Sometimes, things happen in the NHL that align in funny ways. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, there’s some individual storyline that’s catching attention across the league.
Auston Matthews has a very real chance of passing Alex Ovechkin for most goals scored in the salary cap era. Now with 58 on the season, Matthews needs just eight more to pass Ovechkin’s 65 goals in 2007–08 to set a new record.
As a part of the chase, things culminated in a clash of goal-scoring titans with the Leafs and Washington Capitals facing each other this past week. Auston Matthews versus Alex Ovechkin lived up to expectations as they both picked up two goals in the game.
Their performance that night along with the rest of the week has led to Matthews being behind Ovechkin for another reason: The NHL’s Three Stars for the week ending March 24.
Stars facing stars
Ovechkin took the honours of being the first star with his seven goals and one assist in four appearances. Matthews took the second star for his three-goal, seven-assist effort across four games. Following closely behind was Connor McDavid, who posted one goal and ten assists in four games.
Toronto routed the Capitals 7–3 on March 20, then beat the Oilers 6–3 on March 23. The Oilers also defeated the Capitals by a score of 7–2 a couple of weeks ago.
With this triangle of games in such close proximity, it’s almost a poetic coincidence that the stars of these team all elevated their play in the same week.
Congrats to the trio!
Photo by Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire
