Auston Matthews dominated the ice once again with his second consecutive hat trick, boosting his NHL-leading goal tally to 48 and notching a career-best five points as the Toronto Maple Leafs cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. Matthews surpassed the Toronto record for hat tricks in a season, previously held by legends like Reg Noble, Babe Dye, and Darryl Sittler. His remarkable performance also marked his 73rd multi-goal game, surpassing the team record set by Sittler. With 13 career hat tricks, Matthews continues to solidify his place among the NHL’s elite scorers.
In addition to Matthews’ heroics, William Nylander reached a milestone with 500 career points, while Bobby McMann, Nick Robertson, and others contributed to the offensive onslaught. The Maple Leafs’ relentless attack made them the 15th team in NHL history to achieve hat tricks in three consecutive games, a feat accomplished after McMann and Matthews’ stellar performances in prior matches.
Despite efforts from Anaheim’s Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, the Ducks couldn’t contain Toronto’s firepower. Lukas Dostal struggled in goal, conceding four goals in the first period before being replaced by John Gibson. Meanwhile, Martin Jones stood tall for the Maple Leafs, making 19 saves to secure the victory.
Matthews’ quest to become the first NHL player to score 70 goals in a season since 1992-93 remained on track as he opened the scoring early in the game. Toronto capitalized on power plays throughout the match, with McMann, Nylander, and Matthews all finding the back of the net with the man advantage. Even after Gibson replaced Dostal in goal for Anaheim, Toronto’s offense continued to dominate, with Matthews completing his hat trick early in the second period.
The Maple Leafs played without defenseman Morgan Rielly, who was serving a suspension, and captain John Tavares, who was sidelined with a minor injury. Despite missing key players, Toronto showcased its depth and offensive prowess in the commanding victory.
Looking ahead, the Ducks will face off against the Buffalo Sabres, while the Maple Leafs will travel to St. Louis for their next matchup.
