The talent level of the National Hockey League is bringing excitement to fans during the 2023-2024 season. Of the 32 teams in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs happen to have three players listed among the top 30 NHL goal leaders. The Leafs also have the top NHL scorer to date.
Top NHL Scorer
Auston Matthews is currently the top NHL goal leader at just over the halfway point of the 2023-2024 regular season. With 45 games played, Auston Matthews leads the NHL with 39 goals. Arizona native, Matthews aka the “Big Cactus” has 30 even strength goals and nine power play goals. The Toronto Maple Leafs super star centre does everything possible to create scoring opportunities for himself and his linemates. Auston is relentless in his pursuit of the puck when not in Toronto’s possession and tenacious once regained.
The NHL Goal Leader Does it Again
On January 24, 2024 the Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Winnipeg Jets in an epic back and forth scoreless game. The Jets have been dominating the National Hockey League in defence this season. Head coach of the Jets, Rick Bowness, made sure his D-men put in every effort to contain top NHL scorer Auston Matthews. The plan almost worked as Matthews could only get off three shots on goal. Regardless of Winnipegs efforts, Matthews was able to deflect in the game winning goal off a pass from Morgan Rielly. No player could score that night on the Leafs’ goaltending or Jet’s net minder Laurent Brossoit, with the exception of “Matty”. The OT winner found the net with 46.2 seconds left on the clock. Winnipeg had 32 shots against Toronto’s 29 shots that night.
Fourth Hatrick for Auston Matthews this Season and Counting
Last week, Matthews scored his 4th hatrick of the season, which ties his career high for hatties from the 2021-2022 season. In eight NHL seasons, Matthews tallied 11 hattricks to date. The way he finds open ice, moves through defenders, and rifles shots past goalies is incredible to watch. Displaying his skillset against the Calgary Flames, this NHL goal leader does it all:
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- Dangles for a top-shelf wrist shot.
- Cranks a power play one-timer from Nylander.
- Grinds out a rebound into a backhand goal.
Highlight Reel – Three Dynamic Auston Matthews Goals
Compare the Top NHL Leading Scorers Mid 2023-2024 Regular Season
Trailing Auston Matthews by just four goals in 2nd place is Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers) with 35 goals. Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning) is third for NHL goals on the heals of Reinhart with 31 goals. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) and David Pastrňák (Boston Bruins) both are in fourth for NHL all time goals mid season with 30 goals. It’s no wonder why these NHL goal leaders get nicknames like “Nate the Great”, “the Marksman”, and “the Russian Rifle” aka “Kuuuch”.
NHL Leading Scorers of ALL Time Supporting Cast
At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON the hats will fly to the three time sniper any night of the week. Let’s not forget that NHL goal leader Auston Matthews has some of the most talented linemates in the league. Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander all have over 30 assists on the year for a reason. Postgame after Matthew’s latest hatrick at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB Nylander was asked what it does for the bench when he scores like that?
Getting us going is huge and then he just keeps putting em in the net, it builds confidence in the group (William Nylander January 18, 2024).
No doubt we will soon see more monumental A-Matts goals as we finish out the second half of the season. The race is on! Go Leafs Go!
Main Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
