Auston Matthews Nets 60th Goal, Sets New Franchise Record in Maple Leafs' 3-0 Victory Against the Sabres

Saturday, March 30th, 2024

In an impressive achievement, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs made history by becoming the first NHL player to score 60 goals in a season twice in the span of three decades. His goal, which came a little under six minutes before the end of the game, secured a 3-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Matthews matched his own team record from two seasons prior, a season where he led the league in goals. This accomplishment ranks him with a small group of elite players, totaling only nine who have achieved more than one 60-goal season. Pavel Bure, with his consecutive seasons of 60 or more goals for the Vancouver Canucks in the early '90s, was the last to accomplish this feat before Matthews.

Matthews, who is the only U.S.-born player to hit the 60-goal mark in a season, shared his gratitude for the team's support. He mentioned how playing in such a positive environment contributed to his success and how honored he felt to make such substantial contributions.

The critical goal involved an intense play where Matthews intercepted the puck after a defensive mishap by Sabres’ Bowen Byram. Despite the initial save by goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Matthews' shot and a subsequent stop on Conor Timmins' attempt, Matthews was quick to seize the chance, sending the puck into the net.

The atmosphere was electric, with Maple Leafs fans overpowering the home crowd, cheering "MVP! MVP!" in honor of Matthews' landmark achievement. His goal not only brought memories of his selection as the top pick by Toronto in 2016 but also marked a memorable moment in the same arena.

Maple Leafs’ captain John Tavares commended Matthews for his exceptional skills beyond scoring, highlighting his significant contributions in all areas of the game. Tavares, celebrating his 1,100th NHL game, also

Related Links

• Toronto Maple Leafs News & Updates
• Toronto Maple Leafs Schedule & Scores
• NHL News