When Auston Matthews scored goal number 50 on the season the next milestone was clear for everyone. Rick Vaive's franchise record of 54. Some people mused about how great it would be for him to break the record Saturday night against the Canadiens, but Matthews had different, and better plans. What better way to tie a franchise record that has stood for 40 years than by scoring a hat trick against the 2-time defending Stanley Cup Champs and their Conn Smythe Trophy winning goalie!
The goals were great, tying the record was great, but it's all made better with the highlights matched up with Joe Bowen's legendary voice on the play-by-play. Another huge shoutout goes to @LeafsJelly on Twitter, LeafsJellyHD on Youtube for these amazing clips!
The first goal of the night was a Matthews classic. He carries the puck in, pulls it around the defender's stick and lets a laser go from the top of the circle that may have burned a hole through Vasilevskiy's glove had he gotten in front of it.
Goal number 2 on the night was a Mitch Marner masterclass. Surrounded by defenders, Marner found a lane to a wide open Matthews for a tap in goal. A note for the Tampa defenders on this one, don't leave THAT guy open in front.
Goal number 3, the entire line gets in on, Matthews and Marner exchange passes, Marner puts it in front, Bunting causes all kinds of havoc and that guy I said they should probably cover is once again wide open in front. Matthews buries it and Rick Vaive has to make some room at the top. What a goal, what a game!
