On Wednesday, we saw generational goal scorer Auston Matthews' road game goal streak come to an end at 10 games, following a controversial call that saw his 3rd period goal overturned for a "distinct kicking motion".
Leafs Nation was rightfully upset at the call, given the fact that several goals of a similar nature have counted this season, and Matthews' skate never left the ice surface. The bottom line is that Matthews had redirected the puck in with his skate and the officials did not have enough evidence of a distinct kicking motion to overturn the goal.
Matthews came to within an inch of tying a record of 11 straight road games with a goal, set by Steve Yzerman in 1988-89 and tied by Pavel Bure in 1993-94, but he stands a reasonably good chance at keeping another streak alive and matching a Leafs franchise record on Saturday.
With his assist on a Michael Bunting goal in the first period on Wednesday, Matthews extended his road game point streak to 11 games, and if he can record a point in Long Island, Matthews will tie Leafs legend Doug Gilmour for the longest road point streak in franchise history at 12 games, with a chance to break that record on January 29th in Detroit. Gilmour accomplished the feat back in 1993-94, just one year after his record-setting 127-point campaign in 1992-93.
Number 34 may have been robbed of one on Wednesday, but if I'm a betting man, I'd say Matthews gets it done against the Isles and the Red Wings and adds to his legacy in his young Leafs career before the month is out.
