Scottsdale native Matthews named NHL’s First Star after collecting eight points in three games
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has been named the NHL’s First Star for the week ending Oct. 7.
Matthews registered five goals and eight points in three games, leading the NHL in both goals (tied) and points to power the Maple Leafs (2-1-0, four points) to a pair of victories.
He scored twice, including his fourth career overtime goal, in a 3-2 season-opening win against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 3. Matthews then collected a goal and an assist in a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 6. He capped the week with two goals and two assists, his second career four-point game (and first since his NHL debut Oct. 12, 2016 at Ottawa when he scored four goals), in a 7-6 overtime triumph against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7.
Overall, Matthews became the seventh player in Maple Leafs history – and first since 1991-92 (Dave Ellett) – to record multiple points in each of the team’s first three games of a season.
The 21-year-old Scottsdale native and Arizona Bobcats graduate and No. 1 overall pick from the 2016 NHL Draft has 79 goals and 140 points in his first 147 career games. His 79 goals share third place in the NHL since the start of the 2016-17 season.
Photo/Michael Caples/MiHockey
(Oct. 9, 2018)
