<p>In the first nine years of his NHL career, Auston Matthews has made a habit of making history. That continued Saturday night when the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs’</a> captain scored his 30th of the season against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/columbus-blue-jackets/line-combinations">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, becoming the first U.S.-born player to record nine consecutive 30-goal campaigns in his career. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Auston Matthews became the first U.S.-born player in NHL history with nine consecutive 30-goal seasons, breaking a tie with Pat LaFontaine (8 from 1985-86 – 1992-93). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLStats?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLStats</a>: <a href="https://t.co/eou5qNjaG0">https://t.co/eou5qNjaG0</a> <a href="https://t.co/0GKB6l7ZzO">pic.twitter.com/0GKB6l7ZzO</a></p>
<p>— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLPR/status/1908703971964772735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Matthews achieved the feat late in the third period, taking a pass from Mitch Marner and one-timing it past Elvis Merzlikins and giving Toronto a 5-0 lead, which would end up being the final score. </p>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">NINE STRAIGHT 30-GOAL SEASONS FOR AUSTON MATTHEWS! 🍁 <a href="https://t.co/K3gljyKK3p">pic.twitter.com/K3gljyKK3p</a></p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>
<p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1908694513180164198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Matthews became just the seventh player in NHL history to record nine straight 30-goal seasons, joining Alex Ovechkin, Mike Gartner, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. </p>



<p>He also became the first Maple Leaf in franchise history to post nine straight 30-goal campaigns, surpassing Darryl Sitter, who recorded eight straight between 1973-74 and 1980-81. </p>



<p>Matthews now has 30 goals and 41 assists for 71 points in 61 games with Toronto in 2024-25. He now has 398 goals and 322 assists for 720 points in 623 career regular-season games. Now in his ninth NHL season, Matthews has been one of the league’s most productive players since entering the league in 2016-17. </p>



<p>Matthews won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in three of the last four seasons, scoring the most goals in the league in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2023-24. Following his 2021-22 season, where he scored 60 goals and 46 assists for 106 points, Matthews won the Hart Trophy for the league’s most valuable player, the first time a Maple Leaf had won the award since Ted Kennedy in 1954-55. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="191"></div>



<p>Meanwhile, Marner, who recorded his 70th assist of the season after assisting on Matthews’ goal, became the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone, joining Doug Gilmour – who did it twice in 1992-93 and 1993-94 –&nbsp;and Darryl Sittler in 1977-78. Marner now has 24 goals and 70 assists for 94 points, leading the team in both assists and points. </p>



<p>The Maple Leafs are now 47-25-4 and 98 points, first in the Atlantic Division. They’re 8-2-0 in their last 10 games, and with six games to go, are on pace to win just their second division title since the 1999-2000 season. </p>


Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews