7 unbelievable stats about Matthews' scorching pace for the Leafs
For much of the last decade, the success of the Toronto Maple Leafs has seemingly sat on the shoulders of star centre Auston Matthews.
Since being picked first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, he’s done it all: won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2021-22, won two Rocket Richard Trophies as top goal-scorer in the league, and this season, even added an All-Star Game MVP on his home ice.
His goal-scoring pace has been a staple of his whole career, even setting the Leafs’ franchise record for single-season goals with 60 two years ago. Since scoring four goals in his first NHL game, Matthews has consistently found the net at a pace that matches right up with some of the game’s all-time great scorers.
But somehow, it seems like he’s taken his game to an even higher level this season, scoring his 50th and 51st goal of the year in just 54 games.
His most recent two tallies came Wednesday night against the Arizona Coyotes, the team the superstar used to cheer for while growing up in Scottsdale.
He’s currently on pace for 77 goals in an 82-game season, a mark not seen in the NHL this side of the millennium. Some 12 goals ahead of the next closest competitor in the league (Florida’s Sam Reinhart), Matthews is just in another stratosphere right now when it comes to goal scoring.
But even though it might be tough to contextualize just how impressive he’s been, here are seven stats that show just what a remarkable season he’s had to date:
Most multi-goal games in a season – @MapleLeafs franchise history (1917-18 to present):
15- Auston Matthews (2023-24 via 2 through 2 periods so far tonight vs the Coyotes)
15- Rick Vaive (1983-84)
15- Matthews (2021-22)
14- Vaive (1981-82)
12- Vaive (1982-83)
11- Four others tied pic.twitter.com/5ngq2lhi1s— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 22, 2024
Fewest player games to 50 goals, last 30 seasons
Cam Neely (1993-94 Bruins) 44
Mario Lemieux (1995-96 Penguins) 50
Auston Matthews (2023-24 Maple Leafs) 54
Jaromir Jagr (1995-96 Penguins) 59 pic.twitter.com/uSLCqLznCp— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 22, 2024
50 goals for AM34! đ
Auston Matthews (@AM34) is the fastest U.S.-born player in NHL history to hit 50 goals in a season reaching the mark in just 54 games! pic.twitter.com/TULsIU7dz2
— NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2024
Auston Matthewsâ 36 goals since Dec. 2 would still rank second in the NHL *this season.*
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 22, 2024
Most game winning goals within a player's first 8 career NHL seasons:
70- Guy Lafleur
66- Mike Bossy
64- Connor McDavid
59- Auston Matthews (Via scoring his @MapleLeafs 4th goal in Wednesday's 6-3 win vs ARI)
59- Alex Ovechkin
58- Wayne Gretzky
57- Glenn Anderson
56- Jaromir Jagr pic.twitter.com/ezt9qVES8J— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 22, 2024
Auston Matthews required just nine games to go from the 40- to 50-goal mark (including Jan. 27).
Only nine different players in @NHL history needed fewer contests to make the jump. #NHLStats: https://t.co/XgB5bimTuw pic.twitter.com/39klhmD072
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 22, 2024
Fewest games to 350 career goals, NHL history
Wayne Gretzky 384
Mario Lemieux 434
Brett Hull 449
Mike Bossy 453
Jari Kurri 510
Auston Matthews 535— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) February 22, 2024
Matthews and the Leafs get right back at it tonight when they face off against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. It’s another late-night contest, with puck drop set for 10 pm ET.
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