The offensive artistry of Auston Matthews has reached the purpose the place even hyperbole appears virtually believable.
“Everything he’s shooting,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar stated not too long ago, “is going in the net.”
It positive does really feel that manner.
With 52 tallies by means of 56 video games, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ objective-scoring marvel is on tempo to turn out to be a uncommon member of the 70-goal membership, becoming a member of the ranks of hockey royalty corresponding to Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Last week at Arizona, the place he grew up, Matthews set a report for the quickest U.S.-born participant to succeed in 50 targets in a season (54 video games).
“He continues to find body position in the open ice and his timing that way is really elite and something that goes unnoticed,” Maple Leafs middle John Tavares stated. “But his ability to find open space and continue to do it night after night is really impressive.”
No one is close to Matthews’ 52 targets, with the closest challenger by means of Sunday being Florida’s Sam Reinhart (39). The 26-yr-previous Matthews has 10 targets and 14 factors prior to now six video games, together with a pair of hat tips.
At this fee, his profession excessive of 60 targets, set two seasons in the past, is certain to be surpassed. No energetic participant has reached that mark twice. Accomplish that and the participant who’s earned the nicknames of “Big Cactus” (you already know, being from Arizona) and “Papi” (a nod to his favourite baseball participant, David Ortiz) would put himself in choose firm.
He would turn out to be the ninth participant to perform that double and the primary since Pavel Bure scored 60 targets within the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons.
It would comprehensible if Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe took his star participant’s distinctive skillset virtually without any consideration. But he doesn’t.
“We’re very fortunate to have a player of that caliber on our team,” Keefe stated of the No. 1 total decide in 2016. “Auston leads the way for us in ways that we know and are obvious and show up on the score sheet, but he also leads the way in so many other categories that help set the standard for our team.”
A sentiment shared by Toronto ahead Max Domi.
“He’s so hungry every time he steps on the ice,” Domi stated. “He’s one of the best if not the best player in the world right now. He’s driving the bus right now. Fifty-two goals in however many games he’s played is insane, absolutely ridiculous.”
Matthews is within the operating to win his second Hart Trophy in three years. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, his odds are presently second-greatest behind solely Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and simply forward of Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov.
Matthews isn’t simply an offensive power, blocking 63 photographs this season and producing 60 takeaways — each among the many league leaders for forwards. He is making a compelling case for the Selke Trophy, too, which is given to the highest defensive ahead. The solely participant to be introduced each awards in the identical season was Sergei Fedorov of the Detroit Red Wings in 1993-94.
“The guy’s stick is unbelievable. He’s super responsible defensively, going back for pucks,” Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe stated. “He plays a complete, 200-foot game. I think that definitely gets overshadowed with the goal scoring.”
Matthews’ play has helped the Maple Leafs reel off seven wins in a row, their longest streak since 2003. It’s placing them within the dialog as a attainable Stanley Cup menace, which the Leafs infamously haven’t gained since 1967.
Toronto lastly made it to the second spherical within the final postseason after going one-and-out six years in a row.
“Everyone is just buying in,” ahead Tyler Bertuzzi stated of Toronto’s profitable ways in which’s seen them climb to 3rd within the Atlantic Division behind Boston and Florida. “We’re at a point in the season where we have to turn things on and have a winning mentality, take no games off and have a consistent mentality.”
If Matthews leads the Leafs on a protracted playoff run, that may have rather a lot to do along with his legacy in hockey-mad Toronto greater than any scoring titles. It additionally will make the 4-yr, $53 million extension that Matthews obtained final August to ascertain him because the NHL’s highest-paid participant as cash properly spent.
It could be fairly a journey from Scottsdale, Arizona, recognized much more for its luxurious golf programs than producing potential future hockey Hall of Famers.
“I take a lot of pride in being for where I am from,” Matthews stated. “I try to be a role model for kids coming out of Arizona that have that hope and believe that no matter where you play, no matter where you’re from, if you have a dream and stick to it, it’s something you can accomplish.”
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
