Page 24 - Bobby Mcmann News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The NHL season is long, so slumps are unavoidable. Good teams overcome them quickly, and great teams limit how many prolonged losing streaks they record.

Toronto's longest win streak of the season started in an unlikely way. Morgan Rielly was serving the first game of a five-game suspension back on Feb. 13 with the surging St. Louis Blues, who had won seven of eight games, in town. In the hours before puck drop, the Leafs learned that John Tavares and Mitch Marner were unable to play due to illness. Mark Masters has more.

Auston Matthews scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season in his hometown to break a tie as the fastest U.S.-born player to reach 50 and help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the crumbling Arizona Coyotes 6-3 on Wednesday night. Matthews’ milestone goal came on a power play 5:01 into the game, his 54th game of the season — making him the fastest player to score 50 in a season since Mario Lemieux did it in 50 games in 1995-96. Wayne Gretzky holds the record, scoring his 50th in his 39th game for Edmonton in 1981-82.

The Leafs hope Auston Matthews gets the chance to celebrate a milestone moment at home on Wednesday night. The superstar centre is just one goal away from 50 as Toronto makes its only trip to the desert this season. Mark Masters has more on his chase ahead of puck drop.

Auston Matthews scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season in his hometown to become the fastest U.S.-born player to reach 50 and help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the crumbling Arizona Coyotes 6-3 on Wednesday night.