The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough loss against the Detroit Red Wings, with coach Sheldon Keefe deeming Auston Matthews' pursuit of a 70-goal season as a major distraction, despite Matthews reaching 69 goals with two games left in the regular season.

By the Numbers
  • Matthews reached the 60-goal plateau earlier in the season.
  • Only 8 players in NHL history have scored 70 goals in a single season.
  • There have been 14 instances of a player hitting the 70-goal mark.
Yes, But

Keefe's comments about Matthews' pursuit may be viewed as a critique on focusing too much on individual achievements rather than team success.

State of Play
  • Matthews' outstanding offensive season has put him on track to achieve a rare milestone in NHL history.
  • The Maple Leafs are heading into their final regular-season games against playoff-bound teams.
What's Next

The focus will be on whether Matthews can reach the 70-goal mark and how the Maple Leafs perform in their upcoming matchups against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Bottom Line

While Matthews' pursuit of 70 goals is garnering attention, Keefe's labeling it as a distraction emphasizes the balance between individual accomplishments and team success in professional sports.