It was the moment we’ve all known was coming since the fall of 2016, but that didn’t make it any less surreal to witness.
Auston Matthews is officially the greatest goal-scorer to ever wear the Maple Leaf. With two goals tonight at UBS Arena, “Papi” reached 421 career NHL goals, surpassing the legendary Mats Sundin for the most in franchise history. However, in true “Leafs on the Island” fashion, the milestone was draped in a frustrating 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.
The Coronation
The record-tying goal (#420) was vintage Matthews. At 9:30 of the second period, he used his elite skating to cut to the outside before dancing across the crease and tucking the puck home on his forehand. It was a goal that required the kind of skill only a handful of players in the world possess.
But he didn’t wait long to stand alone at the top of the mountain. At 17:19 of the same frame, Max Domi and Bobby McMann forced a turnover off Ryan Pulock. The puck found Matthews in the right face-off circle—his “office”—and he leaned into a one-timer that David Rittich had no chance of stopping.
With goal No. 421, the Sundin era gave way to the Matthews era. It’s a staggering achievement considering the speed at which he reached it, and it’s hard not to get emotional seeing the C on his chest as he makes history.
The Game That Got Away
Despite the history, the game itself was a grind. The Islanders played their typical “boring but effective” brand of hockey, clogging the neutral zone and living off bounces. Adam Pelech opened the scoring with a seeing-eye point shot that kissed the post on its way in.
After Matthews put the Leafs ahead 2-1, the third period turned into a seesaw. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer tied it up, before Nicholas Robertson momentarily restored the lead on a beautiful feed from Nicolas Roy. But once again, the Leafs couldn’t lock it down in the “dirty air” of the final minutes, allowing Emil Heineman to beat Joseph Woll short-side to force overtime.
In the extra frame, it was Schaefer again, finishing a Barzal spin-pass to end it. The Leafs leave with a point—extending their streak to six games (4-0-2)—but the locker room will undoubtedly feel they left the second point on the table.
The Concern: Jake McCabe
The most sobering part of the night wasn’t the OT loss; it was the sight of Jake McCabe heading to the room. At 11:02 of the third period, McCabe stood in front of a blast, blocking the shot but clearly paying the price. He did not return.
Losing McCabe for any stretch of time is a nightmare for this defensive rotation. He’s the engine of our physical play and a primary PK minute-eater. With the trade deadline always looming in the back of our minds, the health of #22 becomes the biggest story in Toronto tomorrow morning.
The Verdict
Celebrate the King. Auston Matthews has done what many thought was impossible in the modern era, and he did it with the style and grace we’ve come to expect. But man, the Islanders just know how to ruin a party, don’t they?
The Leafs return home with a record-breaker in their ranks and a massive question mark on their blue line.