Auston Matthews can score goals with one arm tied behind his back. Literally.With the Leafs and Ducks scoreless in the second period on Monday night, Toronto defenceman Nikita Zaitsev threw a soft wrist shot at the net that Matthews was able to get his stick on and deflect it past Ducks goaltender (and former diarrhea victim) John Gibson.This wasn't your everyday deflection, though. With his back slightly turned to the point as Zaitsev released the shot, Matthews had to look over his back shoulder as he extended one arm out for a clean, backhand deflection that beat a stunned Gibson. His latest goal had the hockey world buzzing.
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The 19-year-old was credited with goal No. 15 goal of the season, becoming only the tenth player in Maple Leafs history to score 15 goals as a teenager. Yes, he's a teenager—one making a bunch of grown professionals look silly at times. Scoring four goals in his NHL debut, deflecting hurling pieces of frozen rubber into the net with one hand… get out of here.Matthews leads the Leafs in points and goals, and is currently projected to put up 40 tallies this season. If that holds up, he will be the first rookie to score at least 40 goals since Alex Ovechkin sniped 52 in 2005-06.With the pure skill and talent Matthews has shown in his young NHL career, there's no doubt he's one of the few players that has the athleticism and skill to pull this type of goal off. As a kid playing in the best league in the world, he's already proving he can do things that most men in the NHL can't.[Sportsnet]Slow motion replay on that 1-0 goal. Auston Matthews is unbelievable. — Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette)December 20, 2016