Auston Matthews hit the net no less than 13 times in Wednesday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks and his stubbornness finally paid off as he celebrated his 30th win of the season.
No Toronto Maple Leafs player scored as many goals in 35 games as Frank Mahovlich in 1960-1961. Matthews is on pace for a 69-goal season not seen since Mario Lemieux in the mid-1990s.
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The American has improved his game again since December. With his first goal in 2024, he has scored 16 times in as many games.
“He has found a new speed in the last month. “He’s been great for us,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said at a press conference. I think we've been playing a lot better lately and we like to see that. It's important, but in this team game you need players who can make the difference by winning and Auston certainly does that.
However, Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal tried to stand between Matthews and his eighth 30-goal season. He blocked no fewer than 55 shots, including the mustachioed man's first 12. It was only in extra time that he finally gave in in the 1-2 defeat.
“It was a little bit of a shock,” the Leafs sharpshooter admitted. You try and say to yourself, “The next one goes, the next one goes,” but he played a pretty good game and I have to take my hat off to him. I’m proud that not everyone was discouraged.”
Good results
For his part, Matthews is particularly proud that Toronto is getting back on track after a checkered end to 2023. Martin Jones was a solid goalscorer for the second game in a row. After his shutout against the Los Angeles Kings, he allowed the Ducks just one goal on 26 shots.
“The team is playing right. I think we had a very good approach in the last four or five games and of course in the last two games. “The most important thing is to get the results we want,” said Matthews, who barely mentioned his own performance.
John Tavares was the Maple Leafs' other scorer and praised his teammate. In his opinion, the recipe for success is positioning on the ice.
“Obviously he's a top player and always finds space to create chances or knows where to position himself on the ice to receive passes,” the captain explained.
Matthews will have a great chance to add to his personal tally as his team will face the San Jose Sharks twice in a row on Saturday and Tuesday.