Auston Matthews deserves recognition for his remarkable 2023-24 regular season performance, which has been nothing short of extraordinary.
In simple terms, the young phenom has made scoring goals appear effortless, although it’s anything but, given his astonishing goal-scoring pace.
During Tuesday’s game in Newark, Matthews netted his 66th goal of the season, surpassing Alex Ovechkin for the most goals in a single season by an active NHL player. This achievement also makes him just the 11th player in league history to reach 66 goals in a season and the first since Mario Lemieux achieved this feat 28 years ago.
Matthews now needs four more goals in his final four games to reach the coveted 70-goal mark, a milestone not accomplished since 1992-93 by Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne.
What’s truly remarkable is Matthews’ consistency throughout the season, from his first of six hat-tricks in the season opener to the present day. He hasn’t altered his game at all, demonstrating remarkable consistency on both offense and defense. This unwavering performance solidifies his position as one of the best players in the league and one of the greatest Maple Leafs of all time.
Like most elite scorers, Matthews seems to have an innate ability to attract the puck and capitalize on scoring opportunities consistently.
Moreover, Matthews’ humility and team-oriented mindset amidst his historic season are equally impressive. Despite his pursuit of record-breaking numbers, he remains focused on the team’s success rather than individual accolades, demonstrating the qualities of a future Hall-of-Famer with a larger goal in mind beyond personal achievements.
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