Every time the Toronto Maple Leafs have the first-overall pick in the NHL Draft they select a player who ends up setting a franchise record for most goals by a rookie. That is a fact. Sure, it has only happened twice, but still. #Fact.
Auston Matthews netted his 35th goal of the season Tuesday to open the scoring against the Florida Panthers and in doing so broke the record Wendel Clark set during the 1985-86 campaign.
[relatedlinks]
Clark was at the Air Canada Centre to witness the goal and he met with media to talk about Matthews’ accomplishment. Clark said Matthews reminds him, in some ways, of Mats Sundin in the sense that he is so dangerous when he has the puck in the offensive zone.
Within minutes of No. 34 scoring No. 35, “Auston Matthews” was the No. 1 trending topic in Canada. Turns out Maple Leafs fans are still chuffed with the franchise centre as the regular season winds down.
Here’s some reaction to the goal.