Nylander matches Leafs rookie record as point streak hits 9 games

William Nylander is into the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie record book.

The exceptional, often-overlooked Maple Leafs freshman equaled a franchise rookie mark Wednesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, extending his point streak to nine games with a primary assist on Auston Matthews' 33rd goal of the season.

Nylander hit the lucrative 20-goal mark on a breakaway in the second period, counting his first multi-point outing on the streak. He has three goals and seven assists over that span, upping his total to 54 points.

Nylander shares the point streak record with Gus Bodnar, Bob Nevin, and Dan Daoust, who collected at least one point over nine consecutive games in their rookie campaigns. He'll have an opportunity to break that record Thursday when the Maple Leafs host the New Jersey Devils in the second half of a back-to-back.

In this incredible rookie class, Nylander isn't the first to nab at least a share of a rookie record. Surprisingly, that distinction belongs to Zach Hyman, whose three shorthanded goals are the most by a Toronto rookie. But the two rookies who have hogged the applause this season will soon join them.

Matthews is within one goal of Wendel Clark's franchise mark, while Mitch Marner's next assist will be No. 40, which would match the standard Bodnar established in 1943-44.

Both Matthews and Marner could potentially exceed Peter Ihnacak's rookie record of 66 points.