Shanahan appreciates Matthews keeping focus on team goals

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens skated at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. 

After watching Auston Matthews break his franchise single-season goals record on television on Thursday night, Rick Vaive congratulated the 24-year-old in person on Saturday morning. Vaive was at Scotiabank Arena as part of the Esso Game Day Skate event. A group of fans heard from Vaive, Shayne Corson and team president Brendan Shanahan before watching Sheldon Keefe put the Leafs through an on-ice workout. 

Some in the crowd serenaded Matthews with a chant of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when he stepped on the ice for the morning skate. It's expected those chants will only grow louder tonight. 

"I imagine he'll get a pretty incredible reception," said veteran forward Jason Spezza. "To be the all-time leader in a single season for a franchise like this has not been lost on the group,  and hopefully not on him too, just how special it is."

"A tremendous accomplishment so it should be celebrated," said captain John Tavares. "Knowing him, he probably wants to just go out and play and continue to do what he does."

Past & present pic.twitter.com/PKVLnyWi2A

Just a week ago, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid were on even ground as co-favourites to win the Hart Trophy, but with Matthews kicking it into higher gear, the Maple Leafs star has pushed ahead. TSN Hockey analyst Mike Johnson warns that ruling McDavid out is still not a wise decision as the two megastars continue to battle it out.

There's been a machine-like quality to Matthews, who has scored in 13 of his last 15 games. After breaking a 40-year-old record on Thursday, the Arizona native refused to get caught up in the hype. 

"It's a big honour," he said after