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

[Divine]

Not a better even strength scorer than prime Ovi. In 07-08 Ovi had 75 even strength points 9 ahead of second Malkin.

If you look at the top even strength point seasons after the lockout you find there are a lot of seasons around 2020 +/- 2-3 seasons as scoring is up. The best even strength seasons around Ovi's prime are.

09/10 H. Sedin 83
07/08 Ovechkin 75 (tied 14th after lockout)
11/12 Malkin 75
09/10 Ovechkin 73
09/10 Crosby 72
05/06 Thornton 72

Ovechkin in his prime tilted the ice in on even strength. If you watch some hockey in Ovi's first years in the league you will see he tilted the ice way more than Matthews are. Still Matthews is just as good as a goalscorer and I think this season matches up well goalscoring wise vs Ovechkin, but I dont think Matthews is as dominant in his overall impact on the ice where Ovi carried his team. So rocket wise Matthews season might be better, but in a Hart vote I would go Ovi.

I meant goalscorer.

Auston Matthews is leading the NHL in even-strength goals for the 5th time this season. Ovechkin had led the league in even-strength goals 5 times in his career. Assuming Auston Matthews leads the league in even-strength goals this year (currently leading by 10), he would have already led the league in even-strength goalscoring as often as Ovechkin did. Matthews has played 11 less seasons than Ovechkin.

The NHL record for seasons leading the league in even-strength goal is 6 by Bobby Hull. It's likely that Matthews will set the record for most seasons leading the league in even-strength goals by the end of his career.

 

[authentic]

Not a better even strength scorer than prime Ovi. In 07-08 Ovi had 75 even strength points 9 ahead of second Malkin.

If you look at the top even strength point seasons after the lockout you find there are a lot of seasons around 2020 +/- 2-3 seasons as scoring is up. The best even strength seasons around Ovi's prime are.

09/10 H. Sedin 83
07/08 Ovechkin 75 (tied 14th after lockout)
11/12 Malkin 75
09/10 Ovechkin 73
09/10 Crosby 72
05/06 Thornton 72

Ovechkin in his prime tilted the ice in on even strength. If you watch some hockey in Ovi's first years in the league you will see he tilted the ice way more than Matthews are. Still Matthews is just as good as a goalscorer and I think this season matches up well goalscoring wise vs Ovechkin, but I dont think Matthews is as dominant in his overall impact on the ice where Ovi carried his team. So rocket wise Matthews season might be better, but in a Hart vote I would go Ovi.

Of course it seems like he “tilted” the ice more, all he did was solo rush the puck constantly, didn’t really play a lick of defense. Matthews plays a completely opposite game in that sense, always back deep in his own zone helping out defensively, never cheats for offense at all. After this season Matthews will have led the NHL in even strength goals as many times as Ovechkin has in his career.

 

[JoVel]

When was the last time someone got this close to pulling off the 50 in 50? Matthews did it in 55 games.

 

[Divine]

When was the last time someone got this close to pulling off the 50 in 50? Matthews did it in 55 games.

Lemieux was the last one in the 95-96. This is the closest anyone's gotten since.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews becomes fastest US-born player to 50 goals

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has set a new record for a U.S.-born player, hitting the 50-goal mark in just 54 games.

www.usatoday.com

No player had scored 50 goals in 55 or fewer games since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux scored 50 in 50 in 1995-96.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

When was the last time someone got this close to pulling off the 50 in 50? Matthews did it in 55 games.

54, he missed a game against Pittsburgh, they beat Pittsburgh 7-1 I think.

 

[JoVel]

54, he missed a game against Pittsburgh, they beat Pittsburgh 7-1 I think.

True, but for the official 50 in 50 it needs to be done in the team's first 50 games. I think we've had this debate on HF at least a hundred times, lol.

 

[KapG]

Goalscoring looks pretty close compared to scoring in those seasons, but Ovi did it "alone" 112 points and 65 goals where the second guy on the team had 69 points.

Matthews is one of the most stacked teams offensively and will struggle to beat Ovechkin's point total this year in a higher scoring season. Will very likely beat 65 goals, but wouldnt say Matthews season is better considering how hard Ovi Carried the Capitals vs Matthews where they have several guys doing the work.

Lol

Matthews around 3 min pptoi a game. Ovi was probably hovering around 6

 

[KapG]

Not a better even strength scorer than prime Ovi. In 07-08 Ovi had 75 even strength points 9 ahead of second Malkin.

If you look at the top even strength point seasons after the lockout you find there are a lot of seasons around 2020 +/- 2-3 seasons as scoring is up. The best even strength seasons around Ovi's prime are.

09/10 H. Sedin 83
07/08 Ovechkin 75 (tied 14th after lockout)
11/12 Malkin 75
09/10 Ovechkin 73
09/10 Crosby 72
05/06 Thornton 72

Ovechkin in his prime tilted the ice in on even strength. If you watch some hockey in Ovi's first years in the league you will see he tilted the ice way more than Matthews are. Still Matthews is just as good as a goalscorer and I think this season matches up well goalscoring wise vs Ovechkin, but I dont think Matthews is as dominant in his overall impact on the ice where Ovi carried his team. So rocket wise Matthews season might be better, but in a Hart vote I would go Ovi.

we are talking goalscoring. Go back to bed

 

[Strangle]

If you looked at hockey reference season average, they add the winning goals of a shootout, which is counterintuitive a bit, at least for people that will tend to look at them to have a feel for the scoring environment.

07/08 was a bit lower at 2.72, this year around 3.11 (3v3 reduce the amount of game that goes to shutout I could imagine)

but 07/08 was a 4.28 powerplay a game versus 3.12 this year, which can push the scoring among the top player that play on the first unit of the PP at similar level (or not , it depends).

They should remove the gimick goals from the league totals. All 3 on 3 goals and shootout goals are league manufactured.

Does anyone have the stats for average regulation goals across the league?

 

[Peasy]

It's honestly an insane run. Will probably be awhile since we see a season like this again.

Wonder if there's still people arguing he hasn't been the best goal scorer in the league since being drafted lol.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

True, but for the official 50 in 50 it needs to be done in the team's first 50 games. I think we've had this debate on HF at least a hundred times, lol.

still doesnt make a unofficial 51-50 any less impressive

 

[missionAvs]

Incredible. Best goal scorer in the league easily.

 

[Plural]

Monster. Will be great to watch him challenge all the legends for the title of best goalscorer in NHL history.

Long ways to go, but if he can keep up this pace and performance for few years he's going to be right up there with the best goalscoring peak/prime ever.

 

[JoVel]

still doesnt make a unofficial 51-50 any less impressive

I don't think anyone is claiming it does, people just love to argue semantics.

 

[Spargon]

What's insane is watching Matthews pull away from the pack. When he hit 40 the next 3 guys were 34-38 goals. He's at 51 now and the next 3 are 36-39.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

True, but for the official 50 in 50 it needs to be done in the team's first 50 games. I think we've had this debate on HF at least a hundred times, lol.

I like how you brought it up initially, clearly wanting to have the exchange and explain it like you’re totally bewildered that people don’t know. Haha it’s like a gas light relationship around here

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

His pace to start his career makes it possible. But he is still nearly 500 goals away, and that is if OV never scores again. That’s not chump change and one injury or him slowing down even a little bit could make it impossible to catch.

 

[Leafs1991]

His pace to start his career makes it possible. But he is still nearly 500 goals away, and that is if OV never scores again. That’s not chump change and one injury or him slowing down even a little bit could make it impossible to catch.

Same could have been said about Ovie all those years ago. Matthews is pacing the same as Ovie did back in the day.

 

[PensandCaps]

Remember everyone saying 60 goals was a fluke after last year's down season.

lol.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I don't think anyone is claiming it does, people just love to argue semantics.

You weren't here 2 years ago when he scored 51 in 50 were you?

A LOT of people claimed exactly that.

 

[Spargon]

Remember everyone saying 60 goals was a fluke after last year's down season.

lol.

The fact a 40g 87pt season was considered a "down year" lol

 

[AvroArrow]

Greatest Leaf of all time in my honest opinion.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Remember everyone saying 60 goals was a fluke after last year's down season.

lol.

That's the thing with Matthews 40 goals is a "down season" for him.

I mean It's true but doesn't that sound ridiculous?

His pace to start his career makes it possible. But he is still nearly 500 goals away, and that is if OV never scores again. That’s not chump change and one injury or him slowing down even a little bit could make it impossible to catch.

The same thing could have been, and still could be said about Ovechkin

 

[PensandCaps]

The fact a 40g 87pt season was considered a "down year" lol

He can just score on you in so many different ways, haven't seen someone be able to do this since prime Ovi, and even he wasn't scoring as much as Matthews does around the net.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Greatest Leaf of all time in my honest opinion.

I think he needs a championship for that but he's checked every other box.