Matthews finally breaks Leafs’ all-time single-season goal scoring record

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

It feels like it’s always been if and not when Auston Matthews would break Rick Vaive’s Maple Leafs’ 54 regular season goal total. It certainly seems like he would have done that if not for the COVID-19 pandemic, but with this season going back to a full 82 game schedule, and Matthews scoring pretty much every game, it’s no shock he finally scored 55.

The Maple Leafs have been around for over 100 years and as a Leafs’ fan, I can honestly say Matthews is the best player to ever wear the uniform. He’s big, strong, can score at will, plays great defence, has great vision with the puck on his stick, and he’s quick for how big he is. The man can do it all and the fact he also plays centre is crucial.

This season, Matthews has been on another level and he’s the front runner for the Hart Trophy, and if he scores 60 goals (and it certainly looks like he will), I think it’s his to lose. He’s a generational talent that the Leafs have been missing for years and the fact he’s surrounded by a great team helps, but it’s no secret who the top dog is on this team. But that doesn’t mean he’s done it on his own. Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting have been a line for the majority of the season and they have been instrumental in getting Matthews to this mark, and Marner himself is having himself a spectacular season.

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