‘That’s A Lot Of Goals’: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Becomes Sixth-Fastest Player In NHL History To Reach 400 Goals

On Tuesday in Buffalo, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews reached a significant milestone. 

The 27-year-old became the sixth-fastest player in NHL history to reach 400 goals, doing so in just his 628th career regular-season game. Matthews made it to No. 400 before Alex Ovechkin (634), the new all-time leading goal scorer, only trailing Jari Kurri (608), Brett Hull (520), Mario Lemieux (508), Mike Bossy (506), and Wayne Gretzky (436).

He became just the 110th player in NHL history, and the 10th active, to reach 400 goals, joining some elite company. He’s also only the second player in Leafs franchise history to reach the mark, trailing only Mats Sundin’s 420 goals.

It was Matthews’ 32nd goal of the season to go along with 45 assists and 77 points in 66 games.

“It means a lot,” Matthews said post-game. “It's a team accomplishment, I think. It's a team sport. There's a lot that goes into it. I'm just fortunate that it comes off my stick a couple of times. But it means a lot. This group's been really supportive all year. Individual awards are nice.” 

“I think it's nice to check off certain things. But the focus is still on the team, doing what's best for the team, and continuing to put our best foot forward here. One more game and then the postseason. We've just got to stay focused and stay dialed in mentally on our game and on our guys in this room,” he added.

Mitch Marner, though not registered with an assist, helped set up Matthews’ empty-net tally against the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-0 win at KeyBank Center. The two joined the NHL and the Leafs in the same year, the 2016-17 season, and have had a close connection ever since as linemates and teammates.

“I knew his next goal was 400,” explained Marner. “Of course, we did 2-0 in there, and I didn't even think about shooting that puck at all. So I'm trying to get it over him. He got a quick shot off, and it almost went in. What an unbelievable pass from him to hit me back door and get up and be able to finish it off.”

It was also a milestone night for Marner, who reached 100 points for the first time in his career on Tuesday after a goal to make it 2-0 in the third period. The goal, of course, was set up by Matthews, who earned a primary assist on the 100th point.

“It’s huge. Those are two of our best players, two of our best two-way players. The things they do on the PK and the defensive zone, I think, go a little unnoticed, and I appreciate that as a goalie. For Mitch to get 100 points, it’s huge for him and Tone 400 goals, that’s a lot of goals, so I’m happy for them,” said goaltender Anthony Stolarz on Matthews and Marner’s achievements.

The night capped off what’s been a sensational season for the ‘Core Four’ in Matthews, Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. Nylander has set a new career-high in goals this season (45) while Tavares is two goals shy of 40, tying the second most he’s had in a season. 

“We have some guys this year that have done some great things individually. Willy, 45 goals, Mitch 100 points, Auston scoring that goal,” said head coach Craig Berube after the win. “We can go down the line. J.T., almost getting 40 goals. We had a lot of guys individually do some real good things. But, the team played a real good, strong team game throughout the season, in my opinion. Defending and doing the little things right. Playing for each other. Fortunately, we were in the position to win the division.”

The win over Buffalo clinched the Atlantic Division title for Toronto, just the third time since 1967 that the team has won its division. The reward? A first-round Battle of Ontario against the Ottawa Senators in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the first meeting between the two since 2004.

Stolarz, who picked up the shutout on Tuesday and his eighth consecutive win, said, “It will be fun for sure. They’re a hungry team. They haven’t made the playoffs in a couple of years here. At the end of the day, I just think we have to continue to do what we’re doing right now. We feel good about our game. It’s going to be a bloodbath. It’s going to be a little bit of a war. We’ll be ready.”