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

[Kiorei]

Is 70 still possible for him? Would love to see that glass ceiling being shattered.
Thought CMD would get it but he stopped at 64.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I’m agreeing with you here and merely commenting further on Hughes and Pasta.

1. Hughes case has crumbled because the numbers are not quite there since the first quarter of the season.

He had 8 goals and 31 points in 20 games and led the league in scoring through November 23.

He has 4 goals and 42 points in 44 games since then and has slipped down to 14th in scoring.

Combine that with what everyone else has done since and as you correctly predicted, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. The way things are looking now, I see him finishing around 7th in Hart voting.

2. Pasta, another contender in my eyes for 6th or 7th in Hart voting, is going to have simple perception work against him, among other things.

Though the Bruins have done an admirable job staying near the top of the East and Pasta is going to post a similar point total as last season as the Hart runner up, it’s possible he misses potting 50 goals, let alone the 61 he had. The Bruins have also been rather ho-hum since around the same time previously mentioned Hughes led the league in scoring. Since racing out to a stunning 13-1-3 record, they’ve gone 23-12-12 record. They’ve collected those extra loss points, but they’ve won less than half their games over the past 3 1/2 months.

Again, compared to what others are doing, his case is lacking.

Hughes and Pasta have had collectively tremendous campaigns, but I don’t think they’re much of a threat at this point to place in the top 5.

If anything Pastrnak is alone on an island with McAvoy and Swayman.

Even Marchand is slowing offensively. Without Pastrnak this low result offense is even worse.

Top 5 is likely. He will not and should not win.

 

[Video Nasty]

If anything Pastrnak is alone on an island with McAvoy and Swayman.

Even Marchand is slowing offensively. Without Pastrnak this low result offense is even worse.

Top 5 is likely. He will not and should not win.

It’s not likely when the top 3 scorers, a 70 goal threat, and the likely Vezina winner are in the mix.

I understand the importance of Pasta and his contributions, but some of you guys just aren’t getting that the narrative and play from others is stronger.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Tied Gretzky for 3rd most GWG before age 27. One back of Jagr, 4 back of McDavid.

 

[Regal]

It’s not likely when the top 3 scorers, a 70 goal threat, and the likely Vezina winner are in the mix.

I understand the importance of Pasta and his contributions, but some of you guys just aren’t getting that the narrative and play from others is stronger.

I’d still say Pasta is the most likely 5th place candidate at this point given how far ahead of his teammates he is. He and Hellebuyck are probably the two main contenders for it and it’ll depend on how they finish. Unlikely anyone’s overtakes the top 4 unless injuries or hot/cold streaks dramatically change anything.

 

[bobholly39]

It's such a stupid feeling to have but I can't help it - I'm disappointed in Auston Matthews.

After last night's game - he's only on pace for 71 goals on the season. I really thought he'd push for 75, and at one point he seemed to be pushing for closer to 80 then 75.

If he ends up with "only" 70, let alone less then that at ~65-69, I'll be really disappointed.

Still hoping he can get hot again soon and strat piling them up, and increase his pace.

In the past couple of months - he had one stretch of 19 goals in 15 games, and a completely separate stretch of 17 goals in 15 games.

If he were to do 19 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 77 goals
If he were to do 17 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 75 goals

 

[Liga]

Is 70 still possible for him? Would love to see that glass ceiling being shattered.
Thought CMD would get it but he stopped at 64.

70+ also 80+ is possible.

 

[BullyHockey]

He looks like he's hurt to me. The games I've watched him in that hot streak, he was chasing down pucks, stripping players, using his size down low and now he just looks completely perimeter and he looks much slower. I'm guessing lower body.

 

[hamzarocks]

It's such a stupid feeling to have but I can't help it - I'm disappointed in Auston Matthews.

After last night's game - he's only on pace for 71 goals on the season. I really thought he'd push for 75, and at one point he seemed to be pushing for closer to 80 then 75.

If he ends up with "only" 70, let alone less then that at ~65-69, I'll be really disappointed.

Still hoping he can get hot again soon and strat piling them up, and increase his pace.

In the past couple of months - he had one stretch of 19 goals in 15 games, and a completely separate stretch of 17 goals in 15 games.

If he were to do 19 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 77 goals
If he were to do 17 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 75 goals

He looks to be getting ready for the playoffs early

12 more goals for the reg to get 66

Followed by 3 goals and 2 assists in a 7 game loss to the bruins

 

[ItWasJustified]

Is 70 still possible for him? Would love to see that glass ceiling being shattered.
Thought CMD would get it but he stopped at 64.

Nope.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

bet he finishes with 64

 

[tfwnogf]

quiet against boston...not a good look considering they will likely play each other round 1. Had to be Boston huh leafs fans I hope they beat them and Matthews has a huge series tho, would give them the confidence they need, and haters would be in shambles

 

[bobholly39]

Is 70 still possible for him? Would love to see that glass ceiling being shattered.
Thought CMD would get it but he stopped at 64.

He's on pace for 71 goals right now, despite slowing down lately. Not only possible, but he's on pace for it.

Which would be great of course - but this was even more fun to follow when he seemed to be on pace for 75 goals. I still hope he can reach that somehow

 

[authentic]

It's such a stupid feeling to have but I can't help it - I'm disappointed in Auston Matthews.

After last night's game - he's only on pace for 71 goals on the season. I really thought he'd push for 75, and at one point he seemed to be pushing for closer to 80 then 75.

If he ends up with "only" 70, let alone less then that at ~65-69, I'll be really disappointed.

Still hoping he can get hot again soon and strat piling them up, and increase his pace.

In the past couple of months - he had one stretch of 19 goals in 15 games, and a completely separate stretch of 17 goals in 15 games.

If he were to do 19 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 77 goals
If he were to do 17 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 75 goals

He was on pace for 77. Actually think he will fall short now, seems to have been playing through sickness the past few games which has spread through our team. He will top 65 though but not much more than that.

 

[Video Nasty]

It's such a stupid feeling to have but I can't help it - I'm disappointed in Auston Matthews.

After last night's game - he's only on pace for 71 goals on the season. I really thought he'd push for 75, and at one point he seemed to be pushing for closer to 80 then 75.

If he ends up with "only" 70, let alone less then that at ~65-69, I'll be really disappointed.

Still hoping he can get hot again soon and strat piling them up, and increase his pace.

In the past couple of months - he had one stretch of 19 goals in 15 games, and a completely separate stretch of 17 goals in 15 games.

If he were to do 19 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 77 goals
If he were to do 17 goals in his next 15 games - that'd put him on pace for 75 goals

Ultimately, that’s why the games have to be played. If he went down with an injury after having 52 goals in 55 games (56 team games), we would have had to listen until the end of time how he was pacing for perhaps the greatest goal scoring season ever. According to the pace arguments, he should have 59 goals right now rather than 54.

 

[JukofYork]

He will not score 70. He is in playoff mode out there. Floating around in areas that are not open at all. This version of Mathews is super frustrating. Like he will go and hover where 2-3 opposing players are covering. Dude you arent getting the puck there. Get open ffs.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Ultimately, that’s why the games have to be played. If he went down with an injury after having 52 goals in 55 games (56 team games), we would have had to listen until the end of time how he was pacing for perhaps the greatest goal scoring season ever. According to the pace arguments, he should have 59 goals right now rather than 54.

If mcdavid got injured next game you would 100 percent be preaching how he would have had 100 assists. A strike is a strike and a ball is a ball

 

[TimeZone]

He's been brutal the last couple of weeks, doubt he hits 70.

 

[Breakers]

damn rough stretch

was pulling for him

 

[Calderon]

So "playoff mode" is now considered as an euphemism for underperforming? Mind you, he's only underperforming relative to the highest gpg we've seen this century so even saying so is a bit unfair.

I guess Kuzy tuned it so deep that he was actually in finals mode before attending the program.

We'll see how far playoff mode Matthews can take the Leafs and whether he'll be able to match the active players' career best goal totals along the way.

 

[Video Nasty]

If mcdavid got injured next game you would 100 percent be preaching how he would have had 100 assists. A strike is a strike and a ball is a ball

Key difference here is that McDavid is averaging 0.9936 APG through 628 career games, has 455 in his past 419 regular season games (the start of the 2018-2019 season through today), and has 68 in his most recent 44 games. If there was ever anyone beyond Gretzky and Lemieux where we could safely project some total, it is McDavid.

For McDavid to reach 100 assists, he needs 23 in his final 21 games. It's hardly a stretch to envision him doing it, seeing as how he needs to increase his overall career average by less than 9 percent to do it.

With Matthews, we're now being asked to pencil him in for 23 goals in his final 19 games, to have the fifth highest raw total that he was pacing for just 7 games ago. He needs to increase his overall career average by 86% to do it. Even with his history of hot stretches, it's a much bigger reach.

Overall, you're wrong about me preaching that McDavid would have 100 assists if he were to untimely go down right now. I rarely comment about his 97 points in 64 games, despite outside circumstances preventing McDavid from having an 8 season run of 100+ points. McDavid is not defined by projections and what if fairy tales. I, nor do any, need to rely on such examples to explain why he is so great.

I'm still rooting for Matthews to pot 70. Who wouldn't want to see it happen?

 

[Faceboner]

Weird that people don’t consider Matthews generational at this point. A two-way center like that who scores at nearly a goal per game… not enough secondary powerplay assists I suppose?

Late reply I know, but while good he isn't winning a selke he could be considered generational by the end of his career if he wins some rockets along with the selke a few times

 

[Calderon]

AM was again kept scoreless, this time in Montreal. Two goals and two assists in his last eight games means his per game stats have been sliding down. After the Montreal game he's currently under 70+ goal pace for the first time in a long time (which highlights the exceptional season he's been having).

Current pace:
69 goals 33 assists 102 points in 81 games.

His current ppg of 1.27 ties his career second best scoring rate but what's noteworthy is his low assists per game which is the lowest he's had since his rookie year.

Having said that AM is a streaky player with one similar and another worse goal scoring slump behind him earlier this season, he could easily have a couple more hattricks left in this final stretch.

 

[Schennanigans]

My prediction was 66 even when he was at 50 in 54 or whatever it was. I knew that cold streak would come. 70 is not out of the question. 16 in 18 is possible but not likely.

 

[Nsjohnson]

I had commented a while ago and said he would get around 60-65.

I think people forget just how difficult getting 50 is, let alone 60, OR MORE.

Injury, cold streak, teammates cold streak or injury...it takes a lot to do what Ovechkin did in 2007/8.

Remember him: