The Associated Press
Jonah Bronstein
BUFFALO, N.Y.–Auston Matthews’ record-setting rookie season has the Toronto Maple Leafs on the verge of returning to the playoffs.
Matthews recorded his 67th point of the season with his 39th goal, to set the franchise rookie scoring record, as the Leafs doubled the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 last night to move closer to clinching just their second post-season berth in 12 years.
His goal also marked the most by an American-born rookie.
The NHL’s top rookie scorer downplayed his achievement after Toronto closed out a three-game road trip with its fourth-straight win.
“I play with some pretty great players, so a lot of credit to them,” Matthews said.
“But I think the most important part is that, as a team, we have been getting better each game, each segment, so we are in a good spot right now and just need to continue to play well,” he added.
Leafs’ coach Mike Babcock said team success matters more to Matthews than breaking records.
“He’s a mature young man who wants to be great and you are measured in championships in this league,” Babcock noted.
Nazem Kadri added a goal and an assist, James van Rimedsyk and Leo Komarov also scored, and Frederick Andersen made 18 saves.
The victory vaulted Toronto one point ahead of Boston and Ottawa for second-place in the Atlantic Division.
“All the good teams that are usually in it are doing their job and winning games, and now it’s up to us to do our job and win games,” said Leafs’ defenceman Morgan Rielly said.
“We’re just focused on winning every game between now and the end of the season.”
Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly scored for Buffalo.
Robin Lehner was pulled after giving up three goals on five shots in the first five minutes, with Anders Nillson stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced.
The Sabres have lost three in a row and are 6-12-2 in their past 20 games.
The late-season collapse will extend Buffalo’s playoff drought to six-consecutive seasons.
Playing in Buffalo for the second time in nine days, the Leafs avenged a 5-2 loss in their previous visit.
A large contingent of Toronto fans filled the KeyBank Center with chants of “Go, Leafs, go!”
“They were hungrier,” Eichel said. “They wanted it more than us.”
Matthews scored his milestone goal in the same arena in which the Leafs selected the 19-year-old centre from Scottsdale, Ariz. with the No. 1 pick last June.
Receiving a pass from rookie linemate William Nylander in the left circle, Matthews buried a slapshot to extend his point streak to nine games and give Toronto a 2-0 lead 5:01 into the first period.
Nylander’s assist gave him 60 points on the season.
The Leafs are just the second NHL team to have three rookies with 60 or more points, joining the 1980-81 Quebec Nordiques.
Matthrews’ goal was one of three the Leafs scored in a span of 43 seconds to take a 3-0 lead before the Sabres put a shot on net.
“We basically handed them two of the goals, for sure,” said Sabres’ coach Dan Bylsma.
“That’s no way to start a hockey game.”
Elsewhere in the NHL, Montreal beat Florida 4-1 and Detroit topped Ottawa 5-4 (SO).
