TAMPA, Fla. — Auston Matthews missed his chance to become the ninth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 6-4 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in regular game Wednesday night. did. The final episode of the season.
Matthews had all seven of his shots in the first period denied by 29-year-old rookie goaltender Matt Tompkins, but he hit a shot off the post midway through the second period. Tomkins made 34 saves in his sixth NHL start, including 12 saves for Matthews.
Matthews’ 12 shots on goal tied for second-most in a single game this season.
“I certainly was hoping for it, but it wasn’t meant to be,” said Matthews, who went scoreless in back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers and Lightning. “The most important thing is the team and the team’s success and making sure I can carry my weight as the leader of this team and help the team win. That’s my focus.”
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews’ game means more than putting the puck in the net.
“He’s been playing really well,” Keefe said. “I know there’s a lot of attention on him reaching 70 goals, but I feel like we’re losing sight of how well he’s been playing. How he’s played in the last two games. If you look at it, we gave him those chances, we gave him those shots, and he could have scored 75 points. It wasn’t meant to happen, but that’s fine — 69 points is an unbelievable season.”
Matthews’ streak of scoreless games ended with an eight-game scoring streak and 10 goals.
The third-place Maple Leafs open the playoffs on Saturday against the second-place Bruins in Boston.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
