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Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Locks Up the Calder

By Eduardo Razo

Mar 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots the puck during warmups prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots the puck during warmups prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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With five games remaining in his season, the Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews has put an end to the Calder Trophy race.

Patrik Laine made it an exciting race throughout the season but to no avail. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of clinching a playoff birth in an 82 game season for the first time since the 2003-2004 season. Their 19-year-old rookie has played a vital role in bringing Toronto this far and has come as advertised. All season long the debate as

All season long the debate raged on, Laine or Matthews; who would end up with the more impressive season. At one point the Winnipeg Jets forward looked to have the upper hand. However, Matthews did not let him run away with the rookie scoring title and stayed within striking distance.

For the most, the two rookies have gone back and forth with their stellar individual performances. Take the opening night after Matthews scored four goals; a week later Laine tried to one-up him. With Toronto in town, the 18-year-old netted his first career hat-trick which included the game-winning goal.

A typical “anything you can do, I can do better” kind of season for the pair of rookies. It appeared that it would become a neck and neck race down the wire. Then Matthews decided to separate himself from Laine and the rest of the rookies.

Toronto Maple Leafs:What The Numbers Say

The Toronto forward has put together a record-setting season. For one he broke Wendel Clark’s rookie goal scoring record of 34 goals. Other rookie records could fall in the final week of the regular season. Matthews sits within reach of the total points, game-winning goals, and most goals by an American.

Matthews currently sits at 38 goals and 28 assists for 66 points through 77 games played with five games remaining. He has the potential to score 40 goals and crack 70 point mark before the season ends. If these two situations were to happen and a playoff berth, the engraving of Matthew’s name onto the Calder Trophy should begin.

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Also, with his 38 goals, Matthews is tied with Nikita Kucherov for third in goal scoring. Funny, coming into the season Laine came in as the one who would have the most goals between the two. Now, he won’t catch Sidney Crosby, but when the season ends, Matthew could finish in the top two in goal scoring.

Go Home; It’s Over

Now that the playoff races have tightened, Matthews has taken his game to another level. In the last ten games, he registered seven goals and 11 points. The games have become closer and each point crucial, yet he doesn’t seem phased from the big moments.

As a result, Toronto now finds itself in second place in the Atlantic Division and in a position to have home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.On the other hand, Laine has dwindled with Winnipeg faltering out of the playoff race. In his last ten games, he scored only three points (two goals and one assist).

Matthews has decided to pick the right time to get hot and go on a run. Giving that extra push that Toronto needs to fend off the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. In his last game versus Detroit, he put a strangle hold on the Calder race with a two-goal performance. Style points aren’t everything, but it doesn’t hurt that he continues to score when his team needs him the most.

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