Auston Matthews is fastest player to 50 goals in 26 years

Auston Matthews scored an empty-netter against the Jets to bring his season tally to 50. Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews becomes fastest NHL player to score 50 goals in a season in 26 years

By Adam Stites | Last updated 4/1/22

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews added to his NHL-leading goal total Thursday night when he scored an empty-netter against the Winnipeg Jets to bring his season tally to 50.

Matthews, 24, led the NHL in goals during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season last year, and it took him only 62 games to reach 50 goals this year. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Matthews is the fastest to reach that mark in a season since Mario Lemieux did it in 50 games during the 1995-96 season.

#50in22 pic.twitter.com/VMiQwdEMtj
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 1, 2022

The Maple Leafs haven't had a player reach the 50-goal mark in 28 years, and Matthews needs only five more goals in the last 15 games of the regular season to break Rick Vaive's single-season record for the franchise.

Toronto improved to 43-19-5 on Thursday night and jumped the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division.

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