Auston Matthews makes a Christmas Return

[Maple Leafs 3, Rangers 2]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

The great news broke this morning when everyone awoke, two days before Christmas: Auston Matthews would return from a concussion-like injury. You knew he was going to do something.

The Maple Leafs are damn good, too. They improved to 22-14-1, still breathing down the neck of the Tampa Bay Lightning and their star returned with his 14th assist to get them on the board with a goal by William Nylander. He would score the third goal of the game for the Leafs, which ended up being all the difference in the 3-2 win.

It was the 14th goal of the season for Matthews; who now has 28 points in 27 games.



The Leafs held serve at Madison Square Garden and now with Christmas break on until Wednesday, everyone has a chance to rest and get healthy.

Auston Matthews dominating for me on NHL18

Auston Matthews had a hat-trick in this game for me against the Colorado Avalanche, including the game winner in overtime to beat them 4-3. He's got 25 goals through 20 games in his third season. He also has 15 assists.

This was a picture of his first goal, a one-timer assisted by William Nylander. Nylander also assisted on the game winner in the fourth period overtime.

Maple Leafs move to 6-1 with win over Red Wings

[Maple Leafs 6, Red Wings 3]

[Pension Plan Puppets]

The Maple Leafs just keep on rolling. They added goals from Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews, Connor Brown, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander to win the game 6-3.

Here's Auston Matthews' 6th goal of the season, and 46th of his career:


That extended the Maple Leafs lead to 3-1. Matthews didn't register a point last evening in the Maple Leafs 2-0 statement win in Washington. It was the first game this season in which he didn't record one. Tonight, he not only hit the bullseye for the goal, but added a late assist.

The Leafs are off to an excellent start:

The @MapleLeafs have won six of their first seven games in a season for the seventh time in their 100-year franchise history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/3Dlw6Y1eZo

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 19, 2017