Matthews has 49 goals in 53 games this season and his team wants to see him get 50 in his return to Arizona.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Whenever Auston Matthews is asked about his individual milestones, he does a brief acknowledgement of it. But like most professionals of his calibre, he brushes off the plaudits to stay focused on the objective of his team.

But that hasn't stopped his teammates from getting excited about the prospect of watching the NHL's best goal scorer possibly get his 50th of the season in his hometown.

"I think no doubt we want to see. I think the odds are pretty good," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said of Matthews. "His mindset is tremendous in terms of how he doesn’t get caught up in the streaks or the numbers or all of that. Just going out there and playing and being determined to make an impact and finish his chances."

Matthews heads into his 54th game of the season with 49 goals and has been on a torrid goal pace, averaging 0.92 goals per game. To put that into perspective, when he became the first player in over 10 years to score 60 in a season during his Hart Trophy-winning 2021-22 season, he averaged 0.82 goals per game.

The Maple Leafs visit the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday and the star player is expected to have 20 friends and family on hand to possibly witness his 50th goal.

More than anything else, he wants the win against a team that won the last four meetings against them.

"It would be great. It would be cool. (But) I’m just going to try to go out there and execute and play my game," Matthews said. "But you just want to keep it rolling as a team as well. These guys have had our number over the last couple of years. We want to keep this momentum going."

Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka will get the nod in goal for Arizona. He has a 3-0-0 record and a .943 save percentage in games against the Leafs. 

In addition to Matthews' return to the desert, Phoenix native Matthew Knies will play his first NHL game at Mullett Arena. He joked earlier in the week about having 50-60 of his family and friends "which is about half a section in that arena". But is also hoping he can help Matthews cash in on goal No. 50.

"I’m super pumped for him and I’m going to try and feed him the puck as much as possible tonight."

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENHFeUAT1E[/embed]

Related

'I Was Just Honest About How The Play Went Down': Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly Speaks Publicly Following Five-Game Suspension And Appeal

'I Don't Think That's Decided Yet': Maple Leafs' Joseph Woll on His Conditioning Assignment and the Plan Going Forward

'At This Point, You're Waiting For Him To Tell You Where He's At': Joseph Woll Assigned to Marlies for Conditioning Stint and When He Will Return in Goal for the Maple Leafs?

News from THN.com

Black Hockey Moments You Should Never Forget From The Past 25 Years

Opinion: You Can Count Out the Tampa Bay Lightning This Year – But No Teardown Needed

Connor McDavid Catches Up In NHL's Hart Trophy Race