Auston Matthews vs. Patrik Laine: Who won the second showdown?

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets faced off for the second time this season. With the NHL’s top rookies, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine going head-to-head, which one came out ahead?

Last June, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine went first and second in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Both with high expectations when it came to turning their franchises’ fortunes around. And the rookies have not disappointed in their first NHL season.

Heading into Tuesday night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets , Laine and Matthews were neck and neck atop the NHL rookie scoring race and considered the top two contenders for the Calder. And with fellow Leaf rookie and Calder candidate Mitch Marner still sidelined with a shoulder injury, the spotlight is squarely on Matthews and Laine.

Given that the Jets and Leafs only meet twice this season, this would be the last chance for people to see the NHL’s top rookies face of against each other.

The first meeting between Laine and Matthews took place way back in the beginning of the season on October 19, in Winnipeg. The Jets won the game 5-4 in overtime. Laine recorded his first career hat trick which included scoring the OT winner. Round 1 goes hands down to Laine.

Now it is late February and the debate rages on about who is the better player. Laine plays with two veteran players and is a winger. On the other hand, Matthews is on a line with two other rookies and plays the tougher center position. So, who came out of Tuesday’s game with any sort of edge?

As has been the trend all season long, at the end of the Leafs come from behind 5-4 overtime win, Laine and Matthews remain as close as ever. Laine scored two goals, while Matthews recorded three assists.

Laine opened the scoring for the Jets in the first to tie the game at one early. It was his 29th goal of the year to tie an Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets rookie record set by Ilya Kovalchuk. In the second, Laine would break that record with his 30th of the year that gave the Jets a 4-3 lead. His two goals give Laine a two gaol lead over Matthews in the rookie scoring race.

Matthews may not have registered a goal at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday, but he did add three assists to keep pace with Laine in the rookie points race. More importantly was the timing of Matthews’ assists. He registered helpers on William Nylander’s goal in the third period to tie the game at four. Matthews also earned an assist on Jake Gardiner’s OT winner. Thus  helping the Leafs earn a very important two points as they leap frog over the Boston Bruins for third in the Atlantic Division.

So, when it comes to individual stats, Laine gets the slight edge. His two goals break a franchise record, and give him the advantage in the rookie goal scoring race. However, only recording a single point means that the Jets remain on the outside of the playoff picture.

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With Winnipeg just starting their bye week now, Matthews will have the next five days to close the very small gap between himself and Laine. As it stands after Tuesday’s game, Matthews has 28 goals to Laine’s 30, and 52 points to Laine’s 54. So, the NHL’s top rookies remain as close as ever.