Auston Matthews 69 goals in 81 games, most goals scored since Lemieux in 1995-96

[Arthur Morgan]

Ovechkin had two subpar what's going on years. 2012-13 was the strike-shortened season.

tru almost forgot about that half lock out. the 04 one was alot more memorable lol

Matthews also got hit by a few shortened seasons pretty crazy he scored 47 in his. its basically the same he only played 4 more games than Ovechkin did in 12/13

 

[saffronleaf]

The way he’s playing, he might be flirting with the top 50 all-time goals scored in just two more seasons.

But does it really count when you get to play with Domi and you're not forced to play with Backstrom (eww)?

 

[TheStatican]

You have to account for the fact that OV draws more penalties. 1.8 per 60 mins. OV was harder to contain in 08’ then Matthews, and he was awarded more penalties because of that.
Some of those blatant penalties he drew would have been goals otherwise. You can’t just discount the fact that OV got more power play time without factoring into the reasons why. That is the issue.

First off, where are you getting your data from? The NHL page only has penalties drawn since 09-10, there is no data on there about the 07-08 season:

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Secondly, Ovi's highest per/60 rate in a season is 1.56, and that was in a condensed season. In a full season, it's 1.39, which is notably less than the 1.8 and amounted to 39 penalties drawn. Matthews has drawn 17 penalties this season, so the difference between them at his highest achieved totals is 22 calls. It may be that Ovi was a more dominant player overall in 07-08, but that has little to do with whose season was greater from a goal-scoring perspective, which I presume is what most people, or at least I, am arguing about. Thirdly, exactly how many of those penalty calls occured during good scoring chances? Many calls happen away from the play, the net or in the neutral zone. A large number of his drawn calls were retaliatory in nature due to his penchant for physical play. Matthews is far from that type of player, but very few are these days. That speaks to Ovi's overall abilities as a player, to be sure, but not to his goal-scoring prowess itself. And even for the calls that actually did interrupt a good scoring chance, you cannot simply conclude they would have resulted in a goal. Ovi's shooting % that season was only a relatively modest 14.6% (Matthews is at 19.6%). No doubt his shooting % for a high-quality shot would be a lot higher than that, but it's still far from a guaranteed goal. All those factors considered and without any further corroborating data or video evidence, we can't honestly take such a claim that it costs him a large number of goals at face value.

 

[The90]

I think you guys need a reality check. See the NHLPA Players Poll. Matthews shows up in one category only. Best fashion

I liked the poll where the players gave him the Ted Lindsey

 

[Kegu]

Forget the NHLPA Players Poll. Matthews boosters should see the HFBoards poll between Matthews and Stutzle for a reality check. Matthews isn't even the best player on an Ontario-based team.

believe me. pretty sure every matthews booster has seen the thread, and they cry about it every chance they get.

 

[SkinsFan09]

tru almost forgot about that half lock out. the 04 one was alot more memorable lol

Matthews also got hit by a few shortened seasons pretty crazy he scored 47 in his. its basically the same he only played 4 more games than Ovechkin did in 12/13

Both he and Ovechkin in the shortened 2020 season could have made a run at 60 goals though they would have had to heat up.

 

[authentic]

Kind of wild to see a guy score 66 4 games left to get to 70 and he's third to fifth in the Hart odds. He might get 70 and not be even top 3.

While being at the top of all defensive stats for forwards, and easily blowing away all the forwards who play similar minutes. It’s unheard of and actually I think he will get a bigger portion of Hart votes than some suspect.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Both he and Ovechkin in the shortened 2020 season could have made a run at 60 goals though they would have had to heat up.

Pastrnak too

 

[NoName]

So what's the temp on him hitting 70? He gonna do it?

Most likely not, but it isn't impossible.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

He needs 4 in 4. He missed one game.

I took a look at the Leafs remaining schedule and Matthews easily pots 4 against Ottawa, Washington and Buffalo. One game at least a multi-goal game.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

I took a look at the Leafs remaining schedule and Matthews easily pots 4 against Ottawa, Washington and Buffalo. One game at least a multi-goal game.

?..... that's not the remaining leafs schedule.... jersey, wings, panthers and lightning.

 

[SkinsFan09]

I took a look at the Leafs remaining schedule and Matthews easily pots 4 against Ottawa, Washington and Buffalo. One game at least a multi-goal game.

If he had Washington on the schedule he might hit 75.

 

[34]

If he had Washington on the schedule he might hit 75.

If Matthews played in the Pacific division he would score 100 goals every season.

 

[666]

I took a look at the Leafs remaining schedule and Matthews easily pots 4 against Ottawa, Washington and Buffalo. One game at least a multi-goal game.

There is a good chance that he will be rested once the Leafs seeding is established.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

If Matthews played in the Pacific division he would score 100 goals every season.

I could care less about how many goals he has scored.
Sportsnet now flashes a big banner for his goals. This is ridiculous. He is playing in a pathetic division that has the Sens, Habs and Sabres. He is a gifted goal scorer that will lead the leafs to the cup but the torontocentric media overdoes it with him.

 

[gretzkyoilers]

If Matthews played in the Pacific division he would score 100 goals every season.

If he was playing in 2003 his 66 goals would be 42 goals...

 

[WalterLundy]

If he was playing in 2003 his 66 goals would be 42 goals...

Would probably be mid-upper 50s in 2003 but the 100 goals thing is out there I agree.

 

[Jojalu]

I could care less about how many goals he has scored.
Sportsnet now flashes a big banner for his goals. This is ridiculous. He is playing in a pathetic division that has the Sens, Habs and Sabres. He is a gifted goal scorer that will lead the leafs to the cup but the torontocentric media overdoes it with him.

As opposed to any other division with their bottom feeders.

TB, Bos and Florida also play in his division and the schedule is balanced this year for every team.

 

[34]

If he was playing in 2003 his 66 goals would be 42 goals...

If he was playing in 2003 it would be 122 goals.

 

[nturn06]

If Matthews played in the Pacific division he would score 100 goals every season.

This season against the pacific he has 12G in 16 games, which is way under his pace. Luckly for him he had 10 goals in 7 games against the powerhouses Sabres and Canadiens

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

And yet his team has won one playoff round in his 7 years so far, and even lost a play-in series...

What a leader !

 

[KaN19]

I remember the days when Auston's haters were calling him an overrated scorer because injuries and COVID stopped him from officially passing the 50 mark for a couple years.

Now he's on the verge of 70.

 

[Antropovsky]

He is an unbelievable scorer. It does highlight that they do not need several $10m+ players alongside him though. He'd score 50+ with just average NHL wingers.

He is pacing more goals with Bertuzzi and Domi than he did with Marner.

In just his 2nd season, Matthews also had 34 goals and 63 points in 62 games (45 goal pace) with old man Marleau, Kapanen or Johnsson as his linemates. All three have hardly been 4th line players since.

 

[johnnyonthspot]

And yet his team has won one playoff round in his 7 years so far, and even lost a play-in series...

What a leader !

That changes this year. He will lead them to a cup

As opposed to any other division with their bottom feeders.

TB, Bos and Florida also play in his division and the schedule is balanced this year for every team.

i am not doubting his goal scoring is elite just the coverage it gets, which is over the top and fanboyish. Why do major networks act like Steve Dangleberry.

 

[kevsh]

And yet his team has won one playoff round in his 7 years so far, and even lost a play-in series...

Hey, here's one for you; At least he'll be in the playoffs again this year.
As for the Habs, how's that rebuild coming along? Oh, another lottery pick this Summer you say. How many is that now?