Auston Matthews scores fifth goal of the year (Video)

Toronto Maple Leafs sensation Auston Matthews scored his fifth goal on the year, giving him the outright lead in goals scored this season.

Auston Matthews had a debut for the ages, but he went through the longest goal drought of his career afterward at two games. It seemed like he was destined to be a draft bust, especially after the second overall pick Patrik Laine outscored him 3-0 in a head-to-head meeting. Not only that, he was showered with “Laine’s better” chants all throughout the game.

But with a quick turnaround after losing to Winnipeg, Auston Matthews was out to make a statement. Blowing a four-goal lead and getting a hat trick scored against him was the lowest point of his career, and he wanted to right those wrongs.

While it’s highly unlikely Matthews will ever top his first game, Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be happy as long as he keeps scoring. With the Leafs and the Minnesota Wild deadlocked at 1 in the second period, their franchise player stepped up by netting a power play goal:

After getting a power play assist against Winnipeg, Matthews now has his first power play goal. It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but he was in the right place at the right time. And here’s a crazy stat: that goal makes Auston Matthews the outright leader in goals scored this season at five.

Matthews isn’t the only youngster who’s played well so far, Laine and Connor McDavid have too. These guys are going to be stars in the NHL for the next decade, at least, and seeing them have so much success already is a great sign. It certainly makes for appointment television whenever they play.

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No matter where the Leafs finish, they will be an exciting team to watch. But given how productive Matthews is already, they could very well sneak into the playoffs in what is a weak Atlantic Division.