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

[joepeps]

If you think it would be cool why wouldn’t you want him to do it?

I dont get it really... its some sort of weird jealously on leafs...

If Pasternak or Kuch or McDavid or Matthew T was on 66.. i'm rooting for them to get 70 80.. go get it...

I dont get the hate for people going and breaking records lol...

to each their own I guess.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Maybe? If they don't rest him against Florida and Tampa.

If he wants to make sure, he's got to get 4 in 2.

I think there will be a load of ringers in against Tampa and Florida. He's probably only got 2 more games.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Among forwards, leads league in +/-, only one with 80+ blocked shots and 80+ takeaways. Getting to 70 would be gravy.

 

[yeaher]

Yup, book it. He is going to go off this playoff season. You can just feel the vibe.

I don't feel that vibe though. I am not necessarily going to blame it all on him, but I could see them getting smoked. But, hell a Toronto Cup would be cool although I don't foresee that happening.

 

[pcruz]

The best part:

The Leafs' coach is actively sabotaging Matthews' bid for 70 goals.

Just pure hero-mode tonight by Sheldon.

Good f***ing Lord.

 

[Sypher04]

I don't feel that vibe though. I am not necessarily going to blame it all on him, but I could see them getting smoked. But, hell a Toronto Cup would be cool although I don't foresee that happening.

They haven’t been smoked in any series in the Matthews era, why would they be now?

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

If you think it would be cool why wouldn’t you want him to do it?

I’m just indifferent so I’m not like rooting hard for him to do it or watching their games. If he does it, cool. If not, oh well. That’s all.

 

[authentic]

Woah woah woah there buddy. It's not simply Stutzle. That would be stupid. It's Stutzle and the cap space for Korpisalo.

Exactly. Leafs fans are the silliest bunch

 

[34]

I don't feel that vibe though. I am not necessarily going to blame it all on him, but I could see them getting smoked. But, hell a Toronto Cup would be cool although I don't foresee that happening.

I did not say Cup. I said Matthews will do his part.


See what happens.

 

[Leafidelity]

The best part:

The Leafs' coach is actively sabotaging Matthews' bid for 70 goals.

Just pure hero-mode tonight by Sheldon.

Good f***ing Lord.

Benched with the open net so David ###king Kampf can play with his linemates. What a coach.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

He has surpassed Ovechkin greatest goal scoring season

 

[saffronleaf]

They haven’t been smoked in any series in the Matthews era, why would they be now?

got smoked by the panthers

 

[authentic]

got smoked by the panthers

All the games were close though

 

[george14]

People focus on goals but I’m also looking at takeaways, blocked shots, PK time, 54% on FO. Hard to argue anyone else does more.

Hart voting will be wild.

 

[JukofYork]

At this point, you arent a fan of hockey if you arent impressed with Mathews. You are one dimensional homer for your team. Which is fine but dont pretend to be anything else.

Mathews is playing against the best players in the entire world and is a wopping 12 goals ahead of the next best goal scorer. Ridiculous.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Here is my prediction... Matthews goes on to score 70 goals if he scores 2 in either of the next two games. Both are at home, one against a beat up New Jersey squad, and the other is against Detroit. If he scores twice in either of those games he finds his way to 70. If he scores 1 or 0 in both, he winds up with 68 or 69.

JMO.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Exactly, we can’t take away goals from OV because he is a more effective scorer on the PP. You see how that is flawed?

Agreed. But if he doesn’t hit close to 70, it won’t be as impressive. You can’t just pretend like the leafs/Matthews should have drawn more PPs and scored on them when he didn’t.

Now is not the time. In 15 years when they are both out of the league we can have these barstool debates. Tonight, let Matthews' accomplishment shine without immediately trying to diminish it or compare it to another season.

As another poster said, what Matthews is doing now doesn't change what Ovechkin did and continues to do. And in 15 years if another player is out here scoring 80 it won't change what Matthews is doing now.

 

[joepeps]

While this is very premature he’s definitely putting himself in position to make it a legit possibility. Its gonna be super interesting to see how he ages. He scores in so many ways and his game is power and smarts more than it is speed so the potential to be productive deep into his 30s is certainly there imo

The problem is that he doesn't score on the PP as well as Ovie. and Ovie was money for like 20+ on that dot. So when AM starts to slow down and isn't as fast or nimble, he needs to really develop that 1 timer and PP goals.

 

[JukofYork]

Who knew the first breath baby Auston Mathews took, that he was going to be the next player to score 65+ goals in the NHL.

lol thats a pretty crazy stat

 

[Sypher04]

The ice time is being manipulated based on Matthews not being as effective on the PP as OV. It’s a bit silly to even have to point out how ridiculously flawed and silly the stat is.

Scoring environment adjustments are great, but at least there is merit to the ‘adjustment’.

Matthews actually is more effective. The point is brought up because of the huge discrepancy in powerplay time between the seasons being compared.

Ovie 07/08: 2.78PPG/60, 4.82PPP/60
Matthews 23/24: 3.96PPG/60, 6.52PPP/60

Ovie 07/08: 460:25 PPTOI
Matthews 23/24: 257:44 PPTOI

To further contextualize this, Matthews has 17 powerplay goals this season, 5 behind Ovie’s 07/08 season, in only 56% of the powerplay time Ovie had.

By the numbers it seems pretty clear cut honestly that this is a bigger factor in their totals than any era adjustment for league scoring level would be.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

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

its possible but he prob needs a multi goal game. have to assume he doesnt score one in atleast one of the remaining games but then again i wouldnt be surprised to see him score in all 4 remaining games lol

 

[Madap]

Think it’s pretty clear at this point that he’s a better goal scorer at his peak than Ovi ever was.

Still seems unlikely he’ll pass Ovi as a career goalscorer, but at the same time who would have thought he’d even be better at this point in their careers either?

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Think it’s pretty clear at this point that he’s a better goal scorer at his peak than Ovi ever was.

Still seems unlikely he’ll pass Ovi as a career goalscorer, but at the same time who would have thought he’d even be better at this point in their careers either?

one poster thinks he needs 80 to get on the same level lol

 

[authentic]

The problem is that he doesn't score on the PP as well as Ovie. and Ovie was money for like 20+ on that dot. So when AM starts to slow down and isn't as fast or nimble, he needs to really develop that 1 timer and PP goals.

Matthews scores at a higher rate than Ovechkin did on the powerplay, he just plays far less time there.

 

[LivingRentFree]

MVPapi