Matthews scores 55th, Maple Leafs ease past Flyers

Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 6-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.

Matthews’ goal was his 55th, making him the first Maple Leafs player to reach 55 goals multiple times in his career; he scored 60 in 2021-22.

His goal made it 4-1 at 4:45 of the third period. It was his 40th at even strength. He is the only active player with multiple seasons of 40 even-strength goals (44, 2021-22).

Matthews tipped the puck away from Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway behind the Toronto net, and in transition he beat Noah Cates up the ice, got the puck back from Pontus Holmberg and scored off the rush.

“Just trying to jump in that space, try to beat my guy up the ice and ‘Bergy’ made a really great play,” Matthews said. “Just patient with the puck and found me coming through the middle and I was able to just walk in all alone.”

The defensive play before the goal is what stood out to Matthews’ teammates.

“That goes to his defensive abilities,” forward Tyler Bertuzzi said. “When you play a 200-foot game that’s when you get rewarded with those things, those offensive looks. His goal tonight, he was good in the defensive zone, and he busted all the way up the ice to get open for a half breakaway and scored. Defensive first and then his offense will always be there.”

Holmberg, Bertuzzi, Timothy Liljegren and William Nylander also each had a goal and an assist each for Toronto (38-19-8). Ilya Samsonov made 26 saves.

Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster scored for Philadelphia (34-25-8). Felix Sandstrom made 12 saves on 15 shots after replacing Samuel Ersson to start the second period.

“Take our lessons from this one and move on,” Flyers assistant Brad Shaw said.

Bertuzzi put the Maple Leafs ahead 1-0 at 2:01 of the first period when he tipped Matthews’ shot from the right face-off circle.

Holmberg made it 2-0 at 9:57 when he scored from the slot after a puck bounced to him off the skates of Flyers forward Morgan Frost.

Liljegren made it 3-0 at 15:30 with a shot from just inside the blue line.

It was the NHL-high eighth time the Maple Leafs had scored at least three first-period goals and came in their first game since a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

“We were on our toes, everyone had a good first shift and obviously to score three minutes into the game is big and get off to a good start,” Bertuzzi said.

Ersson was removed after allowing three goals on 12 shots in the first.

Tippett made it 3-1 at 1:42 of the second period with a power-play goal from the right side.

After Matthews’ goal made it 4-1 at 4:45, Nylander scored from the high slot to make it 5-1 at 4:53.

“One of our strengths this year has been our resilience mentally when a bad thing happened or a goal goes in the net,” Shaw said. “We seem to be able to weather the storm and gather ourselves and get back on the attack. For whatever reason, they put another one in the net right away and it just feels like a bit of a tsunami coming. We’ve done such a good job of staying away from those scenarios previously throughout the year.”

Matthew Knies scored to make it 6-1 at 9:00.

Foerster scored short-handed at 18:28 for the 6-2 final.