Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews makes history with four-goal NHL debut
Austin Matthews, welcome to the NHL record books.
It only took one game for the Toronto Maple Leafs wunderkind to etch his name into history, but becoming the player with a four-goal debut in a 5–4 overtime loss against the Senators in Ottawa on Wednesday night will do that.
"It’s pretty surreal," Matthews said. "I couldn’t believe that was happening out there. It’s really something you can’t write up."
Matthews wasted little time becoming the 12th No. 1 pick to score in his first game and opening the scoring on the 2016–17 season at 8:21 of the first period, banging a puck past Senators goalie Craig Anderson.
Auston Matthews blazing his own trail to NHL stardom
Just under six minutes later, he showed off the deft hands, feet and hockey sense that have been tantalizing fans, scouts and NHL front offices for years leading up to the 2016 draft with his second tally of the night, stripping the puck from two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson on his way to the net. In tying the score at two apiece, he became just the second No. 1 pick in history with a two-goal debut, following Alex Ovechkin’s first game with the Washington Capitals in 2005.
"The second one was kind of nice, just trying to stay on the puck," Matthews said. "A lot of my game is competing for 50–50 battles and it was nice to sneak one in there."
Ovechkin, the NHL’s reigning goal scoring champion, is some pretty good company, but Matthews wasn’t done yet. Just 1:25 into the second period, he became just the fourth player in the modern era to have a three-goal debut, joining Derek Stepan (Rangers, Oct. 9, 2010), Fabian Brunnstrom (Stars, Oct. 15, 2008) and Real Cloutier (Nordiques, Oct. 10, 1979). Matthews, however, got his quicker than all of them.
But the Scottsdale, Ariz., native took things a step further, depositing a beautiful saucer pass from fellow Leafs rookie William Nylander behind Anderson, making him the first player with a four-goal debut and the third-youngest player to score four times in a game. It's safe to say the performance made an impression on his teammates.
"Everybody was just kind of like, ‘What’s going on here?’" Matthews said. "You don’t really draw it up like that."
"I’ve never seen anything like it," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "When you see that second goal he scored, not many guys do that. We were all part of history. From my perspective, since I’ve been the Leafs coach, that’s been the best night I’ve had here by 10 miles, not even close."
Despite the history, however, Matthews took the blame for Kyle Turris’s overtime strike that gave Toronto the loss.
"I guess more of an ideal start to your season, I guess, individually. That last play was 100% my fault, obviously we came here to win and we didn’t get that done. A good learning point for myself and the team."
Consider Ottawa coach Guy Boucher among those that know Matthews will put the lessons to good use. Boucher coached against him last season in the Swiss Elite League.
"He's the real deal," Boucher said. "I told everybody and I saw it firsthand last year so I'm not surprised. He's the total package. He played against men last year and he's playing against men now, so I'm not surprised."
Matthews certainly set the bar high just one game into his NHL career, and while it’s important to temper expectations for a 19-year-old rookie, it was certainly a memorable way to start things off—even making his mom cry in the stands.
Greatest rookie debut performances in sports history
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs — Oct. 12, 2016
Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies — April 4, 2016
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans — Sept. 13, 2015
Steven Matz, New York Mets — June 28, 2015
Troy Grosenick, San Jose Sharks — Nov. 16, 2014
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers — Oct. 30, 2013
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins — Sept. 9, 2012
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers — Sept. 11, 2011
Derek Stepan, New York Rangers — Oct. 9, 2010
Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals — June 8, 2010
Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs — May 7, 2010
Fabian Brunnstrom, Dallas Stars — Oct. 15, 2008
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers — Oct. 29, 2003
Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals — Sept. 7, 2003
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers — Nov. 1, 1996
J.R. Richard, Houston Astros — Sept. 5, 1971
Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings — Sept. 17, 1961
Juan Marichal, San Francisco Giants — July 19, 1960
Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors — Oct. 24, 1959
Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants — July 30, 1959
"Those were tears of joy," Ema Matthews told Sportsnet. "I feel very excited. This is what Auston has been dreaming since he was 6, playing right here in the NHL, so he's doing it. So I'm very excited, very happy for him."
"She’s very emotional when it comes to this kind of stuff," Matthews said. "She’s been a huge part, along with my dad, in helping me get there, and I’m glad she could share the moment with me."
While Maple Leafs fans were glad to get a glimpse of his NHL arrival, they'll get an up-close look on Saturday, when the team faces its Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.