{"id":5166,"date":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dwjqp1.com\/maple-leafs-auston-matthews-53ff66a3c32ccc1a8e567315b029a055\/"},"modified":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","slug":"maple-leafs-auston-matthews-53ff66a3c32ccc1a8e567315b029a055","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dwjqp1.com\/maple-leafs-auston-matthews-53ff66a3c32ccc1a8e567315b029a055\/","title":{"rendered":"Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews is on pace for the NHL's most goals in a season in nearly 30 years"},"content":{"rendered":"
Max Domi lined up for a faceoff in Washington, looked over at Alex Ovechkin and thought, \u201cWow, that\u2019s going to be the greatest goal-scorer of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he looked over at Auston Matthews and realized his Toronto teammate could be in that discussion too.<\/p>\n
That came in the middle of another two-goal game<\/a> by Matthews, who has scored an NHL-leading 58 this season. Scoring 70<\/a> would require a goal-a-game tear down the stretch, which isn\u2019t out of the realm of possibility by any means, but the U.S.-born center is on pace for 67, which would be the most in the NHL in nearly 30 years.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got more stuff to worry about in our locker room as far as trying to build our game toward the end of the season and stuff,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cThe individual stuff, obviously you want to accomplish stuff. You want to push yourself to be as great as you can. That\u2019s what I try to do every night. I\u2019m just going to continue to push and try to elevate my game towards the stretch and do what I can to help the team win.\u201d<\/p>\n Ovechkin owns the single-season record for goals in the salary cap era, which began in 2005, when he scored 65 in 2007-08. That was after rule changes opened up the game, increased power plays and showcased a generation of talent led by the Capitals winger and Pittsburgh\u2019s Sidney Crosby.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson each score twice in Stars\u2019 6-3 win over Sharks<\/a><\/p>\n Doan scores twice in NHL debut, Coyotes get 4 goals in 3rd to beat Blue Jackets 6-2<\/a><\/p>\n Montembeault makes 27 saves, Canadiens win 2-1 to snap Avalanche\u2019s 9-game win streak<\/a><\/p>\n Matthews, Edmonton\u2019s Connor McDavid and Colorado\u2019s Nathan MacKinnon have succeeded Ovechkin and Crosby in those starring roles. Matthews (two seasons ago)<\/a> and McDavid (three times) have already won the Hart Trophy as MVP, and MacKinnon is among<\/a> the leading candidates for it this year.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Ovechkin, who at 848 goals<\/a> is 47 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky\u2019s career record, is rooting for Matthews to surpass his single-season mark.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m cheering for him,\u201d Ovechkin said last week. \u201cHappy for him. I hope he gets it. Maybe 70, you never know. He\u2019s a special player. It\u2019s fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Not so fun to defend. Washington coach Spencer Carbery said after his team\u2019s loss to Toronto, \u201cWe had zero answer for No. 34 tonight,\u201d referring to Matthews\u2019 jersey number that has become as associated with him as 8 for Ovechkin, 87 for Crosby, 97 for McDavid and 29 for MacKinnon.<\/p>\n Matthews has scored 60 in a season once and, given the Maple Leafs\u2019 propensity for offense, it would be foolish to rule out a run that gets him to 70 before the playoffs begin.<\/p>\n \u201cJust the way that he plays off the puck, plays to get pucks back, he\u2019s always there in support,\u201d teammate Bobby McMann said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to play with him, and there\u2019s a reason he\u2019s scoring so many.\u201d<\/p>\n So many that there\u2019s already buzz about whether Ovechkin\u2019s time as hockey\u2019s all-time leading goal-scorer, if he gets there<\/a>, could be short-lived. Matthews is actually outpacing him at this point in their careers, with 357 goals in his first 550 games compared to Ovechkin\u2019s 338.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s crazy to think that Alex can break Wayne\u2019s record, potentially, hopefully, and then Auston\u2019s going to be sniffing at that, too,\u201d Domi said. \u201cIt\u2019s really special for guys like us to be able to play on the same ice surface as those guys and have fun and enjoy the moment because those are two generational talents.\u201d<\/p>\n
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