Current:Home > MarketsToronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews becomes fastest US-born player to 50 goals-VaTradeCoin
Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews becomes fastest US-born player to 50 goals
lotradecoin upcoming token launches View Date:2024-12-25 23:36:01
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, and was inspired to begin playing hockey by going to Coyotes games.
Perhaps, the All-Star Game MVP could inspire more youngsters in Arizona by scoring his 50th goal of the season on Wednesday night during a 6-3 win at the Coyotes' arena.
The milestone goal happened in his 54th game of the season, giving him sole possession of fastest to 50 goals for a U.S.-born player. Matthews, 26, had been tied with Kevin Stevens (1992-93) for that record at 62 games. (Matthews did that during a 60-goal MVP campaign in 2021-22.) Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid had been the fastest active player to hit the mark, doing it in 61 games last season.
Matthews' 50th came in the first period on the power play to give the Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead. He collected his 51st goal of the season in the second period when a puck deflected off him and went in.
No player had scored 50 goals in 55 or fewer games since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux scored 50 in 50 in 1995-96.
All things Maple Leafs: Latest Toronto Maple Leafs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
Matthews, who has missed just one game this season, told reporters before the game that he had 20 to 25 relatives and friends in the stands. That included some young cousins who have started playing in the past few years.
“I take a lot of pride in being from where I am and trying to be a role model for kids coming out of Arizona to just have that hope and the belief that no matter where you’re from, if you have a dream and stick to it, it’s something you can accomplish," he said.
Matthews, the first overall pick in 2016, scored four goals in his NHL debut and had a career-best 60 goals in 2021-22. He's on pace to become the NHL's first 70-goal scorer since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny scored 76 in 1992-93.
He has had six hat tricks this season, including twice in back-to-back games. He now has nine goals in his last four games.
His 0.65 goals-per-game average is tops among active players with at least 100 games. Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who is chasing Wayne Gretzky's NHL goal-scoring record, is averaging 0.60.
The Maple Leafs picked up their fifth consecutive win, all without Morgan Rielly, who was suspended for five games for cross-checking the Ottawa Senators' Ridly Greig. Rielly lost his appeal and can return Thursday night at the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Coyotes are winless in their last 11 games.
veryGood! (75678)
Related
- One Tech Tip: How to protect your communications through encryption
- An African American Community in Florida Blocked Two Proposed Solar Farms. Then the Florida Legislature Stepped In.
- Dua Lipa's Birthday Message to Boyfriend Romain Gavras Will Have You Levitating
- Durable and enduring, blue jeans turn 150
- 'The Voice' Season 26 finale: Coach Michael Bublé scores victory with Sofronio Vasquez
- Today’s Al Roker Is a Grandpa, Daughter Courtney Welcomes First Baby With Wesley Laga
- Inside Malia Obama's Super-Private World After Growing Up in the White House
- As EPA’s Region 3 Administrator, Adam Ortiz Wants the Mid-Atlantic States to Become Climate-Conscious and Resilient
- Through 'The Loss Mother's Stone,' mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
- The Botanic Matchmakers that Could Save Our Food Supply
Ranking
- Morgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair
- Group agrees to buy Washington Commanders from Snyder family for record $6 billion
- Occidental Seeks Texas Property Tax Abatements to Help Finance its Long-Shot Plan for Removing Carbon Dioxide From the Atmosphere
- A new film explains how the smartphone market slipped through BlackBerry's hands
- Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update)
- Billy Porter and Husband Adam Smith Break Up After 6 Years
- Biden says debt ceiling deal 'very close.' Here's why it remains elusive
- Wildfire Pollution May Play a Surprising Role in the Fate of Arctic Sea Ice
Recommendation
-
The burial site of the people Andrew Jackson enslaved was lost. The Hermitage says it is found
-
Meta is fined a record $1.3 billion over alleged EU law violations
-
Twitter's concerning surge
-
What you need to know about the debt ceiling as the deadline looms
-
Trump taps immigration hard
-
Robert De Niro's Daughter Says Her Son Leandro Died After Taking Fentanyl-Laced Pills
-
Wildfire Pollution May Play a Surprising Role in the Fate of Arctic Sea Ice
-
Occidental Seeks Texas Property Tax Abatements to Help Finance its Long-Shot Plan for Removing Carbon Dioxide From the Atmosphere