Matthews Proves he’s Setting the Tone For the Leafs this Season
No cheering in the press box, as the maxim goes.
Few along press row have ever frowned on gasping.
As Auston Matthews ripped his way through the Ottawa Senators and into the National Hockey League record books on Wednesday night, that was the natural reaction up high at the Canadian Tire Centre.
In the days that follow, we can parse it any way we want.
The first player to score four goals in his NHL debut in the modern era (since 1943-44). The first No. 1 pick to score a hat trick in his first NHL game. The third youngest player in NHL history to score four goals in any game.
First this, first that.
The end is the same: Matthews’ performance was exhilarating, electrifying, exciting, something magical to behold.