Auston Matthews scored 47 goals last season, one shy of matching Rocket Richard Trophy co-winners Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak. If the Maple Leafs' 2019-20 season hadn't been cut short after 70 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then it's fair to say he would have hit 50 and then some.
In 2021, the forward is playing like someone going for 50 in 56 games.
"He's playing at a different level right now," noted teammate Alex Kerfoot. "It's fun to watch. We're lucky to have him on our team. It seems like he's playing a different game than most guys out there. So, it's fun to watch.
"I don't have any more adjectives other than what you guys have probably been using, but, yeah, he's playing at an elite, elite level."
Saturday night, in his 300th career game, the 23-year-old Arizona native notched goal Nos. 17 and 18 on the season in Toronto's "Hockey Night in Canada" 5-3 win over the Canadiens. He's on pace for 55 goals.
His first goal broke the ice just 63 seconds into the second period. Parked in the right circle on the power play, he fired a one-timer past Carey Price. With the goal, Matthews became the 12th player in league history to open a team's scoring for four straight games, according to the NHL.
That Marner ➡️ Matthews connection 🔥🔥🔥#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/To0acIWfLE
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 21, 2021
Later in the period, and Toronto again with the man advantage, Matthews was at the point when he got the puck, took a few steps in and then snapped it home for what would become the game-winner.
Hot shot 🔥🔥🔥#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Q1tGkcG7hU
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 21, 2021
With his four-point tally Saturday (he also notched two assists), Matthews stretched his point streak to 16 games (he has played in the Leafs' last 13 games after missing a game Jan. 22 with a hand injury), and he has notched at least a point in 17 of his 18 games this season. He also has potted goals in four straight games.
"Guy's on fire right now, obviously. But I think his overall play has been really good for us," said linemate Mitch Marner, who had a three-point night himself. "Everyone's been saying his shot's been pretty special for a couple of years now, so it's no surprise now to me."
Auston Matthews' game-by-game stats
| GAME | GOALS | ASSISTS | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13 vs. MTL (OTW) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan. 15 at OTT (L) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan. 16 at OTT (W) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan. 18 vs. WPG (W) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan. 20 vs. EDM (L) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan. 22 vs. EDM (W) | — | — | — |
| Jan. 24 at CGY (W) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan. 26 at CGY (W) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan. 28 at EDM (W) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan. 30 at EDM (OTL) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Feb. 4 vs. VAN (W) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Feb. 6 vs. VAN (W) | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Feb. 8 vs. VAN (W) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Feb. 10 at MTL (W) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb. 13 vs. MTL (L) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb. 15 vs. OTT (OTL) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb. 17 vs. OTT (W) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Feb. 18 vs. OTT (W) | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Feb. 20 at MTL (W) | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| TOTALS | 18 | 11 | 29 |
The four-point night also tied his career high for points in a game and was his second straight game with four points. He now has tallied four points in a game seven times in his career. It also was his the seventh multipoint game of the 2021 season — and the Leafs' season is just 19 games old.
"He's an elite player doing elite things," said head coach Sheldon Keefe. "He and Mitch obviously got a lot of great things going on."
Auston Matthews opened the scoring in the 300th regular-season game of his NHL career.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 21, 2021
His 175 career goals are the third-most by a player through 300 games with the @MapleLeafs franchise. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/gMmIWVtQvX
Matthews, chosen first overall by the Leafs in the 2016 draft, now has 176 goals in his NHL career, putting him third on the Maple Leafs' all-time list for goals through 300 games.