Matthews proves he's setting the tone for the Leafs this season
BY TERRY KOSHAN, TORONTO SUN
FIRST POSTED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 11:19 PM EDT | UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 11:33 PM EDT
No cheering in the press box, as the maxim goes.
Few along press row have ever frowned on gasping.
As Auston Matthews ripped his way through the Ottawa Senators and into the National Hockey League record books on Wednesday night, that was the natural reaction up high at the Canadian Tire Centre.
In the days that follow, we can parse it any way we want.
The first player to score four goals in his NHL debut in the modern era (since 1943-44). The first No. 1 pick to score a hat trick in his first NHL game. The third youngest player in NHL history to score four goals in any game.
First this, first that.
The end is the same: Matthews’ performance was exhilarating, electrifying, exciting, something magical to behold.
We’ve been covering the Leafs to varying degrees in this space since 2000 and had not witnessed such a performance in the preceding 16 years.
The most talented Leaf we’ve had the privilege to cover, pre-Matthews? Alex Mogilny, hands down. Mogilny was nearing the end of his NHL career when he became a Leaf in the early 2000s, and when the situation was right in his three seasons in Toronto, he could do things with the puck that weren’t normal. Put a phone booth (Google it, kids) at centre ice at the Air Canada Centre and yes, Mogilny probably could have stickhandled in the thing.
Mats Sundin was an excellent hockey player when he was captain of the Leafs. Sundin was different than Mogilny, a power forward who would just as easily emerge from the pile with the puck as he would blast a shot over a goaltender’s glove for the winner in overtime.
What’s clear after one game is Matthews, at some point soon, will be setting the tone every time he hops over the boards and plants his skates on the ice.
The Leafs knew they were getting that kind of player, a legitimate franchise-changer, when they selected him at the draft in Buffalo in June.
The impact has been immediate, and we caught a glimpse in Toronto before Matthews donned the Leafs sweater. The moves he made in a World Cup game to get past Sweden’s Victor Hedman — who happens to be a rather solid defenceman in his day job with the Tampa Bay Lightning — and score moments later were stunning.
On Wednesday, Matthews didn’t simply park himself by the net and knock a bunch of rebounds past Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.
Matthews made space in front when he deposited Zach Hyman’s pass behind Anderson for his first NHL goal.
The third came off a brilliant feed from Morgan Rielly; the fourth off a heads-up pass via William Nylander to complete a two-on-one. All highlight-reel types for various reasons.
The second goal is the one we could be seeing on top-10 lists when the 2016-17 regular season concludes next April. Matthews made waste of every Senator on the ice and scored after picking the pocket of Erik Karlsson, who you might know as a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy.
This wasn’t the pre-season anymore. Karlsson represented top-flight NHL competition, and Matthews made him look like a peewee.
All this and there was Matthews after the game, taking the fall for a 5-4 loss after he failed to properly cover his check, Senators forward Kyle Turris, in overtime. Turris scored the winner as Matthews tried, and failed, to recover in the defensive zone.
As Leafs coach Mike Babcock put it later, Matthews is 19, but he acts like he is 27.
Oh, to think of what Matthews can do for the Leafs by the time he actually is 27. The possibilities don’t have much of a limit. And to think the organization finally is getting it right, stockpiling other talented youngsters such as Nylander, Mitch Marner, Rielly and Hyman.
Matthews won’t have to go it alone. But he already has started to set himself apart.
First pick, first game, first goal, first four goals, first wow factor.
For the first time in a long time, Leafs fans have true hope.
CHART
Auston Matthews joined a small group of NHL players who scored at least three goals in their NHL debut or in his team’s first game of the season when he got four on Wednesday against the Senators. Terry Koshan looks at those who have gone before him:
Three goals in his NHL debut
Player Team Date
Real Cloutier Quebec Oct. 10, 1979 vs. Atl.
Fabian Brunnstrom Dallas Oct. 15, 2008 vs. Nash.
Derek Stepan N.Y. Rangers Oct. 9, 2010 at Buf.
Four goals in his team’s season opener
Player Team Date
Rick Blight Vancouver Oct. 6, 1976 at Pgh.
Greg Adams Vancouver Oct. 8, 1987 vs. StL.
Chris Kontos Tampa Bay Oct. 7, 1992 vs Chi.
Also, four players scored at least three goals in their first NHL game prior to 1943-44. Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens had a hat trick on Jan. 14, 1943 against Chicago; and Canadiens’ Joe Malone (five goals), Montreal Wanderers’ Harry Hyland (five goals) and Toronto Arenas’ Reg Noble (four goals) accomplished the feat on Dec. 19, 1917, the first day of NHL games. All had played in the National Hockey Association, the predecessor of the NHL.
BY TERRY KOSHAN, TORONTO SUN
FIRST POSTED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 11:19 PM EDT | UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 11:33 PM EDT
No cheering in the press box, as the maxim goes.
Few along press row have ever frowned on gasping.
As Auston Matthews ripped his way through the Ottawa Senators and into the National Hockey League record books on Wednesday night, that was the natural reaction up high at the Canadian Tire Centre.
In the days that follow, we can parse it any way we want.
The first player to score four goals in his NHL debut in the modern era (since 1943-44). The first No. 1 pick to score a hat trick in his first NHL game. The third youngest player in NHL history to score four goals in any game.
First this, first that.
The end is the same: Matthews’ performance was exhilarating, electrifying, exciting, something magical to behold.
We’ve been covering the Leafs to varying degrees in this space since 2000 and had not witnessed such a performance in the preceding 16 years.
The most talented Leaf we’ve had the privilege to cover, pre-Matthews? Alex Mogilny, hands down. Mogilny was nearing the end of his NHL career when he became a Leaf in the early 2000s, and when the situation was right in his three seasons in Toronto, he could do things with the puck that weren’t normal. Put a phone booth (Google it, kids) at centre ice at the Air Canada Centre and yes, Mogilny probably could have stickhandled in the thing.
Mats Sundin was an excellent hockey player when he was captain of the Leafs. Sundin was different than Mogilny, a power forward who would just as easily emerge from the pile with the puck as he would blast a shot over a goaltender’s glove for the winner in overtime.
What’s clear after one game is Matthews, at some point soon, will be setting the tone every time he hops over the boards and plants his skates on the ice.
The Leafs knew they were getting that kind of player, a legitimate franchise-changer, when they selected him at the draft in Buffalo in June.
The impact has been immediate, and we caught a glimpse in Toronto before Matthews donned the Leafs sweater. The moves he made in a World Cup game to get past Sweden’s Victor Hedman — who happens to be a rather solid defenceman in his day job with the Tampa Bay Lightning — and score moments later were stunning.
On Wednesday, Matthews didn’t simply park himself by the net and knock a bunch of rebounds past Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.
Matthews made space in front when he deposited Zach Hyman’s pass behind Anderson for his first NHL goal.
The third came off a brilliant feed from Morgan Rielly; the fourth off a heads-up pass via William Nylander to complete a two-on-one. All highlight-reel types for various reasons.
The second goal is the one we could be seeing on top-10 lists when the 2016-17 regular season concludes next April. Matthews made waste of every Senator on the ice and scored after picking the pocket of Erik Karlsson, who you might know as a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy.
This wasn’t the pre-season anymore. Karlsson represented top-flight NHL competition, and Matthews made him look like a peewee.
All this and there was Matthews after the game, taking the fall for a 5-4 loss after he failed to properly cover his check, Senators forward Kyle Turris, in overtime. Turris scored the winner as Matthews tried, and failed, to recover in the defensive zone.
As Leafs coach Mike Babcock put it later, Matthews is 19, but he acts like he is 27.
Oh, to think of what Matthews can do for the Leafs by the time he actually is 27. The possibilities don’t have much of a limit. And to think the organization finally is getting it right, stockpiling other talented youngsters such as Nylander, Mitch Marner, Rielly and Hyman.
Matthews won’t have to go it alone. But he already has started to set himself apart.
First pick, first game, first goal, first four goals, first wow factor.
For the first time in a long time, Leafs fans have true hope.
CHART
Auston Matthews joined a small group of NHL players who scored at least three goals in their NHL debut or in his team’s first game of the season when he got four on Wednesday against the Senators. Terry Koshan looks at those who have gone before him:
Three goals in his NHL debut
Player Team Date
Real Cloutier Quebec Oct. 10, 1979 vs. Atl.
Fabian Brunnstrom Dallas Oct. 15, 2008 vs. Nash.
Derek Stepan N.Y. Rangers Oct. 9, 2010 at Buf.
Four goals in his team’s season opener
Player Team Date
Rick Blight Vancouver Oct. 6, 1976 at Pgh.
Greg Adams Vancouver Oct. 8, 1987 vs. StL.
Chris Kontos Tampa Bay Oct. 7, 1992 vs Chi.
Also, four players scored at least three goals in their first NHL game prior to 1943-44. Alex Smart of the Montreal Canadiens had a hat trick on Jan. 14, 1943 against Chicago; and Canadiens’ Joe Malone (five goals), Montreal Wanderers’ Harry Hyland (five goals) and Toronto Arenas’ Reg Noble (four goals) accomplished the feat on Dec. 19, 1917, the first day of NHL games. All had played in the National Hockey Association, the predecessor of the NHL.
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