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# Need to open the scoring? Just ask Auston Matthews
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/need-to-open-the-scoring-just-ask-auston-matthews/
- Published: 2016-12-30T15:53:29.000Z
- Updated: 2016-12-30T15:53:29.000Z
- Description: Half of his goals so far this year have been the opening goal of the game.
- Author: Ari Yanover
- Tags: #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:43

Auston Matthews now has 18 goals in his first 35 games. You’ve probably seen this little tidbit going around:

> Per [@EliasSports](https://twitter.com/EliasSports?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com): Auston Matthews is first [@MapleLeafs](https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) player in modern era (since 1943-44) to score 18 goals in first 35 career NHL games. [pic.twitter.com/PsOfys2mmO](https://t.co/PsOfys2mmO?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — NHL Public Relations (@PR\_NHL) [December 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/PR%5FNHL/status/814684932542971904?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

There’s something else to Matthews’ goals too, though. Namely: he’s the one opening the scoring. Via the [Elias Sports Bureau](http://www.espn.com/blog/elias-says/post/%5F/id/334/dec-30-2016?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com):

Matthews has scored 18 goals for the Leafs and nine of them have been the first goal of a game, and each of his last five goals have given Toronto a 1–0 lead. Matthews’ nine first goals are the most by an NHL player this season (Sidney Crosby is second with eight) and a single-season record for a Maple Leafs rookie.

Any time you can beat Crosby in a goal-scoring stat, especially this season...

So that’s half of Matthews’ goals coming in order to open the game. That’s over a quarter of the Leafs’ games so far this season Matthews has opened the scoring for them. They haven’t won all of them - this latest edition against the Tampa Bay Lightning marked their fifth win when Matthews scores first - but they’re starting to win them a little more often now.

Either way, though: it’s not like you’re going to say no to having your rookie score the first goal of the game. Over and over again, more than anyone else in the NHL. It’s a neat little matter of timing.