Did Matthews score 50 in 50? - Breaking down his impressive accomplishment

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Liam
April 12, 2022 (2:28 PM)

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With two goals on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, Auston Matthews scored his 50th and 51st goal in his last 50 consecutive games played. This incredible rate of over a goal per game, for 50 games, was last accomplished 26 years ago in the 1995-96 season by Mario Lemieux.

Many fans were quick to point out that Matthews' feat doesn't qualify for the NHL's official «50 in 50», wherein a player scores 50 goals within his teams first 50 games of the season, rather than a mid-season stretch of games. The official 50 in 50 has only been accomplished 8 times by 5 players: Maurice Richard, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Brett Hull.

Although they're technically correct, the fans who were quick to point out that it isn't the official 50 in 50 have an air of dismissal about Matthews' accomplishment. However, a few impressive markers stand out, and are undeniable successes for Matthews.

To start, 50 goals in 50 individual games played was last accomplished by Mario Lemieux, 26 years ago. To be mentioned in the same company as one of the top three players in history itself is an indicator of incredible success.

Additionally, the official 50 in 50 is likely forever out of reach - never to be accomplished again. All but Richard's 50 in 50 were accomplished prior to the dead puck era, where the league averaged 7.6 goals per game. Goal scoring this year has seen an uptick, currently at a rate of 6.24 goals per game, still well below any scoring rates of the 1980s. Mike Bossy's back to back 50 in 50 seasons in 1991 and 1992 are likely the last to be accomplished.

But Matthews still has the opportunity to set NHL history, at least in the cap era. He's currently two goals away from 60, which seems like an eventuality now, but is such an impressive marker, that it's only been achieved by Alexander Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos in the cap era. Ovechkin's 2007-08 record of 65 goals is within reach for Matthews, and breaking that record would cement his season as the greatest scoring season in the cap era. He would have to complete this feat in less games than Ovechkin too - Matthews' injuries and suspension will limit him to a maximum of 77 games played this year.

Not to mention, Matthews has rounded out his defensive game to become the most dominant two-way centre in the league this year. His historic season offensively is impressive on its own right, but his overall play has him as the front runner for the league MVP this season, deservedly so.