Watch: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews scores four goals in NHL debut
Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews wasted no time making his mark in his debut Wednesday night against the Senators.
The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft scored twice in the first period, looking the part of a star and becoming the first player since Alex Ovechkin in 2005 to find the back of the net two times in his first NHL game. Matthews then scored a remarkable third goal in the second period, completing the hat trick with room for more.
Matthews became the fifth player to score three goals in his first-ever game, tying the record for most goals in a debut.
The 19-year-old cleaned up in front of goal for his first score, put together some special stickwork on his second, and sniped in the third off a rebound. With his fourth, he became the first player with four goals in his first NHL game. Watch all of his goals below.
Matthews, an American regarded as a special talent, excelled at the World Cup leading into this season and begins his career with understandably high expectations. The hype isn’t going anywhere after this.