Achi news desk-
Auston Matthews scored his 64th major league goal of the season in a four-goal second period for the Maple Leafs, and Toronto beat the arch-rivals Montreal Canadiens 4-2 on Saturday night.
Matthews hit the 100-point mark for the second time in his career and extended his hitting streak to 10 games in the process.
“Auston’s not a guy who really cares too much about his points, his milestones,” Mitch Marner said. “But what he did this year was special.”
The 26-year-old superstar is on pace for 69 goals, one shy of the 70-goal milestone not achieved since Timo Selan and Alexander Mugilny hit 76 in 1992-93. No one has scored 65 goals since Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08.
Bobby McMann, Matthew Kennis and Max Domi also scored as Toronto spread the wealth in attack. No single player scored more than one point.
“It just makes our team very deep and very difficult to play against, difficult to face,” said Marner, who had one assist in his first game after missing 12 with an ankle injury.
Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves. The Maple Leafs clinched a playoff spot while inactive on Friday.
Nick Suzuki – with a goal and an assist – and Cole Cofield scored for Montreal in its second straight loss. Mike Matheson added two assists.
Sam Montembo allowed four goals on 12 shots before getting the ball midway through the second period. Kaiden Primeau stopped all 18 shots he faced in relief.
“It wasn’t Monty’s fault, it’s just bad bounces,” defenseman David Seward said. “We wanted to fight back and show what we can do, and I think we shouldn’t give up in this group.”
After a first round with no results, the gates opened in the second.
Domi opened the scoring 2:21 into the period when he tipped Ilya Liubushkin’s point shot between Montembo’s legs.
Matthews doubled the lead 17 seconds later with a center pass that deflected off David Savard’s skate and into the net — prompting an outpouring of Maple Leafs fans who turned out for the rivalry game in numbers.
“He can shoot from anywhere, he is dangerous from anywhere,” Savard said. “It doesn’t really surprise me from him.”
Kenis made it 3-0 at 7:20 when Montreal appeared to be losing control of the game.
On the next face-off, Toronto’s Ryan Reaves and Montreal’s Michael Pezzata – who attacked each other earlier in the game – dropped the gloves in a spirited battle.
“I love watching him do what he does, there’s a reason he’s the best in the world at it,” Matthews said of Reaves. “He’s just a beast. Honestly, he’s a beast. It’s moments like these when you really understand how important he is to the team.”
McMahon then added to Montreal’s misery with a goal at 7:54.
Matthews almost scored his 65 late in the third period but hit his kick off the crossbar.
the next
maple leaves: Hosts Penguins on Monday night.
Canadians: Visit the New York Rangers on Sunday night.
This Associated Press report was first published on April 6, 2024.
