Auston Matthews sets Leafs team record

While Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews won't be completing the hat trick of Maurice Richard Trophy wins as the National Hockey League's top goal scorer, he's still putting together an offensive campaign that most any other player in the League would envy. 

He tallied his 40th goal of the season during last night's 2-1 overtime victory over the Atlantic Division rival Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena, and in doing so, he surpassed a team record. Because this is his 5th career 40-goal season, Matthews surpassed team legend Darryl Sittler's previous mark of four. Meanwhile, he also surpassed Lanny McDonald and Rick Vaive's team records of three and two straight 40-goal campaigns, respectively. 

However, Matthews wasn't in the mood to talk about his accomplishment following last night's win, instead electing to talk about the heroic performance of goaltender Ilya Samsonov between the pipes. The Russian goaltender made 45 saves in a winning effort, certainly earning the admiration of his teammates. 

"He's just such a competitor in there," Matthews said of Samsonov. "I really admire his mindset and the way he goes about his business and just a lot of fun to see him do his thing in there. He's been so solid for us all year so I can't say enough good things about him."

Matthews won't be playing tonight as his team faces the Tampa Bay Lightning in a regular season preview of their upcoming postseason matchup that will start later this month.