Austin Matthews became the first U.S.-born player in NHL history to score 60 goals a season when he scored two for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday.
“It was very special,” Matthews said. “Only the reception from my teammates, the audience, everything, just makes you shiver, but it’s a little hard to describe in words.
“It simply came to our notice then. How close we are in this locker room. It’s like a family, a fraternity, so it means a lot just to have their support and just the reaction from them, that’s all there is to it. “
The 24-year-old center, who was born in San Ramon, California, is the first NHL player to reach the cornerstone in a decade. Stephen Stamkos scored 60 for Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011-12.
Matthews scored at number 59 at 15:48 of the second period after a pass from Jason Speza behind the net. It was Matthews’ first goal in six games, ending his longest drought of the season.
Video: DET @ TOR: Matthew backhand in opening for his 59th
He scored number 60 at 5:49 in the third period of the high slot power game.
“It’s special, unique, rare. I’m just happy for him,” said Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe. “He is working extremely hard. You know the abilities he has, but he works extremely hard in his game. It works extremely hard off the ice. He takes his craft very seriously, so to see him at the top of his game, reaching these important stages, is extraordinary. “
With the victory, Maple Leafs won second place in the Atlantic Division and home ice for the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the Stanley Cup. They will face Lightning or Boston Bruins.
“Obviously it is extremely difficult to do,” Stamkos said on Tuesday. “He makes it look pretty easy with the way he can shoot the puck and score goals. He probably took it a little close to the wire for his convenience … An amazing player, an amazing goal scorer and a man who will score many more goals in this league. It looks like we can see him in a week, so we’ll have a job for us, but it’s obviously a big stage for a very good player. “
Matthews overtook Rick Wave for the most goals in a season in Maple Leafs history when he scored 55 in a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on April 7. He then scored 56 in overtime to set a record for most goals in a season by a US-born NHL player, ahead of Kevin Stevens (1992-93 with the Pittsburgh Penguins) and Jimmy Carson (1987-88). with the Los Angeles Kings).
He scored two goals in his next game against the Montreal Canadiens on April 9. Matthews did not score in the next three games, then missed three games due to an undisclosed injury before returning on Saturday with a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. He did not score on Sunday against the Washington Capitals.
Matthews is the 21st player in the NHL and the third active to score at least 60 goals a season. The other active players who do so are Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals (65 in 2007-08).
Mike Bossi and Wayne Gretzky share the NHL record for a maximum of 60 goals of the season with five each.
“Quite unreal,” said Maple Leafs captain John Tavares. “Obviously a lot of fan love and a great way to do it, a beautiful goal… I know I’m biased, but for me this (the Hart Trophy race as the most valuable player in the NHL) is not close. Exactly the way he does it, the way he does it, the consistency, some of the things he did, you keep shaking your head at times. Just his ability to stay with it and play his game and stay focused on what he’s doing. He just wants to be a game that makes a difference in the game and out. “
NHL.com independent correspondents Dave McCarthy and Corey Long contributed to this report.
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