Auston Matthews Makes NHL History with Ninth Consecutive 30-Goal Season

TORONTO, Canada — Auston Matthews made history Saturday night, becoming the first U.S.-born player to achieve nine consecutive 30-goal seasons in the NHL during a dominant 5-0 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena.

With just under four minutes remaining in the game, Matthews scored his 30th goal of the season, receiving a precise pass from Mitch Marner before executing a one-timer past Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins. The goal not only capped the scoring for the game but also solidified Matthews’ place in NHL history, surpassing Pat LaFontaine, who previously held the record with eight consecutive seasons.

Matthews’ achievement places him among an elite group of players in NHL history, joining icons such as Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin as one of only seven players to reach this milestone. He is also the first player in Toronto Maple Leafs history to record nine straight 30-goal seasons, surpassing the previous record held by Darryl Sittler.

This season, Matthews has amassed 30 goals and 41 assists for a total of 71 points through 61 games, marking a significant contribution to the Maple Leafs’ successful campaign. His career statistics now stand at 398 goals and 322 assists for 720 points in 623 regular-season games.

“It means a lot to be mentioned with some of the greats,” Matthews said after the game. “A lot of hard work and commitment goes into this, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

Alongside Matthews, William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson both scored twice in the game, while backup goalie Anthony Stolarz delivered a stellar performance with a 27-save shutout. The Maple Leafs improved their record to 47-25-4 and secured 98 points, leading the Atlantic Division.

Marner also reached a milestone in the same game, recording his 70th assist of the season, making him the third player in franchise history to achieve that mark. He trails only Doug Gilmour and Darryl Sittler in assists within the Leafs’ history.

As the season approaches its conclusion, the Maple Leafs are on an impressive run, having won eight of their last ten games. With six games remaining, the team is on track to secure its second division title since the 1999-2000 season.

“We’re focused on maintaining this momentum as we head into the playoffs,” said Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. “This is an important stretch for us, and we aim to keep building on these performances.”

On the other hand, the Blue Jackets have struggled, now sitting at 34-32-9, with a record of 4-10-1 since early March. Coach Dean Evason lamented the missed opportunities for his team after coming out strong in the first period.

“We lack some confidence, and it shows when we face adversity,” Evason said. “We have to find a way to bounce back.”

The Blue Jackets will face the Ottawa Senators in their next match as they continue to fight for a playoff spot.