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

[AuraSphere]

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

I would say that game was quite important to Detroit on the verge of playoff elimination. To them it was a playoff game lol

 

[sxvnert]

"But his defence!"

 

[MCR74]

how about the other 65 goals?

Imagine if the great Stutzle netted 65. The Sens might even sniff the playpffs.

 

[Joe n]

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

Nice post. Getting to the playoffs doesn't matter.

 

[pcruz]

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.

McDavid is still #1 for me.

His offensive game is just sufficiently stronger than Matthews to offset the chasm of difference defensively.

Matthews is clear cut the 2nd best player in the game though.

And after this season, it's finally clear that #3 is Mackinnon.

I'd argue that #4 is Draisaitl despite him having a good, but unremarkable offensive season.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

70 goals. Most blocked shots forward. 2nd in league takeaways. Top 10 in scoring. Has to be mvp. If he hits that magic number

 

[MCR74]

Nice post. Getting to the playoffs doesn't matter.

Obviously not. They're still celebrating Rielly's suspension.

 

[TDotMassive]

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.

This is being lost in so many arguments about Matthews... that he is about to score 70 while also being consistently 1-3 in Selke rankings. His level of 200-ft play is so far ahead of McDavid and a universe ahead of Kuch. Only Reinhart is in a similar 2-way conversation this season, and he's 14 goals back of Matthews.

Matthews will be the FIRST player EVER to WIN a ROCKET and be NOMINATED for a SELKE.

It's never happened in league history.

If he actually wins both Rocket and Selke, it will be a mind blowing and unique accomplishment in league history... and then how can he not win the Hart? How can you say he's not the best in the game if he both scores goals and defends better than any other player?

The Hart should be his. He scored a QUARTER of his team's goals while providing ELITE level defense... can't get more valuable than.

 

[strattonius]

McDavid is still #1 for me.

His offensive game is just sufficiently stronger than Matthews to offset the chasm of difference defensively.

Matthews is clear cut the 2nd best player in the game though.

And after this season, it's finally clear that #3 is Mackinnon.

I'd argue that #4 is Draisaitl despite him having a good, but unremarkable offensive season.

To me and most fans Mackinnon is the clear 2nd best player in the game.

 

[Drytoast]

I think the chances now of him hitting 70 is about 60%. Amazing stuff.

 

[mobilus]

To me and most fans Mackinnon is the clear 2nd best player in the game.

No matter what the topic, you only speak for you.

 

[leafsfan5]

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.

It's an interesting situation with Matthews. He's playing some of the best hockey of his career right now, a 14-game point streak with 14 goals and 11 assists, so you don't want to take him out of the rhythm he's in by sitting him for too long. If he doesn't play the last 2 it'll be a full week off before he plays again. Then, of course, there is the obvious 70-goal chase and he clearly wants to hit that mark

I think at most he sits one game. Either way, his minutes will be monitored over the next 2 and he'll be put into ideal situations to score. I don't expect 20+ minutes till the playoffs begin

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

The separation between 2nd place is very impressive, but the raw number isn't that unexpected in a league that has three ~140 point players and the probable Vezina winner is going to have a .922

 

[ToDavid]

Nice post. Getting to the playoffs doesn't matter.

In his defence, the Sens don’t seem to think it matters, so why should their fans?

 

[authentic]

The separation between 2nd place is very impressive, but the raw number isn't that unexpected in a league that has three ~140 point players and the probable Vezina winner is going to have a .922

So one of the most dominant goal scoring seasons of all-time is expected because scoring has risen? The top goal totals are not drastically different from when Ovechkin scored 65

69 - 72 pace
55 - 56 pace
53 - 56 pace
51 - 52 pace
48 - 49 pace
47 - 48 pace
47 - 48 pace
45 - 47 pace
44 - 49 pace
43 - 45 pace

Now compare that to Ovechkin's 65 goal season

65
52 - 54 pace
50
47
43
43 - 47 pace
42 - 45 pace
41 - 47 pace
40
40 - 47 pace

Matthews is actually a little more dominant over the runner up and 10th place goal scorers (especially in pace) than Ovechkin was while being 44th in powerplay time instead of 2nd and contending for a Selke trophy in the process.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So one of the most dominant goal scoring seasons of all-time is expected because scoring has risen? The top goal totals are not drastically different from when Ovechkin scored 65

69 - 72 pace
55 - 56 pace
53 - 56 pace
51 - 52 pace
48 - 49 pace
47 - 48 pace
47 - 48 pace
45 - 47 pace
44 - 49 pace
43 - 45 pace

Now compare that to Ovechkin's 65 goal season

65
52 - 54 pace
50
47
43
43 - 47 pace
42 - 45 pace
41 - 47 pace
40
40 - 47 pace

Matthews is actually a little more dominant over the runner up and 10th place goal scorers (especially in pace) than Ovechkin was while being 44th in powerplay time instead of 2nd and contending for a Selke trophy in the process.

I'm just saying that scoring is up, more goals are going in. I'm not totally shocked that the best goal scorer is flirting with 70, especially since last year had 2 guys in the 60's.

Like I said, separation from 2nd place is very impressive.

 

[authentic]

I'm just saying that scoring is up, more goals are going in. I'm not totally shocked that the best goal scorer is flirting with 70, especially since last year had 2 guys in the 60's.

Like I said, separation from 2nd place is very impressive.

Well I guess if you mean 70 is what is expected for one of the best goal scoring seasons of all-time in this era, otherwise it just sounds like it’s nothing special.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Well I guess if you mean 70 is what is expected for one of the best goal scoring seasons of all-time in this era, otherwise it just sounds like it’s nothing special.

"This era" is still fairly young, only ~6 years old. And I didn't say "nothing special".

 

[Video Nasty]

Forget a flat 70 goals. Go out, pot a hat trick, and land inside the top 10 all-time.

 

[Strangle]

The 7-8 seasons preceding Ovi's rookie year were the lowest scoring since the late 50's. By the time Ovi arrived, scoring was already up considerably.

The point is really that scoring is still recovering from the dark ages and we continue to improve even today

But the league’s scoring is still down. But it’s imlroving

Imagine if the great Stutzle netted 65. The Sens might even sniff the playpffs.

No chance

If Matthews goals ‘aren’t when it matters’ that’s an entire team who’s play doesn’t matter

 

[gritdash60]

Matthews in this era compares to Gretzkys 92 IMO. I mean dude, the goalies pads never touched the ice back then if they didnt accidentally fall down, and their equipment was like half the size compared to today. OBV im not hating on #99, he has the records for a reason, and the reason is because he was so much better than everyone else. But if we talk about goal scoring Matthews is just that, way better than the competition, its not even close.

NOW, everyone will start hating me saying Matthews is on Gretzkys level as is tradition. But what about my countryman Jari Kurri who scored 71 in 73games in the 84-85 season? I guess he is just way better than than Matthews as well, you dont get to pick and choose.

By this "They scored more in less games, and scoring was the same" logic Matthews is like barely top10 if even in it. These dudes did it with having defenders who couldnt skate backwards, goalies whose gear was smaller than todays players.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Forget a flat 70 goals. Go out, pot a hat trick, and land inside the top 10 all-time.

71

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

This is being lost in so many arguments about Matthews... that he is about to score 70 while also being consistently 1-3 in Selke rankings. His level of 200-ft play is so far ahead of McDavid and a universe ahead of Kuch. Only Reinhart is in a similar 2-way conversation this season, and he's 14 goals back of Matthews.

Matthews will be the FIRST player EVER to WIN a ROCKET and be NOMINATED for a SELKE.

It's never happened in league history.

If he actually wins both Rocket and Selke, it will be a mind blowing and unique accomplishment in league history... and then how can he not win the Hart? How can you say he's not the best in the game if he both scores goals and defends better than any other player?

The Hart should be his. He scored a QUARTER of his team's goals while providing ELITE level defense... can't get more valuable than.

Im with you. 70 goals while being a selke finalist has to win the hart. Lets go papi

 

[authentic]

This is being lost in so many arguments about Matthews... that he is about to score 70 while also being consistently 1-3 in Selke rankings. His level of 200-ft play is so far ahead of McDavid and a universe ahead of Kuch. Only Reinhart is in a similar 2-way conversation this season, and he's 14 goals back of Matthews.

Matthews will be the FIRST player EVER to WIN a ROCKET and be NOMINATED for a SELKE.

It's never happened in league history.

If he actually wins both Rocket and Selke, it will be a mind blowing and unique accomplishment in league history... and then how can he not win the Hart? How can you say he's not the best in the game if he both scores goals and defends better than any other player?

The Hart should be his. He scored a QUARTER of his team's goals while providing ELITE level defense... can't get more valuable than.

That really can't be overstated. What he's doing has literally never been done before in the history of the NHL. Still can't believe just how good he is.

 

[paul9kariya]

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

Lol what...? Are teams supposed to just forfeit the rest of their games once they clinch a playoff spot?