1st star – Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews has been the best 5v5 goal scorer, and one of the best overall, since the day he entered the league. That ability was on full display in December.
Matthews netted seven goals at 5v5. Only three players matched him and nobody scored more. If we look across all gamestates, only Anthony Duclair scored as many goals (11).
He did all kinds of scoring, which is great. So is the fact nothing but good happened with Matthews on the ice.
The Maple Leafs out-scored opponents by 10 goals with Matthews on the ice at 5v5. No other forward had a positive differential in the double digits.
Many – myself included – thought that playing for Keefe would allow the top players the freedom to unlock their offensive potential. Matthews, like Marner, Tavares, William Nylander, et all, are certainly proving that to be true.
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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Matthews lived up to his status as the franchise players in December, and made strides towards his first ever Rocket Richard Trophy. He currently sits just three goals behind Boston’s David Pastrnak.
Matthews is now on pace for over 50 goals and if he keeps up the kind of play he exhibited in December, he’s bound to win his first major trophy.