Matthews wins Richard Trophy as NHL’s leading goal-scorer for 3rd time

Auston Matthews won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal-scorer for the third time.

The Toronto Maple Leafs center had a career-high 69 goals in 81 games, 12 more than Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (57) and 15 more than Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (54).

Matthews, who had 10 goals during an eight-game goal streak from March 30-April 13, finished the regular season with 107 points (69 goals, 38 assists).

It’s the third time that Matthews has won the award in the past four seasons. He had 60 goals in 73 games in 2021-22, and 41 in 52 games during the COVID-shortened season in 2020-21. The 26-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, hit the 50-goal mark in his first 54 games this season, the fastest by a U.S.-born player.

Matthews and Keith Tkachuk, who scored 52 goals for the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996-97, are the only U.S.-born players to lead the League in goals.

Selected by the Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews has 649 points (368 goals, 281 assists) in 562 games and hasn’t scored fewer than 34 goals in any of his eight seasons.

He is the 23rd NHL player, and the fifth active, to score at least 60 goals in a season. The other active players to reach the mark are Oilers center Connor McDavid (64 in 2022-23), Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (65 in 2007-08), Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (61 in 2023-23), and Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (60 in 2011-12).

Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky share the NHL record for the most 60-goal seasons with five each.

The Maple Leafs, who finished third in the Atlantic Division, will play the Bruins in the Eastern Conference First Round. Game 1 will be played in Boston on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS).