Can Maple Leafs Sensation Auston Matthews Reach 70 Goals?
Grant White
Host · Writer
Former iterations of the Toronto Maple Leafs were synonymous with underachieving. The Original Six franchise went over a decade without a playoff series win, astonishingly making the postseason only once over that stretch. Sadsack Maple Leafs fans probably don’t need reminding of how that lone playoff appearance went, but suffice it to say, it ended badly.Â
Led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and others, this version of the squad has renewed confidence among the Maple Leafs’ faithful.
Although their team’s success has been less consistent, Matthews has stood as tall and proudly as the CN Tower in Toronto’s landscape. The former Hart Trophy winner has asserted himself as one of the top goal scorers of this generation. And with less than two left in the season, Matthews can accomplish that hasn’t been seen in decades.Â
The Race for 70
It’s been over three decades, or three lockouts in Gary Bettman years, since the last time an NHLer hit 70 goals. Not since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny did it in 1992-93 has anyone even come close to reaching this benchmark in regular season play.Â
Time Not on Matthews’ Side
The most pressing issue impacting Matthews’ pursuit of 70 is time. Toronto has just six games left in the season, meaning Matthews will have to boost production if he hopes to make it. Extrapolating his current total shows that he will likely fall short of the accomplishment. With 64 goals in 75 games, the league’s top scorer is operating at a .853 goals-per-game clip. Multiplying that by the 81 games he’s expected to play leaves Matthew with a nice projection of 69 goals.Â
Goals in Bunches
However, many other factors are at play in Matthews’ pursuit of 70. One of the more pronounced trends we’ve seen from the Leafs center since the start of the season is his ability to score in bunches.Â
Already this season, Matthews has six hat tricks. Coincidentally, four of those have come in consecutive outings. And that’s without even considering his 11 two-goal efforts.
Although there may be apprehension about him getting to 70 goals, Matthews only needs to make up the pace by one goal to reach the MVP-caliber standard.
Upcoming Schedule
Toronto’s immediate schedule gives Matthews the best chance of upping his pace. A Monday night tilt against the surging Pittsburgh Penguins is where the home stretch begins.
See if Matthew’s goal-scoring prop is part of our Penguins-Leafs +429 NHL Best Bets SGP
followed by a home-and-home with the New Jersey Devils, followed by their final home game of the season versus the Detroit Red Wings.Â
Subsequently, Toronto wraps up the season with a trip to the Sunshine State, taking on the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Betting Approach
Sportsbooks are hanging tempting numbers on Matthews’ pursuit of 70 goals. The going rate for Matthews to reach the benchmark is +280. But bettors should consider that play mutually exclusively from other opportunities.Â
On a nightly basis, Matthews will have goal-scoring props. That means there will be six other hedging opportunities to insulate or double down on your betting position. Moreover, savvy bettors will have ample opportunity to guarantee themselves a profit before the end of the season.
Who would the Leafs play in the first round of the playoffs if the postseason started today?
Final Thoughts
Make the bet. It’s worth backing Auston Matthews at +280 to become the NHL’s first 70-goal scorer in over three decades. The current price is an attractive entry point for any gambler, and his over/under goal totals over the Leafs’ final six games of the season afford bettors sufficient hedging opportunities to make this a profitable endeavor.Â
If nothing else, for the first time in modern history, the Leafs might have everyone jumping on their bandwagon in pursuit of history and winning bets.
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