Auston Matthews is having a phenomenal season, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess with 23 goals, leading both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL. His impressive shooting percentage of 19.2% makes him a lethal force, with nearly one in every five shots finding the back of the net. Despite having fewer assists, Matthews significantly drives the team’s offensive success.
In a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Matthews scored two goals and added an assist, extending his scoring streak to four games with seven goals and three assists. If he maintains this pace, there’s a real chance he could approach the coveted 70-goal mark by the end of the 2023-24 season, a feat last achieved by Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.
A potential 60-goal season would elevate Matthews to the elite club of players with two such seasons, joining legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. This achievement in a more challenging scoring era would solidify his place among the best goal-producers in NHL history.
With 23 goals in 27 games, Matthews is on track to reach the 40-goal mark soon, possibly within the next 15 games. This would mark the sixth time in eight seasons that he achieves this milestone. Leading the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy, Matthews aims for a third win, putting him in company with Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin.
However, Matthews faces competition for the Rocket Richard Trophy, with players like Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks and Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning making strong goal-scoring contributions.
The question lingers: Can Matthews reach the historic 70-goal milestone this season and etch his name into the annals of NHL greatness? While possible, it remains a close race, adding an element of suspense to Matthews’ pursuit of this remarkable achievement.