“Auston Matthews Nears Record with Fourth Hat-Trick of the Season”

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews is making waves in the NHL, closing in on a salary cap-era record previously set by a former San Jose Sharks winger. Matthews notched his fourth hat-trick of the season in a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The San Ramon native’s remarkable performance brought his season total to a league-leading 37 goals in just 43 games.

Facing a 2-0 deficit, Matthews ignited the comeback with a goal at the 4:08 mark of the first period, assisted by former Shark Noah Gregor. He continued his scoring prowess with two more goals in the second period, aiding the Maple Leafs in snapping a four-game losing streak.

This latest hat-trick marked Matthews’ 11th in his career, placing him alongside NHL legends Joe Mullen, John LeClair, and Kevin Stevens for the second-most hat tricks by a U.S.-born player in history, trailing only Pat LaFontaine (13).

Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe praised Matthews, emphasizing the impact elite players have on the team’s morale. Keefe stated, “When he’s scoring, the team can relax because now you’re scoring goals, you’re feeling good, and in this case tonight, we’re coming back and building a lead. So it helps everybody relax. That’s what elite players do. We’re very fortunate to have him as part of our group.”

Matthews is now on the verge of tying Jonathan Cheechoo’s salary cap-era record of five hat tricks in a season, set during the 2005-2006 season. Cheechoo’s remarkable achievement included 56 goals, a single-season record for the Sharks, earning him the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal-scorer. Notably, all five of Cheechoo’s hat tricks that season occurred after the Sharks acquired Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins in November 2005.

The NHL’s overall record for hat-tricks in a season is held by Wayne Gretzky, who accomplished the feat twice, first in 1981-82 and then in 1983-84.

The context of Matthews’ pursuit of this record is within the salary cap era, which the NHL introduced before the 2005-06 season. Following a lengthy lockout that canceled the entire 2004-05 season, the league and the NHL Players’ Association established a collective bargaining agreement, tying the salary cap to hockey-related revenue. The cap started at $39 million in 2005-06 and has since increased to $83.5 million.

The Maple Leafs’ upcoming game is against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Additionally, Thursday saw other notable hat-tricks by Boston’s David Pastrnak and Washington’s T.J. Oshie in victories against the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, respectively.