Matthews achieved a significant milestone in his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs by notching his 60th goal for the second time in three seasons, courtesy of a goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
Securing the milestone, Matthews capitalized on a scramble in front of the net at 14:23 of the third period, propelling the Maple Leafs to a commanding 3-0 lead.
At 26 years old, Matthews accomplished this feat in 72 games, just one game less than his previous achievement during the 2021-22 season, where he reached 60 goals in 73 games. Remarkably, he stands as the sole United States-born player in NHL history to achieve the 60-goal mark.
Among his notable accomplishments, Matthews now joins an elite group of NHL players, becoming the ninth player in league history to achieve multiple 60-goal seasons. What sets him apart is his status as the only active NHL player to have accomplished this feat. Noteworthy players like Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, and Steven Stamkos have also reached the 60-goal milestone in their careers.
In the annals of NHL history, Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky hold the record for the most 60-goal seasons, each boasting five such seasons.
With his 60 goals this season, Matthews leads the NHL scoring charts, surpassing Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers by eight goals and Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers by nine goals. This impressive performance positions him as a strong contender for his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, having previously clinched the title in 2021 and 2022.
Since his selection as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matthews has been a consistent force on the ice. His remarkable goal-scoring prowess has seen him lead the NHL with 359 goals, edging past Leon Draisaitl and Ovechkin, who are tied for second. Moreover, Matthews sits just six goals shy of Dave Keon’s third-place record of 365 goals in Maple Leafs history.
Be the first to comment