Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Jumps into the Top 10

The Toronto Maple Leafs top line treated the fans to a display of elite hockey skills on Monday night as they fought back from 4-1 deficit to be victorious in overtime 6-5.

Auston Matthews led the charge with a pair of goals and an assist, while Mitch Marner had his second consecutive four-point game. Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Matthew Knies added a goal and a pair of primary assists in his debut playing the left side of Matthews and Marner.

With his three point game, Matthews recorded his 560th career point to put him in a tie with Ted Kennedy for tenth in all-time scoring for the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.  The former first overall pick was able to get to the milestone in 203 less games than Kennedy, whose number nine is seen each home game by Matthews hanging in the rafters.

Next on the list for Matthews is to catch Bob Pulford who sits just three points ahead of the big center.

Marner and Matthews are currently scoring up the all-time Maple Leafs scoring list with Marner also passing both Kennedy and Pulford this season to currently sit alone in eight place.

The two goals the Arizona product scored also puts him within 20 of catching Ron Ellis for fourth on the teams goal scoring list as he currently sits with 312 for his career.

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews Gearing Up for 50 in 50

Two seasons ago, Matthews was able to collect 51 goals over a 50 game span, however there was a lot of negativity from other fanbases stating to be credited with 50 in 50 it had to come from the start of the season, which is ridiculous.  That year Matthews would finish with 60 goals in 73 games.

Many thought the 2023-24 season may be Matthews best season as he was fully in his prime and for the first time in years, the 6’3″  center was finally healthy.

He has now started off 13 goals in 12 games thanks to three hattricks; and if he could get to the 20 goals before that many games chatter for 50 in 50  will really pick up.

The closest he has ever got from the start of the season to 20 in 20 was during the shortened Canadian Division season with no crowds where he notched 18 goals in 18 games, however fell off a bit and finished with 41 goals in the 52 games where he missed four games.

In recent memory, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl flirted with 50 in 50 during the 2021-22 season when he started reaching the 20 goals in less than 20 games, however he fell off his pace after that and wasn’t able to sustain the pace for the entire season.

With coach Sheldon Keefe finally putting a skill power winger with Marner and Matthews, there may be even more opportunity for goals this season; so it’ll be fun to see the chase.