Matthews: I shouldn't be in conversation to break Ovi's record

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews doesn't think he should be talked about as a candidate to break Alex Ovechkin's new goals record.

"That's such a long ways away, or a long way to go," Matthews said Monday. "I don't think I should even be in that conversation. This guy just broke the record. I'm so far away from that, and it shouldn't really be a focus on myself. It rightfully so should be on Ovi and what he's been able to accomplish in his career, this record being one of them."

Ovechkin netted his 895th career goal Sunday to pass Wayne Gretzky and break the NHL's all-time record.

Matthews has 398 goals in 623 total contests over his nine seasons with Toronto and is the active NHL leader in goals per game. The Leafs captain has seven more markers than Ovechkin did through 623 games, though the Washington Capitals superstar clears Matthews by 24 through nine campaigns.

Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies thinks his teammate has a shot at the record down the road.

"It's pretty crazy (to see Ovechkin break the record)," Knies said. "Obviously, I can't even count that high. That's pretty astonishing. Maybe we'll see (someone break it) down the line. (No.) 34 could do it."

Matthews, for his part, was happy to see Ovechkin rewrite history.

"Just felt like everything just went right for him there," Matthews said. "It was in his spot, on the power play, the celebration, everything was amazing. Pretty cool to be able to witness that record being broken."