INCLUDEDIt’s Easy: The Greatest Player in Maple Leafs History Is Matthews
Auston Matthews did exactly that on a night when he had to step up. Following a slow first half in which his team was behind by one goal but could have been ahead by more, Matthews made some history for the team and himself by scoring his first natural hat trick. In just seven minutes and 49 seconds during the second period, all of these goals were scored.
Related: The Maple Leafs’ Simon Benoit: Five Fascinating Details
The outcome was a thrilling victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, 4-3 in overtime. In actuality, Matthews performed well even though his team didn’t play particularly well. He was the deciding factor in his team’s victory or defeat. [Given credit is also required.
Matthew’s Objectives Were Earlier Matthews
Every goal that Matthews scored demonstrated his talent, strength, and deft accuracy. He first tied the score at one goal apiece with a quick wrist shot from the top of the left circle that went past the goalie’s glove. Second, he took advantage of a power play, perfectly timing a brilliant play and Mitch Marner’s pass to give the Maple Leafs a vital 2-1 lead. Late in the frame, Matthews unleashed a perfectly timed shot high glove side through traffic to finally complete the hat trick.
These goals are reminiscent of Matthews a couple of years ago. Although he scored over 40 goals last season, he wasn’t himself. At least he just wasn’t the Matthews who scored 60 goals in that season to win the Rocket Richard Trophy. This season’s Matthews is not a Matthews who passes; this is a Matthews who throws his best shot at the opposition goalies and says “Try to stop this if you can!” They often cannot. In Matthews, Fans Are Seeing the Best Maple Leafs Player Ever
In addition to recording his fifth hat trick of the season, Matthews broke Darryl Sittler’s franchise record for the most multi-goal games (he now owns 72 such games), and he now shares the Maple Leafs single-season hat trick record with legendary players like Babe Dye, Reg Noble, and Sittler. If you were the Flyers, this performance was overwhelming.
Putting records aside, Matthews’ goal total simply demonstrates to the hockey community that he is the league’s top goal scorer right now. Simultaneously, it elevates him in the hierarchy of the greatest Maple Leafs of all time. It’s difficult for me to believe that Matthews is the best player the 106-year-old hockey team has ever had.
Permit me to say that again. We will witness the greatest player to ever don a Maple Leafs uniform tonight when the Maple Leafs take on the Anaheim Ducks when Auston Matthews performs. Fans can expect to witness many more incredible performances from this gifted forward as he continues to carve his name into the record books as the season and his career go on.
William Nylander, a teammate To Put It Simply
Nylander called him the league’s top goal scorer. “I have nothing more to say to you,”
Matthews’ pace is unprecedented. After just 51 games, he already has 45 goals. He aims to become the first player in NHL history to reach 70 goals since both Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne did so in 1992–1993. Is he capable of it?
I’m not going to bet against him.
