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Matthews passes Mats Sundin to set Maple Leafs’ record with 421st goal

Matthews passes Mats Sundin to set Maple Leafs' record with 421st goal | iNFOnews.ca
New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) reaches for the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

NEW YORK (AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored twice in the second period against the New York Islanders on Saturday night to pass Mats Sundin and set the franchise record for career goals with 421.

His first goal tied Sundin at 420 when Matthews entered the offensive zone past Islanders defenceman Scott Mayfield, shifted the puck from his backhand to his forehand and slid it past goaltender David Rittich at 9:30 of the second period. It tied the score 1-1.

Just 7:49 later, Matthews broke the record with his second of the game to put Toronto ahead, burying a cross-ice feed from Bobby McMann on a one-timer.

It gave Matthews his second consecutive multi-goal game after he had a hat trick on Friday night in the Maple Leafs’ 6-5 win against Winnipeg. He now has six goals and 10 points in four games since the NHL’s Christmas break. He sat out Toronto’s 4-0 win against New Jersey on Tuesday.

Matthews, in his second season as Maple Leafs captain after succeeding teammate John Tavares, is fourth all time in franchise points with 760, trailing Sundin (987), Darryl Sittler (916) and Dave Keon (858).

Sundin, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, scored 420 goals in 981 games with the Maple Leafs. Matthews, named to Team USA for the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina next month, topped his mark in his 664th game.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Matthews passes Mats Sundin to set Maple Leafs' record with 421st goal | iNFOnews.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after a goal by Auston Matthews (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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The Associated Press

Scott Charles

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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