Matthews shatters franchise record, Leafs score big win over Panthers
TORONTO — Wendel Clark knew his record might be in jeopardy 21 and a half minutes into Auston Matthews’s first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Matthews became the first player in NHL history to score four goals in a debut that October night against Ottawa and on Tuesday finally broke Clark’s 31-year-old franchise rookie record with his 35th goal this season — the opening goal in a crucial 3-2 Leafs win.
“It’s good,” Clark said of Matthews shattering a record set during the 1985-86 season. “If we’re going to be any good we need these young guys breaking all (these records) and doing well.”
Matthews and Toronto’s high-flying crop of rookies have been shredding the record books more and more often in recent weeks as they march toward a hopeful playoff berth. Tuesday’s victory over the Florida Panthers kept the club one point up (87 points) on Boston (86) for third in the Atlantic division and now four up on the surging Tampa Bay Lightning (83).