The center is the first player in the NHL to score 50 this season, and the fourth in Maple Leafs history.
"It means a lot," Matthews said. "It was pretty special just to do it at home as well. The energy and the atmosphere tonight was pretty special. Like I've said before, I'm really fortunate to play with some pretty amazing players and some pretty good teams throughout these six years."
He scored into an empty net with 2:06 remaining in the third period at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. It gave the Maple Leafs a 6-3 lead in a
7-3 win
.
"Fans enjoyed it," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "It made for a great atmosphere in that third period. They're pushing Auston and I thought it was great to see the fans have that moment."
Toronto plays its next four games on the road.
"I think it's just really special to be able to do it here in front of all the fans," Matthews said. "Like I've said, it's the energy, the atmosphere and all that that kind of just goes into it just makes it that much more fun. These are obviously some important games for us coming up. So it'll be nice to enjoy this one but we turn the page and get ready for this road trip."
Matthews' attempt to score 50 and the NHL goal-scoring race have generated great interest in Toronto. He leads Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Drasaitl by one.
"It's a great individual accomplishment for him," Keefe said. "He will downplay it, I would suspect, given that I know he's focused on other things, the team-related things. But it is pretty important to acknowledge this is a pretty special thing. It's been a long time since a [Maple Leafs player] scored 50."
Matthews played his 62nd game and is on pace to score 62 goals. He would be the first NHL player to score 60 in a season since 2011-12, when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos scored that many.
Rick Vaive holds the Maple Leafs record with 54 goals in 1981-82, one of his three 50-goal seasons (1982-83, 1983-84). Gary Leeman (1989-90) and Dave Andreychuk (1992-93, 1993-94) also scored 50 in a season with Toronto.
"Matthews is a special kid," Vaive said. "This won't be the first time he gets to this mark. He's getting better and better and better.
"Hey, they say records are made to be broken. Truthfully, in a perfect world, you don't want that to happen to one of yours, but I'll be happy for him when he beats mine. He's earned it.
"A small handful of people in the game have had a gifted talent to score and he's one of them. And he's just getting started."
Matthews, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has scored at least 34 goals in each of his six NHL seasons and is tied with Darryl Sittler for the most 40-goal seasons in Maple Leafs history (four). The 24-year-old has scored 438 points (249 goals, 189 assists) in 396 games.
"It won't be the last time we have the opportunity to talk about him doing something special," Keefe said.
