New York. Toronto star Auston Matthews is off to a miraculous start to the season.
He scored a hat-trick in Wednesday’s premiere — and tonight he did it again.
– Wow, Auston is absolutely unbelievable, says William Nylander, who himself had two goals and an assist in a 7-4 win over Minnesota.
Everyone wants a good start to the season, but we can guarantee that few would dare dream of the kind of epic Auston Matthews has written for himself in his first two nights with the Toronto Maple Leafs this fall.
So he completed a hat-trick in the opener against Montreal on Wednesday — and in the follow-up against Minnesota at home at Scotiabank Arena last night, he did it again.
Six goals in two games… those are pure Gretzky numbers.
– Well, the work ethic of the whole team was good in these matches. We move our feet and make sure we help each other, says the 26-year-old American cautiously.
-Then pucks proved to be a good fit for me and of course they are a lot of fun.
Nylander praised her
Coaches and teammates are less reserved in their comments.
-I’m used to Auston having big nights, but you don’t really rely on the double trick. He was absolutely fantastic, says coach Sheldon Keefe.
William Nylander’s thinking is much the same.
– Wow, I think it’s absolutely incredible. He takes the ball towards the penalty area and scores all kinds of goals, which the Swedish star raves about.
It also started off excellently on her part. He had a goal and an assist in the opener — and followed it up with two goals and an assist last night. This time the baskets were great as well, not least the one he hit after meandering through the wild zone at the end of the first half.
– John Tavares kicked the ball to me and I tried to check what was about to happen and finally I managed to reach towards the goal and put it in. But I thank John for the space he gave me.
Calle Järnkrok was also responsible for both goals and assists – and John Klingberg for the assist.
With the sometimes lackluster Wild, Jonas Brodin played until he scored.
