At a Glance
- Auston Matthews scores twice, setting the franchise record of 421 goals.
- He broke Mats Sundin‘s record in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.
- Matthews now sits fourth in franchise points, trailing Sundin, Sittler, and Keon.
- Why it matters: The record cements Matthews as one of Toronto’s all-time greats and highlights the team’s offensive prowess.
Auston Matthews lit up the second period, netting two goals that pushed his career tally past the legendary Mats Sundin and set a new franchise record, even as the Maple Leafs fell 4-3 in overtime to the New York Islanders.
Record-Breaking Performance
Matthews’ first goal tied Sundin at 420 when he entered the offensive zone past Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, shifted the puck from his backhand to his forehand and slid it past goaltender David Rittich at 9:30 of the second period.
The second, 20th of the season, came just 7:49 later, burying a cross-ice feed from Bobby McMann on a one-timer and pushing Toronto ahead.
- 9:30 – First goal, tying 420
- 7:49 later – Second goal, breaking record
- 20th goal of the season
Matthews said:
> “It means a lot, it’s a very historical franchise, there’s a lot of pride… I am very humbled. I couldn’t do it without the great group of guys around me.”
Team Reactions
John Tavares praised the achievement:
> “A club that’s had tremendous history – a tradition of players coming before him… Hopefully that doesn’t get lost in the loss. Amazing moment for him and a hell of a player.”
Craig Berube added:
> “It’s incredible, congrats to him. He’s accomplished a lot of things, he had a strong game again tonight… He drives the bus, drives the play for us and everybody feeds off of him.”
| Milestone | Player | Goals | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 420 | Mats Sundin | 420 | 981 |
| 421 | Auston Matthews | 421 | 664 |
Matthews, in his second season as captain after succeeding Tavares, is fourth all-time in franchise points with 760, trailing Sundin (987), Darryl Sittler (916), and Dave Keon (858). He will represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina next month.
Key Takeaways
- Matthews becomes the Maple Leafs’ all-time 421-goal scorer.
- The record was set in a 4-3 overtime defeat to the Islanders.
- Matthews now ranks fourth in franchise points and is set to play in the Olympics.
The milestone underscores Matthews’ growing legacy in Toronto while the team looks to rebound in upcoming games.
