Auston Matthews notched his 50th goal of the season on Wednesday night, marking a significant milestone in his hometown return with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It took him just 54 games to achieve this feat, making him the fastest NHL player to reach 50 goals in 28 years. The goal came early in the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena, with Matthews scoring on a power play opportunity. Mitchell Marner and Timothy Liljegren assisted on the goal, while Arizona’s Michael Carcone was penalized for slashing.
Hailing from nearby Scottsdale, Matthews showcased his scoring prowess with a precise shot from the left circle, beating goaltender Karel Vejmelka. This achievement places Matthews as the fastest U.S.-born player to reach 50 goals in a season. The last time a player achieved this milestone in fewer games was Mario Lemieux in the 1995-96 season, accomplishing it in just 50 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Matthews has been on a scoring spree, tallying eight goals in his last four games, including two consecutive hat tricks. Despite a brief scoring hiatus with only one goal against St. Louis on Monday night, Matthews remains a dominant force on the ice. Currently, he leads the NHL with 50 goals, with Florida’s Sam Reinhart trailing behind in second place with 39 goals.
With his recent milestone, Matthews adds to his impressive career statistics, boasting 349 career goals in 535 games. His exceptional performance two seasons ago, where he scored 60 goals, solidified his status as a top scorer in the league. Matthews joined the elite ranks of players like Steven Stamkos, who last achieved the 60-goal mark in the 2011-12 season.
Looking back further, the last players to score 70 or more goals in a single season were Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny, both accomplishing this feat with 76 goals each in the 1992-93 season. As Matthews continues to dominate on the ice, his relentless pursuit of excellence cements his place among the NHL’s greatest goal scorers.
