Throughout my time atThe Athletic, I’ve been fortunate enough to cover Auston Matthews’ entire career with the Maple Leafs. And all along, there have been multiple times when I’ve just leaned back in my chair and shook my head at what he’s accomplished on the ice.
Now, people who write about teams like the Leafs are usually diligent enough to stay neutral and not get caught up with hyperbole surrounding individual players.
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But then there are players like Matthews, the very definition of generational, who defy expectations so profoundly that sometimes you have to step back and simply appreciate that a once-in-a-lifetime player is developing and then dominating in front of you.
The most recent moment occurred Thursday night when Matthews set the single-season record for most goals in Maple Leafs history with his 55th goal in just 66 games, before adding another in overtime that set the record for most goals in a season by an American-born player. But those were just two of the many moments Matthews has produced while scoring 255 goals in 400 games, giving him a legitimate claim already as the best Leafs goal scorer of all-time.
In honour of Matthews’ goal-scoring dominance and his No. 34, let’s take a step back and reflect on the 34 best goals he’s ever scored as a Leaf.
34. First NHL goal vs. Ottawa Senators, October 12, 2016
With my colleague on the road in Ottawa covering Matthews’ debut, I sat in a bar on Bloor Street in Toronto, curious to see what Matthews would be capable of in his NHL debut. I remember nodding along as he stuck with the play in front of the Senators’ goal, took a few whacks at the puck before opening his NHL account midway through the first period. Not a bad way to get the monkey off your back, I thought.
Obviously, I, and no one else for that matter, had any idea what would follow:
33. Opening goal vs. Seattle Kraken, March 8, 2022
This goal finds its way onto the list because it caught the eye of former teammate and friend Frederik Andersen. In colleague Jonas Siegel’s recent story, Andersen provides unique insight:
“He received the pass and in one motion, shot it as the goalie was almost in a rush to get over there,” said Andersen. “He just finds a way to get it on net instead of trying to pick a corner. He finds where the goalie is vulnerable.”
32. Sheer power vs. Vancouver Canucks, February 4, 2021
How many NHL players can show this type of power both in their stride and their finish?
31. Late goal and celebration vs. Chicago Blackhawks, October 7, 2018
Part of the reason I enjoy watching Matthews play is the overt confidence he shows. He’s one of the best players on the planet, so why hide it?
With the game tied 5-5 with a little over a minute left against the Blackhawks, Matthews scores with his elite wrist shot as he has so many times. But his celebration sticks out as he skates to the Blackhawks fans.
Of course, one of Matthews’ idols, Patrick Kane, tied the game again less than a minute later because this is still the Leafs we’re dealing with here. Matthews smiled on the bench, and he’d continue smiling in overtime as the Leafs went on to win.
30. One-handed deflection vs. Anaheim Ducks, December 19, 2016
I’ve rambled on again and again about how NHL players tipping pucks in for goals is one of the hardest things for a professional athlete to pull off. And Matthews was making it look easy in his rookie year.
29. Overtime winner vs. Chicago Blackhawks, October 9, 2017
After going down 3-1 in the third period to the Blackhawks, the Leafs tied the game late before Matthews did Matthews things in overtime, picking his shot with precision. He was a big-game player from the start of his career.
28. Putting it past two players in goal vs. Buffalo Sabres, December 17, 2019
The Sabres tried to literally stuff two of their players between the pipes to try and stop Matthews from roofing a dirty backhand shot. It didn’t work.
Oh, and he made quick work of then-Sabres forward Conor Sheary here, too. From start to finish, this is what the kids would call a certified banger.
27. 55th goal of the season vs. Dallas Stars, April 7, 2022
There have been more aesthetically-pleasing goals from Matthews throughout his career, but setting the Leafs single-season goals record with a bullet still warrants inclusion on this list.
26. Batting down the puck and overtime winner vs. Montreal Canadiens, October 14, 2018
The Leafs hadn’t beat the Canadiens in 14 games at this point. Matthews ended that streak with insane hand-eye co-ordination before ripping a shot past Canadiens goalie Carey Price for the win.
25. The slimmest of margins vs. Vancouver Canucks, February 29, 2020
Seriously, how does he get this shot through?
24. Matthews’ fourth goal in his NHL debut vs. Ottawa Senators, October 12, 2016
What’s the best part about this goal? Is it Matthews’ reading the play like a seasoned pro? His mother, Ema, tearing up at her son’s dreams being realized in real time? Joe Bowen’s call? Or that it inspired a song?
23. Getting two “Ferraros” vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, October 4, 2019
Hearing TSN colour commentator Ray Ferraro exhale audibly on the broadcast when Matthews scores is not uncommon.
But here we get not one, but two of Ferraro’s trademark exhales as Matthews rips a shot that bounces in and out of the net so quickly some players tried to keep playing:
22. Dangling vs. Vancouver Canucks, February 6, 2021
Over a three-game regular-season series last year, Matthews torched the Canucks with five goals. This might have been the best of the bunch:
So casual. So filthy. @AM34 pic.twitter.com/ZkLspC0z9u
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 7, 2021
21. Sublime finish vs. Nashville Predators, March 22, 2018
Not only is Matthews’ synergy with his teammates evident, so too is his world-class finishing ability here:
20. Penalty shot vs. Los Angeles Kings, November 2, 2017
We don’t often see Matthews in alone on goalies like this, but he doesn’t make any mistake on his first of two penalty shots in one game:
19. Scoring while falling vs. Carolina Hurricanes, February 19, 2017
What an individual effort:
18. Circling the net vs. Buffalo Sabres, December 4, 2018
Matthews looks just like a shark circling his prey on this goal:
17. Another individual effort vs. Montreal Canadiens, October 14, 2017
This goal starts in Matthews’ own zone. Wild!
16. Scoring at home vs. Arizona Coyotes, January 12, 2022
Any goal you can score against the team that made you want to start playing the sport in the first place is going to mean a little more:
15. Tight angle playoff goal vs. Boston Bruins, April 16, 2018
OK, seriously, how does he get shots like this through?
I suppose I could have asked that of any number of goals on this list, but when you consider the tight angle he shot from, how Tuukka Rask wouldn’t have given him much daylight, and how quickly the puck comes off Matthews’ stick after receiving the pass from William Nylander, it’s clear this is one of the special goals on this list. That it was his first goal of the 2018 playoffs and ended up being the game-winner doesn’t hurt either.
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14. Mid-air tactics vs. Montreal Canadiens, April 28, 2021
This all happened so fast! From batting the puck down in mid-air (again!) to sniping it past Price, Matthews’ vocal celebration after this goal was deserved.
13. First NHL playoff goal vs. Washington Capitals, April 17, 2017
That 2016-17 Leafs team sure was fun. Just watch the way Nazem Kadri is vibing, hitting every Capital in sight and getting the crowd out of their feet, Leo Komarov is mixing it up too, before Matthews collects the puck in his own zone, makes quick work of the neutral zone before finishing his own rebound.
There have been a few moments over the past few years that the noise in the Air Canada Centre reached unforeseen levels, causing a bit of vibrating up in the press box. This was one of them.
12. Opening goal in Game 6 vs. Washington Capitals, April 23, 2017
And this was another one of those moments.
With the score tied at 0-0 midway through the third period of Game 6 against the Capitals, Matthews was in alone against Capitals goalie Braden Holtby and didn’t flinch whatsoever. Listen to the reaction!
11. Slick mitts vs. Colorado Avalanche, December 1, 2021
You could ask how Matthews was allowed this much time in front of the Colorado goal, sure, but I’d rather ask if he had this unreal move planned or if he just has an arsenal of these tricks in his subconscious, waiting to emerge:
10. First goal of the 2019 NHL playoffs vs. Boston Bruins, April 15, 2019
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen Matthews as excited over a goal as this one. The Leafs went on to win 3-2.
9. “Good goal” celebration vs. Colorado Avalanche, January 22, 2018
After having a goal of his waved off earlier in the game, Matthews’ let the referee know his second period goal most definitely counted with a noteworthy celebration.
8. 56th goal of the season and overtime winner vs. Dallas Stars, April 7, 2022
My wife and I went on safari a few years back, and were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a lion getting ready to hunt. It looked exactly like this:
Matthews circles back through the neutral zone with the puck, planning his most optimal route to strike. And when he finds it, he blows by two Stars players with ease to net the overtime winner.
7. Turning Point inside out vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, March 11, 2019
Wearing the away white jerseys at home, Matthews’ elite puck control is evident three different times throughout this goal, most notably in how he makes quick work of Brayden Point.
6. Sublime backhand vs. Winnipeg Jets, March 11, 2021
Matthews looked gassed trying to jump into an odd-man rush alongside Morgan Rielly in overtime against the Jets last season. But instead of falling short, he reached into his bag of tricks for a stupefying backhand to beat one of the league’s best goalies, Connor Hellebuyck.
5. The steal and the seal vs. Minnesota Wild, February 24, 2022
In my write-up for the Maple Leafs report cards after the Leafs’ 3-1 win over the Wild on February 24, I gave Matthews the first star not just for the two goals he scored, but because his 200-foot game was on display. This goal combines both his goal-scoring ability and his defensive play, which Sheldon Keefe said after the game that Matthews “doesn’t get enough credit for.”
4. Centennial Classic overtime winner vs. Detroit Red Wings, January 1, 2017
2017 was a simpler time: Matthews was a fresh-faced rookie and the Leafs were playing with house money, having a roster laden with young, unproven talent. Leafs fans were right to expect that Matthews might be able to pull off incredible things on the ice. He was the first pick in the NHL Draft less than a year earlier.
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But he’d gone cold for a 13-game stretch through October and November. There were undoubtedly some whispers about how he’d adjust to the NHL.
At the 2017 Centennial Classic, the Leafs and the Red Wings went to overtime on New Year’s Day at BMO Field. It didn’t feel like a foregone conclusion that Matthews would net the overtime winner as it often does now. But when he did, it was hard not to think that he’d eventually become the big-game player the organization hoped he’d become.
3. Second NHL goal vs. Ottawa Senators, October 12, 2016
The audacity and puck control to pull something like this off, against established NHL vets, in your first NHL game!
2. Overtime winner vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, August 7, 2020
Down 3-0 with just over four minutes to play in what felt like their final game of a strange 2019-20 season, the Leafs looked defeated. But their best players fought back to score three goals to tie the game and Matthews sealed the comeback in overtime with a classic one-timer from his happy place:
1. Overtime winner vs. Buffalo Sabres, December 4, 2018
This goal wasn’t just nominated by a whole bunch of Leafs fans on Twitter, but a few people in and around the team, too. And it encapsulates everything that makes Matthews a special player: he’s cool under pressure, shows off his unreal shot and finally, his ability to take the Leafs on his back in the moments when they need him most.
What I love about this goal is just how casual his stride into the offensive zone looks with like seven seconds left in overtime. Matthews is completely void of panic, even as Kasperi Kapanen hauls ass into the offensive zone, as if he already knows what’s coming: pulling the defenceman in to help deceive the goalie, and then a wrist shot unlike most players who have ever played the game.
(Photo: Patrick Gorski / USA Today)
