Matthews scores 50th goal in Leafs' victory
Auston Matthews scored his 50th goal of the season Wednesday night in the Toronto Maple Leafs star's hometown return in Tempe, Ariz., becoming the fastest NHL player to reach the mark in 28 years at 54 games.
The fastest U.S.-born player to reach 50, Matthews scored the milestone goal on a power play at 5:01 of the first period in a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.
From nearby Scottsdale, Matthews scored on a shot from the circle to the left of goaltender Karel Vejmelka to make it 2-0. Mitchell Marner and Timothy Liljegren assisted on the goal that came with Michael Carcone in the penalty box for slashing.
Matthews added his 51st — giving him 350 career goals in 535 games — late in the second period for a 4-2 lead.
Matthews is the fastest to 50 since Mario Lemieux since it for Pittsburgh in 50 games in 1995-96. Wayne Gretzky hold the record, scoring his 50th in his 39th game for Edmonton in 198182 on his way to a record 92 goals.
FLYERS 3, BLACKHAWKS 1 >>
Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Garent Hathaway scored, Samuel Ersson made 22 saves and Philadelphia won at Chicago. The Flyers are 5-1-1 in their last seven games. Chicago, last overall in the NHL, has lost 10 of 11.
Colin Blackwell scored for Chicago. Arvid Soderblom stopped 30 shots.
SABRES 3, CANADIENS 2 >>
Alex Tuch scored shorthanded to break a secondperiod tie in Buffalo's victory at Montreal.
Zemgus Girgensons and Jeff Skinner also scored and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 29 saves to help the Sabres improve to 25-27-4. Skinner has 27 goals against the Canadiens, the secondmost among active players behind Alex Ovechkin (38).
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PACIFIC DIVISION
Vancouver Vegas Edmonton Kings Seattle Calgary Ducks
San Jose
Dallas Colorado Winnipeg St. Louis Nashville Minnesota Arizona Chicago
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Florida Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Detroit Buffalo Montreal Ottawa
N.Y. Rangers Carolina Philadelphia New Jersey N.Y. Islanders Washington Pittsburgh Columbus
GP W
58 37 56 32 52 33 54 28 55 23 56 26 56 20 55 15
CENTRAL DIVISION
GP W
57 34 57 35 54 34 55 29 56 29 56 26 56 23 57 15
GP W
GP W
56 55 57 55 55 54 53 55
Today's games
Friday's games
37 33 30 28 23 25 24 18
Wednesday's results
L OT Pts GF GA
15 18 18 16 21 25 34 35
L OT Pts GF GA
15 18 15 24 25 24 29 39
L OT Pts GF GA
56 37 15 56 33 12 55 31 16 57 30 22 55 29 20 56 25 27 56 22 26 53 23 27
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
16 17 20 23 18 21 21 27
Columbus 7, Ducks 4 Buffalo 3, Montreal 2 Philadelphia 3, Chicago 1 Toronto 6, Arizona 3 Boston at Edmonton, late 6 6 1 10 11 5 2 5 8 4 5 2 2 6 4 3 4 11 8 5 6 4 8 3 3 5 7 4 14 8 8 10 80 213 159 70 180 154 67 187 150 66 170 146 57 152 159 57 172 177 42 147 200 35 116 211 76 212 174 74 212 182 73 165 128 60 162 172 60 172 182 58 177 189 50 163 184 33 119 202 78 188 137 77 189 150 70 203 173 65 195 193 64 194 179 54 164 172 52 159 201 49 178 189
L OT Pts GF GA
77 188 157 71 187 158 67 170 166 60 185 191 60 165 187 58 137 169 56 155 144 46 165 206
Colorado at Detroit, 4 p.m.
Dallas at Ottawa, 4 p.m.
Florida at Carolina, 4 p.m. Montreal at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Washington at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Boston at Calgary, 6 p.m.
Toronto at Vegas, 7 p.m. Vancouver at Seattle, 7 p.m. Nashville at Kings, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Columbus, 4 p.m. Winnipeg at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Minnesota at Edmonton, 6 p.m.
Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble scored for Montreal and Sam Montembeault made 20 saves. Montreal has lost three straight and five of six to fall to 22-26-8.
Tuch scored with 1:52 left in the second period after a Canadiens power play that included three turnovers by Cole Caufield.