Matthews scored his 57th and 58th goals with a difference of 27 seconds early in the first frame, as the Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to reach 100 points per season. John Tavares added his 26th goal of the season and goalkeeper Erik Kallgren made 24 saves as Toronto won their seventh game in the last eight to officially secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference for the sixth consecutive year. The Maple Leafs also took second place in the Atlantic Division behind the Florida Panthers. Matthews’s first goal marked his 50th goal in his last 50 games, making him the first player to achieve the feat since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. Matthews extended his points streak to 16 games (21 goals, 10 assists). Linemate Mitchell Marner has a streak of 13 games (eight goals, 20 assists). “You knew something special was happening,” said Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe. “I’m really surprised that it stopped at two [goals]. “ 2 About During the victory over their biggest opponent, Matthews and Maple Leafs often heard shouts of “MVP!” descend from the platforms. “You just feel shivering,” Matthews said as he listened to the calls. “Chills in your bones.” Cole Caufield and Joel Edmundson scored for Montreal. Jake Allen stopped the first 14 shots he faced before leaving with an obvious leg injury, as he stretched for Matthews’s first goal. Sam Montembeault made 23 stops the rest of the way. Matthews set a one-season Toronto goal record when he scored for the 55th and 56th time Thursday night in a 4-3 overtime win in Dallas. Rick Vaive, who has owned the franchise for 54 goals in a campaign for 40 years, was at the Scotiabank Arena earlier on Saturday to personally congratulate the 24-year-old on his achievement before Matthews became the first NHLer in 26 years to make 50. at 50. During a pause in the first period of the game, there was a standing ovation and a pack of highlights on the arena screens to honor Matthews. “It was nice,” he said. “I did not know it was happening, so it surprised me.” Tampa Bay Lightning striker Steven Stamkos is the last NHL player to reach 60 goals. Reached this milestone in 2011-12. If the season ended on Saturday night, the Maple Leafs, who will then meet the Buffalo Sabers on Tuesday night, will face the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
