McDavid, Matthews chase separate milestones Saturday as Leafs host Oilers | 24CA News
Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid have grown nearer off the ice.
The star centres typically skate collectively in the summertime and now share the identical agent.
They additionally possess distinctive views on what the opposite offers with as a face of the NHL.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player, as a person,” mentioned Matthews, the razor-sharp Maple Leafs sniper. “A guy that takes on a lot of responsibility with who he is.”
The duo will as soon as once more be within the highlight Saturday when Toronto hosts McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers.
And not simply due to the same old identify recognition.
Matthews has scored 57 occasions in 67 video games as a part of his quest to turn into the primary NHL participant to succeed in 70 objectives since 1992-93.
McDavid, in the meantime, has 86 assists in 65 contests and is on tempo to crack the century mark for the primary time since 1990-91.
“They’ve been unbelievable,” Leafs captain John Tavares mentioned following Friday’s follow. “They’re gonna define this generation of players with their skill set, how they’ve impacted the game. They’re changing the game in a lot of ways.”
Tavares has had a front-row seat.
The 33-year-old centre, who like Matthews and McDavid was the No. 1 choose within the draft, misplaced out on the 2014-15 Art Ross Trophy because the league’s prime scorer by one level.
Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars received that yr with a complete of 87, which wouldn’t crack the present top-10 with 3 1/2 weeks nonetheless remaining on the schedule.
“It might seem a long time ago,” Tavares mentioned. “It’s really not that long ago.”
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned the offensive explosion throughout the league is partially resulting from guidelines adjustments.
“That said,” he added, “the talent level of players is outrageous when we start talking about some of these guys.”
Matthews mentioned these on-ice summer time talent classes with lightning-quick McDavid are useful for each events.
“Everybody has different strengths and different weaknesses,” mentioned Matthews, who possesses one in all hockey’s greatest releases with the puck. “His recreation may be very distinctive, and there’s a whole lot of stuff that I’m inferior to far as the way in which he skates. There’s not likely anyone on the earth — perhaps one different man — that may skate like him.
“You just try to take different pieces and try to weave into your own game, and try to play to your strengths.”
Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny have been the final NHLers to succeed in 70 objectives once they every had 76 in 1992-93.
Wayne Gretzky is the newest participant to surpass 100 assists — the Great One did it 11 occasions and is one in all simply three males to perform the feat — some 33 years in the past.
“They’ve done a tremendous job,” Tavares mentioned of McDavid and Matthews elevating the bar. “How they’ve impacted the game, how dominant they are, the consistency night in and night out.”
The Leafs (39-20-9) enter Saturday firmly entrenched within the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 spot, unlikely to maneuver up or down earlier than the common season’s conclusion.
The Oilers (42-21-4), in the meantime, nonetheless have designs on first within the Pacific due to their present 9-1-2 run.
McDavid, nonetheless, wasn’t thrilled together with his staff’s final two performances — a 3-2 extra time choice in opposition to Montreal and an 8-3 victory over Buffalo that included a 2-0 deficit and a five-goal third interval.
“Games that could have gone the other way,” Edmonton’s captain instructed reporters within the Alberta capital following Thursday’s win. “We would be having a different conversation.”
Matthews mentioned his group should be prepared on Scotiabank Arena’s centre stage.
“One of the hottest teams in the league,” he mentioned. “They haven’t really slowed down.”
Neither have Saturday’s star points of interest.
Chasing 50
Oilers winger Zach Hyman has scored an eye-popping 48 occasions this season and will hit 50 in opposition to his former staff.
The 31-year-old, who by no means scored greater than 21 objectives over his 5 full seasons with Toronto, signed with Edmonton in July 2021.
Hyman put up 27 and 36 objectives with the Oilers his first two campaigns earlier than breaking out in 2023-24.
“Evolution curve is pretty outstanding,” Tavares mentioned. “I don’t think many people had him pegged to be where he is and what he’s on the verge of doing.”
Marner lacking
Leafs winger Mitch Marner will sit out the weekend — Toronto visits Carolina on Sunday — with a excessive ankle sprain that has already price him 5 video games.
Brodie sits
Once a minute-crunching mainstay on the blue line, Leafs defenceman T.J. Brodie seems set to be a wholesome scratch for a second consecutive contest.
“Brods is a better player than he’s played,” Keefe mentioned. “He’s also played better hockey than the perception might be.”
“I’d just like him to clear his head,” the coach continued. “He’s had a tricky go right here proper from the start of coaching camp.’
© 2024 The Canadian Press
