3) Auston Matthews Will Score 50 Goals This Season
Auston Matthews is the NHL’s current goal-scoring leader with 36 goals in 48 games. If he plays in all 31 remaining games, he is on pace for 59 goals in 79 games.
That, however, is a pace that includes an early season scoring slump, due to a combination of bad shooting luck and post-surgery recovery. In his last 31 games Matthews has 29 goals. If he stays healthy, 50 goals is an absolute slam dunk. (Note all stats are correct prior to last night’s game).
With the rate that he is scoring at, I think reaching 50 goals is more than achievable. The true question is, can he score 60?
If he can score 55 goals, he will set a new Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record for most goals scored in a season. The current record is 54 goals by former Toronto captain Rick Vaive. He set the record during the 1981-82 season, when it was much easier to score goals.
4) Auston Matthews Will Win His Second Rocket Richard Trophy
If Matthews can continue to score at his current pace, he should win the Rocket Richard trophy. If he does, he will be the third player to win it in back-to-back seasons. The goal-scoring race is a tight one right down. Matthews is only one goal ahead of Leon Draisaitl and two goals ahead of Chris Kreider.