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Auston Matthews, the dynamic forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, failed to fulfill the expectations during the recently concluded NHL season. His quest to reach the elusive 70-goal mark fell short by just one goal, leaving Matthews and his fans to reflect on this big miss.
Matthews' pursuit of 70 goals was more than just a personal milestone, as it had remained unattained for over three decades. So everyone had a lot of hopes and it looked easy, but he fell short of the milestone.
"I wanted it, for sure. But you know, it just wasn't meant to be," Matthews said after missing the 70-goal mark against the Tampa Bay Lightning." (via Sportsnet)
Before the Maple Leafs' game against the Florida Panthers, the Maple Leafs had already secured the playoff berth. So, there were discussions about sitting Auston Matthews for the last two games. But the majority wanted him to play and achieve the 70-goal mark. It looked easy initially as he had just one goal to score in two games.
But fate can sometimes disappoint and the same happened with Auston Matthews. As he approached the historic mark, every shot he took, every attempt at goal, carried the weight of anticipation and expectation with it. The hockey world watched with bated breath as Matthews skated toward the goalpost in every game.
Matthews said that his focus was on the team winning the games rather than his individual milestones. He shared,
"When you turn the page, the most important thing is the team and the team's success and making sure that I'm pulling my weight and doing what I can as a leader on this team and individually to help the team win — especially as we go into the post-season."
"So, that's where my focus is. And I think that's kind of where my mindset has been at all year," Matthews said.
But what's comforting is that Matthews and the Maple Leafs are heading into the playoffs and they can achieve something more. They can win the Stanley Cup Championship and end their 57-year-long drought.
Here's how Auston Matthews was denied the 70 goals in 6-4 loss
Auston Matthews fell short in his attempt to score 70 goals in an NHL season, with rookie goalie Matt Tomkins denying his efforts in a 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay. Matthews acknowledged the disappointment but prioritized team success.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe praised Matthews' overall performance,
“He’s played so tremendously well,” Keefe said.
“I know there’s been a lot of focus on him reaching 70 goals; you kind of lose sight of how well he’s played. ... 69 is an unbelievable season.”
Meanwhile, Nikita Kucherov achieved a milestone with a 100-assist season, contributing to Tampa Bay's victory. Both Toronto and Tampa Bay are ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Atlantic Division rivals.
