Auston Matthews nets 2nd straight hat trick for Maple Leafs - ESPN

TORONTO — Auston Matthews had his second straight hat trick to push his NHL-leading goals total to 48 and added two assists for a career-high five points in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 9-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.

Amid consistent «M-V-P!» chants raining down from the rafters, Matthews broke a tie for the Toronto record for hat tricks in a season with six, passing Reg Noble (1917-18), Babe Dye (1924-25) and Darryl Sittler (1980-81).

Matthews also had his team-record 73rd multigoal game, two more than Sittler. The American has 13 career hat tricks.

«It's always nice to have the support,» Matthews said. «Like I've said, playing here is a big honor and to be able to have the support from the fans and the organization and all that comes with being a Maple Leaf, it's something that none of us take for granted.»

William Nylander added a goal and two assists to reach 500 career points, Bobby McMann had two goals and an assist, Nick Robertson finished with a goal and an assist and Jake McCabe and Tyler Bertuzzi also scored.

Martin Jones made 19 saves to help Toronto improve to 29-16-8. Timothy Liljegren had three assists and Mitch Marner, Max Domi and Matthew Knies each had two.

Toronto became the 15th team in NHL history to have hat tricks in three straight games after McMann had the first of his career Tuesday night against St. Louis and Matthews followed that with three goals of his own Thursday night against Philadelphia. Matthews is the 10th player with six hat tricks in a season.

«You know teams are talking about him. I'm sure Anaheim had a plan,» Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said of Matthews. «One of the greatest things about Auston is he continues to find ways to get to spots and get his stick