Matthews scores 50th goal of the season | Globalnews.ca

TEMPE, Ariz. – Toronto centre Auston Matthews has scored his 50th goal of the season in 54 games in the Maple Leafs’ NHL contest at Arizona.

Matthews beat Coyotes netminder Karel Vejmelka glove side with a wrist shot with the Leafs on a power play at 5:01 of the first period. Timothy Liljegren and Mitch Marner had assists on the goal.

Related Videos

1:41Fans travel from all over for Toronto Maple Leafs practice at Nathan Phillips Square

Previous Video

Next Video

The goal came as the Leafs led the Coyotes 1-0 courtesy of an opener from Bobby McMann.

This is Matthews’ fourth straight game with a goal, and he has 11 points in five games.

Matthews has cracked the 50-goal mark in the regular season once before as a Maple Leaf, back in 2021-22 when he finished with 60 goals along with 46 assists.

With the goal, Matthews became the fastest U.S.-born player to score 50 goals in a season and shattered the previous mark by eight games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2024.