TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Auston Matthews came up empty in his bid to become the ninth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season, but Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player to have a 100-assist season as the Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Wednesday night.
Matthews was denied on all seven first-period shots by 29-year-old rookie goalie Matt Tomkins, then rocketed a shot off the post midway through the second period. Tomkins finished with 34 saves, including 12 on Matthews, in his sixth NHL start.
“I wanted it, for sure, but it just wasn’t meant to be,” said Matthews, who went scoreless on back-to-back nights against the Florida Panthers and Lightning. “The most important thing is the team and the team’s success, making sure I’m pulling my weight as a leader on this team and help the team win. That’s where my focus is at.”
Klay Thompson wants do decompress from season before delving into what's next as a free agent
DeForest Buckner and the Colts have agreed on a $46 million, 2
2nd Airbus A320 assembly line project under construction in Tianjin
Middle school students participate in Model UN conference in Qingdao
'I was afraid for my life' — Orlando Bloom puts himself in peril for new TV series
Nicaragua severs diplomatic relations with Ecuador after assault on Mexican embassy
Demonstration zone in Hainan shows China's green practices
Color system, core graphics, sports pictograms unveiled for 9th Asian Winter Games
Biden endorses House aid package for Israel, Ukraine
Canada announces 15 participants in NATO defence innovation hub