Auston Matthews Becomes Toronto Maple Leafs’ All-Time Leading Goalscorer
Auston Matthews has etched his name in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs by becoming the franchise’s all-time leading goalscorer. His record-setting achievement came during a match against the New York Islanders, where he scored his 421st goal.
Auston Matthews Breaks Franchise Record
On Saturday night, Matthews scored twice in the second period, first tying and then surpassing Mats Sundin’s long-standing record. With this milestone, Matthews has reinforced his status as one of the greatest players in Maple Leafs history.
The Historic Goals
- First Goal: Tied Sundin at 420 goals.
- Second Goal: Broke the record and marked his 20th of the season.
At 9:30 in the second period, Matthews entered the offensive zone and skillfully maneuvered the puck past Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, eventually scoring against goaltender David Rittich. This goal leveled the game at 1-1. Just under eight minutes later, he netted his second goal, thanks to a cross-ice pass from Bobby McMann, securing the record for himself.
Game Context and Reactions
Despite Matthews’ historic performance, the Maple Leafs lost the game 4-3 in overtime. Matthew Schaefer scored two goals for the Islanders, including the decisive one in the final minute of overtime. John Tavares, Matthews’ teammate, acknowledged the significance of the moment in the context of the franchise’s proud history.
“A club that’s had tremendous history – a tradition of players coming before him,” Tavares said. “Hopefully that doesn’t get lost in the loss. Amazing moment for him and a hell of a player.”
Matthews’ Recent Form
This performance marked Matthews’ second consecutive multi-goal game, as he had previously recorded a hat trick against Winnipeg the night before. He has now tallied six goals and ten points in his past four games since returning from the NHL’s Christmas break, although he was absent during Toronto’s previous victory over New Jersey.
Coach’s Praise
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube praised Matthews for his outstanding contributions. He noted, “He’s accomplished a lot of things, he had a strong game again tonight. … He drives the bus, drives the play for us and everybody feeds off of him.”
Career Milestones
In just 664 games, Matthews has amassed 421 goals, placing him fourth in franchise history for total points with 760. He trails only Mats Sundin, Darryl Sittler, and Dave Keon in this category. Sundin, who recorded 420 goals in 981 games, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Matthews’ remarkable journey continues as he prepares to represent Team USA in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina next month.
