Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
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Matthews has logged the most penalty-kill ice time of his career by a massive amount, already accumulating 95:39, compared to 57:44 last year and 3:29 in 2022-23.
From Yahoo Sports
Mitch Marner broke a tie at 10:50 of the third period, and the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
From National Hockey League
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews had some kind words for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin but is also glad he won't be seeing him for a while.
As Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin inches closer to breaking one of the most iconic records in hockey history, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has been watching with admiration. The Leafs' captain shared his thoughts on Ovechkin’s "Gr8 Chase" of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record before Wednesday's slate of games.
"Gretzky was the coach (of Phoenix), and he couldn’t keep his eye off the jumbotron," Matthews recalled. "Everybody was just kind of more in shock and awe than celebrating, honestly, because they couldn’t really fathom what just happened."
Even as his five-on-five struggles continue, Matthews proved he can still summon up something extra when his team needs it.
While not the prettiest at moments, due to both injury troubles and simple slumps, the Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold a three-point lead on the Tampa Bay Lightning and four point lead on the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Auston Matthews set an extraordinary benchmark last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 69 goals to capture his third Rocket Richard Trophy in four years. This season, however, his offensive numbers have dipped noticeably; Matthews has tallied just 29 goals through 59 games.
Toronto’s top line stepped up in a major way in the third. Auston Matthews set up Mitch Marner to give the Leafs the lead with nine minutes to play, and Marner then made a perfect stretch pass to set up Knies for a breakaway goal. Sam Reinhart pulled the Panthers within one with two minutes left, but that’s as close as they would get.
NHL insiders James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel of The Athletic has linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs to signing Auston Matthews' hero.