Jim Hiller admitted he should have used Gavin McKenna more after the Maple Leafs rookie watched the final half of Thursday's loss from the bench.
McKenna never touched the ice after the 10:20 mark of the second period, according to MarkerZone.
He finished with a season-low 6:36 of ice time.
"You know what? That was my decision," Hiller said after the game.
"He sat through the penalties, and then I didn't get him out there."
"I probably should have got him out there early in the third. I didn't," he added.
"So I'll talk to him about that."
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Jim Hiller admits he should have played Gavin McKenna more in Maple Leafs loss
Credit Hiller for owning it. But this comes a week after the kid got bumped off the top power play, and Toronto keeps treating its best young talent like a luxury.
The rookie put 1 shot on goal and finished minus-1 in his limited minutes on the night.
McKenna's last shift came before a run of Toronto penalties, and he doesn't kill penalties.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly both went to the box, and a Buffalo minor then forced 4-on-4 play.
It's like forgetting the best dish in the oven while you're busy setting the table.
Toronto opened the third up 4-2, but Buffalo rallied and Owen Power won it in overtime.
Marchenko scored three times and now has 9 points on the season. Auston Matthews also scored for Toronto.
Easton Cowan, McKenna's linemate, played 16:39 by comparison.
Jack Quinn had 2 goals and 2 assists for the Sabres.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves on 30 shots for the win.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 29 of 34 at the other end.
The Leafs are 3-3-2 and have dropped two straight.
They've now scored 28 goals and allowed 28.
Does McKenna get his minutes back Saturday against the Islanders?
San Jose visits Monday before Toronto heads to Columbus on Tuesday night for a back-to-back.
Hiller said he'll talk to him about it. The next lineup card will say more than any conversation can.
Should Jim Hiller give Gavin McKenna more ice time after Thursday's benching?
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