Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews waits for a faceoff during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Toronto centre Auston Matthews has scored his 50th goal of the season in 54 games in the Maple Leafs' NHL contest at Arizona. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
TEMPE, Ariz. – Toronto centre Auston Matthews has scored his 50th goal of the season in 54 games in the Maple Leafs’ NHL contest at Arizona.
Matthews beat Coyotes netminder Karel Vejmelka glove side with a wrist shot with the Leafs on a power play at 5:01 of the first period.
Timothy Liljegren and Mitch Marner had assists on the goal.
The goal came as the Leafs led the Coyotes 1-0 courtesy of an opener from Bobby McMann.
This is Matthews’ fourth straight game with a goal, and he has 11 points in five games.
Matthews has cracked the 50-goal mark in the regular season once before as a Maple Leaf, back in 2021-22 when he finished with 60 goals along with 46 assists.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2024.
