Zach Hyman Closing in on Auston Matthews

Caleb Kerney

Mar 16, 2024, 14:32

Caleb Kerney

Mar 16, 2024, 14:32

Zach Hyman is making the Rocket Richard Trophy race interesting.

EDMONTON -- Zach Hyman is one of the feel good stories for the Edmonton Oilers this season. The hard working winger is on pace for a 50+ goal season.

And he isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvLdRWZEMAg[/embed]

The former Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been the fine wine of Edmonton - seemingly getting better with age.

He has 46 goals this year - which has him tied for second in goals with Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart. Both of these players are doing their best to catch Maple Leafs sniper-extraordinaire, Auston Matthews.

Matthews currently has 55 goals, surely there is no way that Reinhart or Hyman could catch him - right?

Wrong.

One concerning trend for Matthews should absolutely call into question whether or not he will have the most goals on the season when the dust settles.

Over the last 10 games played for each player, here is how many goals they have scored:

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This is an absurd pace for Hyman. IF he can keep it up, does he have a chance to beat Matthews and Reinhart?

The Panthers have played 67 games, the Maple Leafs 65, and the Oilers 64. So looking at the remaining games for each club - the Panthers have 15, 17 for the Maple Leafs and 18 for the Oilers.

If Hyman averages a goal per game over the last stretch he will finish with 64 goals. If Matthews and Reinhart continue their goal scoring pace over the last portion of the season they would finish with 62 and 57 goals respectively.

There is a chance Hyman could win the Rocket - not the greatest chance, but still a chance. If he finishes with 64 goals he would tie Connor McDavid's goal totals from last year.

That would be quite the way to end the 2023-24 season.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqiA-V4MEiY[/embed]

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