'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAA0mcD/8QAIRAAAgIABQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFBxFCFCMyQdL/2gAIAQEAAT8Al0oyeUw1UpUngrxqGcF0lHtQpHlz3JwNFMgA7ctpU4jrJ/rH/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEh/9oACAECAQE/AHT/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEv/aAAgBAwEBPwCn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Auston Matthews' hunt for his 70th goal of the season is the talk of the town in the NHL. And the stage is set for the Toronto Maple Leafs superstar to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight for their last game of the season.
Despite some rumors of Matthews potentially being rested, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Auston Matthews will be playing tonight against the Lightning.
Maple Leafs insider David Alter said that Sheldon Keefe confirmed key defensemen Joel Edmundson, Morgan Rielly, and Jake McCabe would be sidelined for tonight's clash. Alters' tweet on X (Formerly Twitter) read,
"Sheldon Keefe says Joel Edmundson, Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe are out tonight and the same forwards will play tonight as they did yesterday, including Matthews."
Keefe went on to elaborate on the decision to let Matthews play tonight,
"The reality for me, like the 70 goal thing aside, Auston's playing good and feeling good... So in terms of Auston, there's not really much of a discussion there. And I like that we can get some of our defensemen to rest."
The Arizona-native is chasing NHL history in attempting to be the ninth player to reach the 70-goal club.
With the game technically a dead rubber with the Maple Leafs clinching their playoff berth, a lot of debate was around whether Auston Matthews would be rested for the game.
Lightning's Nikita Kucherov too is chasing an elite milestone with the 100-assist mark in sight.
Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov both vying for Hart honor in 2024
Both Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov have had outstanding seasons in their own right. While Matthews' potential 70-goal feat is a something to behold, Kucherov's game displays a bit more variety.
With 99 assists and 43 goals, the Lightning winger leads the league in points overall (142). Kucherov has the chance to register his 100th assist as well today when he takes on Matthews and the Leafs in their own backyward.
