Matthews mentioned that he still hasn't told Ovechkin that he was in attendance for that game.
Dec 7, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) looks on against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Alex Ovechkin is five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record, and everyone, including Auston Matthews, the league's top goalscorer since being drafted in 2016, will be watching.
"It’s pretty cool just witnessing the history and witnessing a record like that," Matthews said after Maple Leafs practice on Tuesday. "Obviously [Sidney Crosby] the other night with the most point-per-game seasons, but there’s not too many records that you see guys passing Wayne Gretzky on. The all-time goal record is a pretty big one."
Since entering the league, Matthews has scored 397 goals, won the Rocket Richard three times, and the Hart Trophy once. The 27-year-old is also one goal away from having 30 goals in all nine seasons of his NHL career.
Ovechkin, during that span, has found the back of the net 365 times. He's scored 13 goals in 22 games against the Maple Leafs since Matthews entered the league.
"It’s just been pretty cool to witness that and play against him. He’s been one of my favorite players since I was growing up. It’s just cool to see," Matthews added. "Fortunately, we don’t have him anymore this year. He’s usually good for at least one against us. But it’s going to be pretty cool to see that unfold and how it all happens."
Matthews clearly understands what it's like to score goals, because, well, that's what he's done his entire career. He's done it consistently, too, tallying more goals in his first 621 games than Ovechkin (388 goals) did.
But what stands out most is Ovechkin's longevity tied together with the goal scoring.
“The consistency is really impressive, and just finding a way to score. What is it, season 20 for him?" Matthews asked.
"It’s pretty crazy to think about just the consistency over the years and just him being able to stay healthy and all the stuff that goes into having the opportunity to put yourself in that position. No doubt that it’s going to happen here eventually, and it’s going to be pretty cool to witness.”
The 39-year-old Russian has scored plenty of highlight-reel goals throughout his career. But no goal sticks out more than the one against the Phoenix Coyotes in 2006. A nine-year-old Matthews was in attendance for that game. As was Gretzky, who was the head coach of the Coyotes at the time.
"Gretzky was the coach (of Phoenix), and he couldn’t keep his eye off the jumbotron," Matthews recalled. "Everybody was just kind of more in shock and awe than celebrating, honestly, because they couldn’t really fathom what just happened."
We're only in season nine of Matthews' career, but there's still a chance he can catch up to the likes of Ovechkin and Gretzky. To keep pace with Ovechkin, he would need to play at least 10 more seasons, which would put him at age 37.
It's possible, but can Matthews remain healthy throughout that span? That's the biggest question.
