A few days back, the hockey world just paused—Alex Ovechkin went full legend mode, smashing past Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record and etching his name into the icy history books. That wrist shot? Straight up magic. The buzz hasn’t died down one bit—but you know how hockey fans roll. Before the confetti even settles, they’re already dream-casting the next name to chase greatness. And yeah, Auston Matthews instantly popped up in those ‘Who’s next?’ conversations. Even though the moment should’ve stayed all about Ovi, Matthews still got pulled into the speculation circle. But Maple Leafs captain? He wasn’t having any of it. When Matthew Knies cheekily tossed his name into the “next-record-breaker” hat, Matthews shut it down quickly.

“And, you know, I don’t even think I should be in that conversation. I mean, this guy just broke the record. I’m so far away from that, and I don’t think that should be a focus on myself. I mean, it should be on Ovi, and rightfully so. It should be on Ovi, and what he’s been able to accomplish in his career, and obviously this record being one of them.” But plot twist—while Auston may have dodged the comparison conversation with grace, he’s out here quietly grabbing shiny records of his own. Yup, the Leafs’ golden boy just outpaced Ovi in a fresh stat battle, stacking another feather in his hockey cap without even trying to chase it.

The NHL slid onto X on April 15th with a fun little mic drop, saying “Auston Matthews is pacing among some of the best…”—and they weren’t kidding. Matthews just hit 400 goals faster than Alex Ovechkin, clocking in at 628 games to Ovi’s 634. That’s a sneaky flex, and fans totally caught it.

Up on the legendary leaderboard, Matthews now chills in 6th place. Ahead of him? Gretzky (436), Bossy (506), Lemieux (508), Hull (520), and Kurri (608). Ovechkin? Just one step behind at No. 7. Kinda wild, right? Auston might not say much, but the numbers are loud.

Auston Matthews is out here breaking hearts and records—again. With a flick into the empty net, he cashed in goal No. 400 in style as the Leafs blanked the Sabres 4-0, locking in their first-ever Atlantic Division crown. Not only did he outpace Ovi by six games to hit the 400-mark (doing it in just 628), but he also helped the squad secure that sweet second seed in the East. And as if the hockey gods weren’t already busy blessing Toronto, Mitch Marner decided to hit 100 points for the first time ever—like, cherry-on-top style—with 4:21 left in the third.

Matthews, cool as always, said, “It means a lot. … In the end, it’s a team accomplishment, I think. It’s a team sport. There’s a lot that goes into it… just fortunate that it’s come off my stick a couple times.” Now that’s history wrapped in humility. He’s only the second-ever Leaf to score 400 in the blue and white—right behind legend Mats Sundin—and let’s be real, he’s gunning for more. And here’s the kicker: this isn’t even the only record he’s jumped ahead of Ovi in lately.

Auston Matthews beats Ovi in another record!

Back in 2016, even The Great Eight didn’t believe it. “I don’t think somebody will break this record… it’s impossible,” Ovi had said. Fast forward to 2025, and he has Gretzky down to second position in the NHL all-time goal-scoring list. What made the feat even more amazing was that the number of games that he needed to break Ovechkin’s record was the same as the number of games Gretzky had played in his legendary career—1487. But as Ovechkin and Capitals fans were celebrating this rather mindboggling achievement, Matthews crashed the party once again.

Matthews tried to shut it down quick, saying, “That’s such a long way to go. I don’t think I should even be in that conversation.” But the stats? They’re doing all the talking. B/R Open Ice dropped a wild one: “Matthews has MORE goals than Ovechkin did through the same number of games played.” Through 623 games, Matthews had 398 goals—seven ahead of Ovi’s pace at that point. Sure, 498 more goals is a tall order… but not totally out of reach.

Even his teammate Matthew Knies couldn’t help but stir the pot. “I can’t count that high… ‘3-4’ could do it,” he joked, nodding to Matthews’ jersey. Whether Auston likes it or not, the race is on—and the numbers are skating faster than the man himself.