Auston Matthews is probably going to win the Hart Trophy for this year’s NHL MVP. Last night in a 4-3 Toronto win, Matthews scored one goal to break the Leafs’ all-time single-season goals record over Rick Vaive (55), and then a second (the overtime winner) to break the record for the most goals scored in a single season by an American-born player (56), passing Jimmy Carson and Kevin Stevens. All in “The House Modano Built” in Dallas.
Matthews, who has scored 49 goals in his last 49 games and has 11 games remaining in the season, is on pace to be only the second player this decade to crack 60 goals — since one Steven Stamkos in 2011-12.