TEMPE, Ariz. — Auston Matthews scored his fiftieth and 51st objectives of the season Wednesday evening within the Toronto Maple Leafs star’s hometown return, breaking a tie because the quickest U.S.-born participant to achieve 50 objectives at 54 video games.
Matthews scored the milestone purpose on an influence play at 5:01 of the primary interval in a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
From close by Scottsdale, Matthews scored on a shot from the circle to the left of goaltender Karel Vejmelka to make it 2-0.
Mitchell Marner and Timothy Liljegren assisted on the purpose that got here with Michael Carcone within the penalty field for slashing.
“We had a few energy performs and have been sort of in a position to snap it round. I simply tried to get open and (Marner’s) received the puck and he’s received an important sense of the place I’m on the ice and vice versa,” Matthews mentioned. “We simply attempt to push ourselves to be one of the best that we could be individually and one of the best teammates we could be.”
Matthews added his 51st — giving him 350 profession objectives in 535 video games — late within the second interval for a 4-2 lead en path to Toronto’s fifth straight victory.
“It’s a small step in a protracted season,” Matthews mentioned. “Coming again residence in opposition to a workforce that’s actually had our quantity the previous couple of seasons, it was only a good effort throughout. It’s an important ambiance, and it makes for a reasonably enjoyable recreation.
Matthews shared the earlier U.S.-born mark with former Pittsburgh star Kevin Stevens at 62 video games.
Matthews is the quickest to 50 since Mario Lemieux since did it for Pittsburgh in 50 video games in 1995-96.
Wayne Gretzky holds the report, scoring his fiftieth in his thirty ninth recreation for Edmonton in 1981-82 on his option to a report 92 objectives.
Matthews has 9 objectives in his final 4 video games, having two consecutive hat tips earlier than a single purpose in opposition to St. Louis on Monday evening. Florida’s Sam Reinhart is second within the NHL with 39 objectives.
Matthews, who had 60 objectives two seasons in the past to steer the NHL, making him the primary to achieve that mark since Steven Stamkos had 60 in 2011-12.
The final gamers to attain 70 or extra in a season have been Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny, who every had 76 in 1992-93.
