Matthews makes history with 4th straight 30-goal season
Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews joined some elite company after notching his 30th goal of the season Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets.
Matthews, who was born in California and raised in Arizona, is the first U.S.-born player in league history to begin his career with four straight 30-goal seasons, according to NHL Public Relations.
Goal No. 3️⃣0️⃣ on the season for Auston Matthews (@AM34). pic.twitter.com/ikBBQ8Rv0g
— NHL (@NHL) January 9, 2020
He also joined a handful of Maple Leafs legends with four straight 30-goal seasons, but he's the only one to accomplish the feat to begin a career.
Auston Matthews became the sixth different player in @MapleLeafs history to score 30-plus goals in four or more consecutive seasons and first to do so from the start of his tenure with Toronto (NHL debut or otherwise). #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/kPM1HdrgJq
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 9, 2020
Matthews is now one of 15 players in NHL history to score 30 goals in each of his first four seasons. Alex Ovechkin, who's on track to record a 15th straight 30-goal campaign, is the only other active member of that group.
After notching a second tally later in the game, the 22-year-old is now on pace for a career-high 56 goals in 2019-20 and sits one back of David Pastrnak for the league lead.