via NHL.com
Auston Matthews had two assists and became the fifth player in NHL history to have multiple points in each of the first seven games of a season in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
Matthews joined Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens of the Pittsburgh Penguins (1992-93), Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders (1984-85) and Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers (1983-84) to start a season with seven consecutive multipoint games. Matthews leads the NHL with 16 points (10 goals, six assists); his six-game goal streak ended.
“I don’t know what it is. I’m just trying to play hockey, have fun, get those opportunities and try to cash in on them,” Matthews said. “I’ve been fortunate they’ve been going in; we’ve been able to gel as a line and continue to get better and obviously the most important thing is we’re winning games, so we just want that to continue.”
Kasperi Kapanen scored two goals and Garret Sparks made 33 saves for the Maple Leafs (6-1-0), who have won five in a row.
Sparks, who is 2-0-0 this season, said he was not expecting to start until he found out in the morning. Frederik Andersen missed the game with a knee injury, but Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Andersen will start on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I wasn’t anticipating playing tonight when I went to bed [Sunday] night,” Sparks said. “The nature of this position is having to be ready and being able to perform when you’re called upon.”
Here for the dangles & ginos. #WeTheNorth x #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/EHPYYXF5yV
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 16, 2018
Two goals, two thumbs up, one happy Kappy.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/qe1SomJ6MT
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 16, 2018
Leafs keep rolling in return home with a 4-1 victory over LA.
Here are tonight’s @OntarioLottery Game Winning Numbers.#LeafsForever #That649Feeling pic.twitter.com/7xphj3r1hR
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 16, 2018
⚡️⚡️⚡️#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Ksc1pPG8s6
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 16, 2018
Auston Matthews of the @MapleLeafs is the fifth player in NHL history to record multiple points in each of his team’s first seven games to open a season. #NHLStats #LAKvsTOR pic.twitter.com/9GCbBhqoZP
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 16, 2018