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Auston Matthews Pursuing 70-Goal Milestone as Regular Season Concludes
Renowned for his exceptional scoring ability, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs aims to achieve a significant milestone that has not been reached in nearly thirty years. Despite his 69-goal tally for the season, Matthews fell short of adding to this count in the team’s recent 5-2 loss against the Florida Panthers.
The Maple Leafs, along with Matthews, are now gearing up to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the final game of the regular season. A victory in this upcoming match would solidify Matthews’ position as the first player since the standout performances of Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in the 1992-93 season, where each of these illustrious players registered an impressive 76 goals.
Matthews’ Historic Pursuit
A scoring machine throughout the season, Matthews showcased his prowess by finding the back of the net 10 times in the previous eight games leading up to the recent defeat to the Panthers. If Matthews can accomplish this feat, he would secure a spot among the elite ranks of NHL history, joining legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Mario Lemieux as one of the select few players to achieve a 70-goal season.
Despite the setback against Florida, the Maple Leafs have clinched their spot in the playoffs. Toronto’s defeat, coupled with Ottawa’s triumphant 3-1 victory over Boston, sets up an intriguing first-round matchup between the Leafs and the Bruins. On the other side of the Atlantic Division bracket, the Panthers are set to face off against the Lightning in what promises to be an intense showdown.
Meanwhile, on the Lightning’s side, star player Nikita Kucherov is also pursuing an impressive milestone of his own in Wednesday night’s game. With 99 assists under his belt, Kucherov stands on the brink of becoming just the fifth player in NHL history to achieve the coveted 100-assist mark. Edmonton Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid recently reached this milestone in a dominant 9-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, highlighting the rarity and significance of this accomplishment.
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