Auston Matthews: Climbing the Maple Leafs All-Time Lists
Saturday night in Vancouver wasn’t about flash or domination — it was about survival, about getting two points when the team desperately needed them. But tucked inside that 3-2 shootout win was another reminder of just how extraordinary Auston Matthews has been for the Toronto Maple Leafs. His assist on Max Domi’s third-period goal wasn’t just a point in the standings; it was Matthews’ 20th of the season, giving him 10 consecutive campaigns with 20 or more assists to start his career. That puts him in rarefied air — alongside Dave Keon, Morgan Rielly, Mats Sundin, and Borje Salming.
Matthews Also Passed the Great George Armstrong with 248 Third-Period Points.
For those who keep historical score and list these kinds of statistics, Matthews also passed George Armstrong with his 248th career third-period point, moving into fourth on the Maple Leafs’ all-time list. It’s one of those stats that doesn’t feel flashy at first, but it tells you everything you need to know.
Matthews isn’t just a scorer, he’s a closer, a guy who finds the moments that matter and delivers when the team needs him most. Sundin, Sittler, and Keon sit above him, but given Matthews’ pace, that list isn’t static.
Matthews Learned from His Penalty Shot to Score in the Shootout.
And then there was the shootout, where Matthews got the chance to atone for an earlier penalty-shot miss and did just that, weaving through Nikita Tolopilo to lift the puck beautifully over the glove. It’s a moment that captures the Matthews story in miniature — brilliant, measured, and relentless, even when the situation seems to lean against him.
It’s easy to get lost in debates about playoff heartbreaks or streaks gone cold, but nights like this are a reminder that Matthews isn’t just climbing stat sheets; he’s carving a legacy. Every assist, every third-period point, every big play nudges him closer to the Maple Leafs’ historical peaks. He’s steady, durable, and relentlessly moving upward — the kind of presence a team can build around, long after the highlights fade.
Matthews Will Likely Become the Best Maple Leafs Player in the Franchise’s History.
For Maple Leafs fans, it’s worth pausing in the middle of the season grind to watch this historic march. Matthews is not just part of the present; he’s shaping the franchise’s history, point by point, goal by goal.