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Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews In On Hart, Art Ross, Rocket, Selke

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at home, as the NHL resumes it’s schedule and the second half of the season begins.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost once already to Carolina this year, and a win tonight will put them just one point back of the Hurricanes, and give the two teams a nearly identical record.

Carolina is having a great season, led by ex-Leafs netminder Freddie Andersen, who is one of the greatest goalies in Leafs history and who, like Nazem Kadri, is making me jealous by having his career season in the wrong uniform.

Speaking of goalies, tonight’s game will be started by Petr Mrazek.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes

The NHL’s hottest player as the second half resumes might be Mitch Marner, who is definitely in the running, but it is more likely Auston Matthews who is currently on an absolute tear.

Matthews has 22 goals in his last 22 games.  That’s right – he has scored at a goal-per-game rate now for over a quarter of a season.   Bizarrely, this 22 in 22 streak features a stretch of four games in a row where he failed to score. (stats naturalstattrick.com).

Until just a couple game ago, Matthews was flirting with some of the lowest 5v5 on-ice and individual shooting-percentages of his career.  Needless to say, but the correction has been something to behold.  The crazy thing: he might get better.

Matthews is destroying goalies, but he’s also racking up assists.  In the last 22 games he has 37 points which is nearly a 140 point pace.

Matthews WAR is currently at 100% meaning that he is the NHL’s best player this year.  His offense is the best, and defensively he is better than 94% of players.  He should be the Hart Trophy winner this year if he stays even close to his current pace. (Jfresh).

His team is fighting for first overall. He’s one back of the 5v5 goal lead, 3 back of the overall goal lead, and he’s the best defensive player among those who also score a lot.

The second half of this season could see Matthews win the Hart, the Rocket and the Selke.  At the very least, he’ll be a nominee for all three.  If he keeps up the same scoring pace he’s been at for the last 22 games, he could also win the Art Ross as the NHL scoring leader.

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Currently he’s 13 points back of Leon Draisaitl, but with eight less games played.  Matthews would need to go an absolute tear to overtake McDavid, but it’s not impossible.

The second half begins and Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to make good on the best first half in team history.

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