Auston Matthews chasing Rick Vaive


Auston Matthews is on track to set a new mark for goals scored in a season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. As he entered the All-Star break, he had notched 34 goals while playing in every one of Toronto's 49 games, on pace to total 57 goals. For a franchise that has been around for over a century, the Leafs actually have one of the lower totals for their best goal scoring season as Rick Vaive's 54 in 1981/82 stands as the record. I thought it would be interesting to look back to see where the Leafs top goal-scoring years stood after the same 49 games that Matthews has played this year.

1960/61 Frank Mahovlich
After 49 games on January 28, 1961, The Big "M" had scored 40 goals and 19 assists while playing in every game. With 21 games remaining, he seemed to be a lock to break the record of 50 goals in a season set by Maurice Richard. Alas, the pressure got to Mahovlich and he only scored 8 more in his last 21 games to finish with 48 in 70 games. He would top this total by one, scoring 49 times with Detroit in 1968/69, never reaching 50 in a season. His Leaf record of 48, would stand for two decades.
1981/82 Rick Vaive
Toronto rolled into St. Louis on January 23, 1982 to play their 49th game, their leading goal-scorer Rick Vaive was shutout in a 6-2 loss. Vaive had missed three games to that point in the season, yet still had 32 goals and 19 assists and was on pace to top Mahovlich's record. Scoring only 4 goals in his next 12 games put his record run in jeopardy as he sat with 36 goals after 61 team games played. However, Vaive would then rip off 13 goals in the next 13 games, topped off by a four goal performance against Chicago on March 22, 1982 to reach 49 goals and set a new Leaf record. He'd become the first Leaf to reach the magical 50 goal mark three days later against St. Louis and finished the season with the current record of 54 goals.
1982/83 Rick Vaive
The following season Vaive had the same number of goals (32) after 49 team games, himself playing in only 47 of them. He tallied 19 goals in the remaining 31games, falling three short of his own record. 
1983/84 Rick Vaive
On January 24, 1984, as the Leafs lost in St. Louis by a 6-3 score, Rick Vaive notched his 39th goal in the team's 49th game. He had missed one game to that point, but was on pace for 63 goals, shattering his own mark. He sat second in the NHL in goals, yet was a ridiculous 19 goals behind Wayne Gretzky. Vaive would miss three more games that season and collected 13 goals in his remaining 28 games to finish at 52 in 76 games. He finished tied for 5th in NHL goals, Gretzky and his 87 were an amazing 31 (THIRTY-ONE) ahead of second place Michel Goulet.
1989/90 Gary Leeman
Toronto hosted Minnesota on January 24, 1984 in their 49th game of the season. Gary Leeman, who had played every game, scored his 30th of the season in a 7-3 victory. His pace was just shy of a 50 goal season, not quite threatening the team record. He proceeded to score 16 in the next 19 games to sit at 46 goals through 68 games and be on pace to equal Vaive's 54. However, a 6 game goal-less drought followed, putting even 50 goals in question. Leeman regained his touch and potted 4 in the next 4 games, collecting number 50 at home on March 28 in a 6-3 loss to the Islanders, the 78th game of the season. He finished with 51.
1993/94 Dave Andreychuk
On January 18, 1994 Toronto tied Anaheim 3-3 at Maple Leaf Gardens and Dave Andreychuk scored his 38th in his 48the game, the team's 49th. He was on pace for a team record shattering 66 goals over the now 84 game season. He soon however endured a drought of 7 games without scoring and would pot "only" 15 goals in his next 29 games to sit at 53 goals after the Leaf's 77th game. Andreychuk had six games to tie and break Vaive's record. Alas, he would not score again, registering only 5 assists in the last 6 games. The Leaf goal-scoring record was safe and has been ever since.

Before the 2019/20 campaign is over, Auston Matthews may have something to say about that.

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