Matthews Nets Record Four Goals But Leafs Lose At Ottawa

OTTAWA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Oct, 2016 ) : Top draft pick Austin Matthews became the first player to score four goals in his National Hockey League debut, but did so in a losing cause as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 5-4 in over-time at Ottawa in the 2016-17 NHL season opener.

Ottawa's Kyle Turris lifted the Senators level with Matthews at 4-4 just 6:45 into the third period and he connected again 37 seconds into extra time for the game winner. Matthews, a 19-year-old American centre, scored on his first three shots, becoming only the fifth player in NHL history to net a hat trick in his league debut, the first since compatriot Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers in 2010, also on his first three NHL shots.

Matthews then went where no NHL newcomer had gone before, giving the Leafs a 4-3 lead after two periods in the showdown of Canadian rivals.

Toronto, which has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, finished with the NHL's worst record last season but Matthews gives the Maple Leafs a star to build around who might revive the club's fortunes.

Matthews became the first top pick since Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in 2011 to score in his NHL debut when he found the net to open the scoring just 8:21 into he game. After Bobby Ryan and Erik Karlsson scored 2:23 apart to put Ottawa ahead, Matthews equalized on an unassisted goal with 5:42 remaining in the first period.

Matthews completed a hat trick only 85 seconds into the second period and, after Derick Brassard pulled the Senators level, he took a William Nylander pass and tucked the puck into the net on a breakaway three seconds before the end of the second period, only to have Turris pull out the victory for the Senators.