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

[TDotMassive]

So many times I've heard that X player won't win a cup this year or X team can't do it only to see both get it done.

This was literally said about Ovi for a decade...

 

[the paisanos guy]

i just absolutely hate the leafs, but gotta hand it to him matthews is a generational scorer. crazy what he is doing

 

[TopShelfYzerman]

If the Leafs were to actually wise up and bring in a coach for playoff hockey, then Matthews could have one of those strange type goal scoring drop off season that OV had! Matthews needs to stop being compared to OV, as he's 484 goals behind. Frankly, there is too much talk about how many goals Matthews scores, when he should be held accountable as part of the reason the Leafs get knocked out so much in the 1st round! Matthews playoff performances are never talked about, because he doesn't show up that good in the playoffP

People were saying the same thing about ovechkin in his 11-12 season, guess what? He won a cup 7 yrs later. Relax

 

[TheStatican]

My methods aren’t mine. They are literally just goals per game. Another poster used them for last year’s McDavid compared to all of the other great seasons in NHL history. He adjusted every season to 2023 NHL goals per game doing so by even strength, power play and shorthanded levels.

Upon further reflection the mythology being used is flawed, or in the least, incomplete. Only just recently, as in literally in the last day or two did I realize how much so. The factors that have been skewing the results are empty net and overtime scoring. Scoring in these situations have been inflating the point totals of the top players in recent seasons in a way that has not been accounted for by adjusted scoring metrics even those incorporating separate ES/PP&SH scoring rates.

Empty Net & Overtime Scoring: Their Effects on Scoring Distribution and the Resulting Inflation of Point Totals for the League's Top Players

Empty net scoring has seen a huge uptick in recent seasons, largely thanks to analytics revealing that playing with an empty net is actually of a net benefit for a team aiming to make a comeback. Goals conceded during these situations are now considered to be largely inconsequential; after all...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

The question is will Keefe allow him to play the next 2 games, if He does I think He gets it, but the next 2 games are completely worthless other than they are legally required to play them.

I wouldn't be surprised if He sits those games.

If only Kampf had gotten the f*** off the ice when the devils had an empty net Matthews would probably have it.

 

[Daximus]

With nothing on the line for the Leafs in these next 2 games. No chance at home ice advantage and no chance of being caught from behind, it's either Boston or Florida now in round 1.

Do they risk a potential Matthews injury so he can chase 70? Back to back games on the road, against two physical teams then two days rest before 1st round action, which could potentially be in Boston, and both of those teams might be resting their stars and giving icetime to some guys who might be out there looking to prove something to their management and coaches as to how they can be useful going forward.

Tough position to be in. On one hand fans will hate it if they don't let Matthews chase 70, on the other hand fans will absolutely bag on management and coaching for letting him play in nothing games and getting injured before playoffs.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

If the Leafs were to actually wise up and bring in a coach for playoff hockey, then Matthews could have one of those strange type goal scoring drop off season that OV had! Matthews needs to stop being compared to OV, as he's 484 goals behind. Frankly, there is too much talk about how many goals Matthews scores, when he should be held accountable as part of the reason the Leafs get knocked out so much in the 1st round! Matthews playoff performances are never talked about, because he doesn't show up that good in the playoffs!

You know why people do that? It's because he's ahead of where Ovechkin was at 26, he's ahead of Ovechkin pace.

Is He going to do it? I don't know but he's on track to.

 

[oooooooooohCanada]

I think Matthews getting close to 70 goals is awesome, but that doesn’t take away from OV. Gotta remember, he was getting that 65 goal season in an era where the next two leading scorers got 52 and 50 goals that year.

Matthews has 69 goals and the next two leading scorers have 55 (with 1 game left), and 53 (with 3 games left)..

Also:

Ovie 65 goal season = 460 PP mins (5:37 per game)
Matthews 69+ goal season = 265 PP mins (3:22 per game)

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

People were saying the same thing about ovechkin in his 11-12 season, guess what? He won a cup 7 yrs later. Relax

Also your boy Yzerman didn't win until he was 31 in his 13th season.

I'm not trying to shit on Yzerman all I'm saying is Matthews is 26, we got time before his story is written.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Ovi would have multiple 60 goal seasons if his prime was in today’s NHL.

its possible. or he may end up with just one anyways

I think Matthews getting close to 70 goals is awesome, but that doesn’t take away from OV. Gotta remember, he was getting that 65 goal season in an era where the next two leading scorers got 52 and 50 goals that year.

I feel like when all is said and done, we will look back at these guys and think Matthews has the higher goalscoring peak, but Ovechkin will have the longevity. He as been pretty healthy despite playing physically and has a goal scoring game that has aged wonderfully; lots of it is off teeing off with a one-timer from the hashmarks, not having to rely on speed or agility, which declines with age.

With Matthews it makes me sad how many games he has missed due to injury and Covid shutdown. He has had multiple seasons where he has been on pace for 60+ goals, just hasn’t had the raw numbers of games to get there, but this season we are finally seeing him fully healthy and with a full season to play, so we should enjoy it.


Boston and Tampa have had a stranglehold on the Atlantic for a decade and a half. There is a reason why all those talented Toronto teams got knocked out in the first round year after year.

not taking anything away from Ovechkin its just surprising he only had one 60 goal season. hes soon to be the leading all time goal scorer. but with Matthews having a higher peak in goals in the end he may not need so many 50 goal seasons as Ovechkin did in his 30s. by that time Matthews may only need somewhere in the 40s

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Matthews is not as durable as Ovechkin, on a season by season basis. He almost got 70 now, but most likely won't get that same amount next season. Look at his track record season by season...

well that may not matter all that much if he puts up high numbers he may not need alot of 50 goal seasons to match to exceed. and I dunno he got 60 2 years ago and last year he clearly had issues and still put in 40. hes gnna need a serious injury to really slow him down it seems

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

The question is will Keefe allow him to play the next 2 games, if He does I think He gets it, but the next 2 games are completely worthless other than they are legally required to play them.

I wouldn't be surprised if He sits those games.

If only Kampf had gotten the f*** off the ice when the devils had an empty net Matthews would probably have it.

Already did have it but goal got called back after an offside like 5 minutes earlier.

 

[MCR74]

Man haters still grasping for straws to avoid giving Matthews credit...sad

What an absolute legend

If he wasn't a Leaf this thread would have a very different tone

Yep.

 

[AvroArrow]

The question is will Keefe allow him to play the next 2 games, if He does I think He gets it, but the next 2 games are completely worthless other than they are legally required to play them.

I wouldn't be surprised if He sits those games.

If only Kampf had gotten the f*** off the ice when the devils had an empty net Matthews would probably have it.

Matthews has hit 20 posts this year as well, lol if just 1 of them was just an inch inward.

 

[MCR74]

The question is will Keefe allow him to play the next 2 games, if He does I think He gets it, but the next 2 games are completely worthless other than they are legally required to play them.

I wouldn't be surprised if He sits those games.

If only Kampf had gotten the f*** off the ice when the devils had an empty net Matthews would probably have it.

That's the thing. I'd be tempted to rest the big guns now. Sure 70 goals would be really cool, but we don't need a cheap shot to send Matthews to the infirmary before next weekend.

69 goals is still one for the books.

 

[TheStatican]

Not sure if I want him to score 70, since 69 is... Nice.

Bossy and Lemieux both know what it feels like, there's a reason why they both stopped at 69

 

[Neil Racki]

I basically only watch my team but man … 70 goals and not being the leading candidate for the Hart seems crazy to me.

 

[JukofYork]

Keefe finally tried to be intelligent. He was double shifting Mathews like crazy last night to try and get him his 70th goal so he could rest him the next two games.

It didnt happen. I highly doubt he sits him. You have to let him play.

If he dies, he dies.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

With nothing on the line for the Leafs in these next 2 games. No chance at home ice advantage and no chance of being caught from behind, it's either Boston or Florida now in round 1.

Do they risk a potential Matthews injury so he can chase 70? Back to back games on the road, against two physical teams then two days rest before 1st round action, which could potentially be in Boston, and both of those teams might be resting their stars and giving icetime to some guys who might be out there looking to prove something to their management and coaches as to how they can be useful going forward.

Tough position to be in. On one hand fans will hate it if they don't let Matthews chase 70, on the other hand fans will absolutely bag on management and coaching for letting him play in nothing games and getting injured before playoffs.

Yes you do risk it. 70 is not something very rare. U risk it period

 

[MCR74]

Bossy and Lemieux both know what it feels like, there's a reason why they both stopped at 69

That's a err... an interesting way to look at it.

 

[kevsh]

I wouldn't be surprised if He sits those games.

Zero chance he sits both games.

Putting aside the quest for 70, I think every healthy player will play at least one game in Florida, with the top guys getting one game off. I'm pretty sure he plays Tuesday and if he gets the 70 he absolutely sits the next night against Tampa Bay. If he doesn't get it, I don't see how Keefe keeps him out with one goal to go.

Remember, the Lightning and Panthers are in the same boat in that these games don't mean much and the focus is on keeping everyone healthy for the playoffs.

 

[authentic]

With nothing on the line for the Leafs in these next 2 games. No chance at home ice advantage and no chance of being caught from behind, it's either Boston or Florida now in round 1.

Do they risk a potential Matthews injury so he can chase 70? Back to back games on the road, against two physical teams then two days rest before 1st round action, which could potentially be in Boston, and both of those teams might be resting their stars and giving icetime to some guys who might be out there looking to prove something to their management and coaches as to how they can be useful going forward.

Tough position to be in. On one hand fans will hate it if they don't let Matthews chase 70, on the other hand fans will absolutely bag on management and coaching for letting him play in nothing games and getting injured before playoffs.

He's playing atleast one of them. My guess is against Florida. I would also imagine if he doesn't get 70 there he'll want to play the last game as well, maybe just limit his even strength time and play him the entire powerplay or something.

 

[Channelcat]

This will end up costing the team.

 

[authentic]

I basically only watch my team but man … 70 goals and not being the leading candidate for the Hart seems crazy to me.

He's also at the top of literally every defensive stat for forwards, and blows away all the 30+ forwards who play similar minutes. Like he is dare I say it the best player in the game, if not astoundingly closer to McDavid than people imagine, just as he was in his last healthy season where he won the Hart and Lindsay.

 

[shortfuze]

Impressive stuff, but he's once again racking up the goals when the games don't matter.

how about the other 65 goals?