seattle opened a 4-2 lead.

They exposed Bobrovsky to too many Grade A chances and the veteran goalie was not up to the task, some of the goals having an odour on them. It was Bobrovsky’s 10th game this season and he’s allowed at least three goals in nine of them.

Maple Leafs forward Vinni Lettieri fights with Kraken defenceman Cale Fleury during the second period Wednesday night in Seattle.

“Bob’s been great for us all year,” said Matthews. “Every now and then there’s going to be a couple that you want back. I put it more on us as a five-man unit. Any time a goal goes in our net, we’re out there as a five-man unit. All five guys have jobs to do.”

Berkly Catton opened the scoring just 1:59 into the game, going high on Bobrovsky after a deke on Oliver Ekman-Larsson. McKenna tied it with 46 seconds remaining in the period, converting a one-timer.

Seattle struck early again in the second with Josh Mahura finishing a 2-on-1 just 16 seconds into the period. McKenna tied it 90 seconds later, on another one-timer. The wheels then fell off, the Leafs managing just one more shot on net the rest of the period. They took four minors that frame, with Seattle retaking the lead on a Chandler Stephenson shot with Vinni Lettieri in the box. The Leafs have given up power-play goals against in three straight games.

Ryker Evans beat Bobrovsky over his glove for a 4-2 lead.

Jack Roslovic scored midway through the third period for Toronto to set up the crazy finish.

“Everybody’s pretty excited when we tie it, and then it’s just a dagger when the last one goes in,” said Leafs coach Jim Hiller. “It was a close game, we could have played better. Tight game, we came out the wrong side.”

Notes: Forward Kirill Marchenko (lower body) joined centre John Tavares (lower body), defenceman Marshall Rifai (lower body) and defenceman Nick Blankenburg (lower body) on the injured list. The Leafs say each is “week to week.” … Defenceman Chris Tanev (upper body) has been upgraded to day-to-day and could play as early as Saturday … Forward Dakota Joshua was recalled from his conditioning stint with the AHL Marlies, but his equipment went missing in transit.

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Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Bluesky @kevinmcgran