Auston Matthews goals: Maple Leafs star becomes fastest American-born player to 50-goal season

Was there any doubt Auston Matthews would give Arizona fans a show on Wednesday night?

The Scottsdale-raised Maple Leafs star has been the most dominant goal-scorer in hockey over the past handful of weeks, and he got off to a quick start against the Coyotes with a goal just over five minutes into the first period.

For Matthews, the goal was a milestone. It gave him the second 50-goal season of his career, two years after he scored 60 on his way to the Hart Trophy.

The season won't be deemed a success in Toronto unless the Maple Leafs can finish with a deep playoff run, but it's shaping up to be a historic year for Matthews if he can keep scoring anywhere near his current pace.

AUSTON MATTHEWS HAS 50 GOALS IN 54 GAMES! 🚨

We are truly witnessing something special. pic.twitter.com/gyPVh75eQ5

— NHL (@NHL) February 22, 2024

Here's a closer look at the history Matthews made on Wednesday night, and how he can continue to make history as the regular season approaches the final stretch.

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Auston Matthews goals

Matthews scored his 50th goal of the season against the Coyotes on Wednesday, becoming the fastest American-born player to record a 50-goal season. He did so in just 54 games, shattering Kevin Stevens' 31-year record by eight games. 

Not only is Matthews the fastest U.S.-born player to score 50 goals in a season, but he's the fastest overall since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. 

Auston Matthews makes @NHL history against his hometown team. 🇺🇸

He became the fastest U.S.-born player to score 50 goals in a season… and shattered the previous mark by eight games. #NHLStats: https://t.co/XgB5bimTuw pic.twitter.com/6SMCjZNEaF

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 22, 2024

Matthews entered Wednesday having scored 16 goals over his past 16 games. He posted back-to-back hat tricks the previous week, scoring three goals against both the Flyers and Ducks two days apart, and Matthews' goal in Arizona means he has scored in all but three of his past 17 games. 

Matthews' six hat tricks are already the most in a season since Lemieux in 1995-96, an appropriate achievement for a player who began his career by scoring four goals in his NHL debut. 

With 50 goals through the Maple Leafs' first 55 games, Matthews' 2023-24 season has a chance to stand among the all-time great goal-scoring campaigns when all is said and done. 

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NHL single-season goal leaders

50-goal seasons have become more common in recent years, with five players reaching the mark in 2022-23, and four -- including Matthews -- scoring 50 or more in '21-22. 50-goal seasons before the end of February are not common, to say the least.

Matthews is on pace to score 75 goals, which would be the NHL's highest mark in 31 years. Only eight different players have even scored 70 goals in a season, a mark that Matthews has a very realistic chance of reaching if he can stay healthy over the Maple Leafs' final 27 games. 

Here's a look at the single-season goal leaders in NHL history.