Auston Matthews goals tracker: How Maple Leafs star's 70-goal scoring pace compares to most in NHL history

Auston Matthews likes scoring goals. He's also really good at it.  The Maple Leafs star has been exactly as advertised when he was selected No. 1 overall in 2018. Matthews has flourished into a dominant sniper, capable of terrorizing goaltenders from any distance and any angle.  The two-time Rocket Richard recipient is in the midst of another terrific goal-scoring campaign. After hitting the 60-goal mark two years ago, Matthews has done it again.  Not only has the Toronto sensation scored 60 goals for the second time in his career, but he also has a chance of hitting 70 given his current pace. As long as Alex Ovechkin remains in the league, the Capitals star owns the title of greatest goal scorer currently in the NHL. When you're on your way to eventually passing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, you've earned that distinction. However, once the Great 8 elects to hang up the skates, Matthews will surely take over that title.  Matthews is producing at another high level this season. The sniper is on pace to set career highs in goals and potentially points.  Here's a look at his stats for the 2023-24 season. Matthews is up to 60 goals in 72 games during the 2023-24 season through March 30.  That means the Toronto center is averaging 0.83 goals per game this season, an elite clip for any player.  In his career, Matthews has scored 359 goals in 553 games.  Matthews is up to 13 hat tricks so far in his NHL career.  The Leafs star entered the 2023-24 season with seven games where he scored three or more goals. He has nearly doubled that total this campaign alone, recording six hat tricks this season.  The most goals scored in a single season in NHL history is a record that belongs to none other than The Great One himself — Wayne Gretzky.  The four-time Stanley Cup champion is first place on the single-season scoring list with his 92 goals in the 1981-82 season. He's the only player to hit at least 90 goals in a single season.  Gretzky also owns the record for the second-most tallies in a season, potting 87 in the 1983-83 campaign.  It's been over 30 years now since a player lit the lamp 70 times in one season.  The last time the NHL had a 70-goal scorer was during the 1992-93 campaign, and there were actually two. Both Teemu Selanne of the Jets and Alexander Mogilny of the Sabres hit the 70-goal threshold, as each potted 76 tucks that year.  No player has come close to 70 since then. The closest was Alex Ovechkin in the 2007-08 season when he recorded 65 goals.  Matthews is currently leading the goals race in the NHL for the 2023-24 season. If he finishes the season in first, it will be his third time winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the most goals in the league.  Here are the goal leaders as of March 29.