LATEST NEWS:’Great for the league’ is how the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews has scored 70 goals in a row.

That pretty well sums up what opposing teams in the National Hockey League are thinking as the superstar from the Maple Leafs continues his current pace of 70 goals scored.

Goalie Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars remarked, “First of all, I think it’s awesome,” on Thursday during the NHL all-stars’ media availability at Scotiabank Arena. “It would be similar if baseball players once again hit 70 home runs.”

“It’s fantastic for the league, and fans adore it.” He’s a unique player—one of those guys that, when they go up two on one in a match, makes you go, “Oh (bleep).”I know him a little, and it’s great to see a fellow American young person succeeding.

Just 14 players—eight of them in NHL history—have surpassed the 70-goal mark. With 92 goals, Wayne Gretzky owns the record. In three prior seasons, he scored at least 70 goals. Mario Lemieux scored at least 70 goals twice, and Brett Hull did it three times.

Bernie Nicholls, Teemu Selanne, Phil Esposito, Jari Kurri, and Alexander Mogilny were the five players who achieved the milestone just once. The most recent to accomplish it were Mogilny and Selanne, who each scored 76 goals in the 1992–93 campaign.

With the Winnipeg Jets, Selanne was setting an NHL rookie record, and Mogilny was flooding the net for the Buffalo Sabres.

To become the ninth NHL player to record 70 goals, Matthews has to score 30 in the final 35 games for the Leafs after scoring 40 in 46 games. That would likely surpass his 60-game mark set with the Leafs two seasons ago when he was awarded the Hart Trophy.

Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner remarked that Matthews’ pace was “pretty impressive” before chuckling and considering Matthews’ significance.

He’s quite difficult to protect, Jenner remarked. “He positions himself to score goals in a variety of ways.

He plays the right manner, thus it’s difficult to play against him. He plays the puck with the same intensity on both sides. He gets to the places where he can score and is strong in the faceoff circle and the corners.

“Everyone watches him score, yet he’s a formidable opponent. It is difficult to get offense going against him since he is tough to deal with. Additionally, he possesses the ability to finish at the pace he is at.

Prior to scoring his 40th goal in the Leafs’ victory in the Peg on Saturday, Matthews scored the game-winning goal in OT against his Jets last Wednesday in Toronto, giving Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness a close-up view of it.

One of the four coaches for the all-star game, Bowness, stated, “He has that chance (to score 70).” “His skill at the game, his ability to see the ice, his ability to vanish and his teammates’ ability to locate him—it’s in the net before you blink”He’s got the confidence, the hockey IQ, and the release. He naturally scores goals.

What distinguishes Matthews?

“If you watch where he is putting the puck, it’s in the right spot even when he misses,” Bowness remarked. Though it’s in the ideal place and gives him a chance, it might not go in. Many players bury their heads and place them in the goalie’s stomach. He’s aware of where to place the puck. Though it’s traveling in the right direction, he might miss by one or two inches.

Nikita Kucherov, a player for the Tampa Bay Lightning, will be Matthews if anyone in the game can achieve seventy points at this point.

Indeed, Kucherov replied. “He’s got every tool.” The man who is capable is him.

For the all-stars, none of what Matthews is doing is surprising.

Goalie Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks stated, “I don’t think he is surprising anyone around the league.” “Guys are aware of his abilities. I enjoy watching it from a distance. Fortunately, we get to play them just twice a year.

“Everyone knows how lethal his shot is, but his ability to score quickly from certain areas and catch guys off guard is why he is one of the best players in the league,” defenseman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche stated.

The all-stars will return to their respective teams after the weekend and, if they face the Leafs again this season, will pick up where they left off in terms of stopping Matthews.

For Leafs teammate William Nylander, the awe will continue.

“It feels like every couple of games there’s a hat trick coming,” Nylander said. “It’s insane.”