Auston Matthews has another chance with 70 goals

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has one more regular season game to go as he breaks the 70-goal mark in blue and white against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it's still unclear if he'll play.

Matthews is behind after 69 goals failed to get on the scoresheet in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers, snapping an eight-game scoring streak in the process. He finished with five shots in 19 minutes of ice time.

After the loss, head coach Sheldon Keefe said the team had not yet decided whether Matthews would play or rest before the Leafs' first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins, which begins this weekend.

“We'll talk about it,” Keefe said. “We have 12 healthy forwards.”

Matthews has three goals and four points in three games against the Lightning this season. He scored Toronto's lone goal in a 4–1 loss against Tampa Bay on April 3.

Should Matthews play against history?

If Matthews plays, the 26-year-old star will join elite company and become the ninth player to reach the 70-goal mark for the club. Other players to do so include Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Phil Esposito, Jary Currie, Mario Lemieux, Bernie Nicholls, Alexander Mogilny and Timu Selanna.

Mogilny and Selanna were the last players to do so in the 1992-93 season. Mogilny finished with 76 goals in 77 games with the Buffalo Sabres, while Selanne had 76 goals in 84 games as a rookie with the Winnipeg Jets.

Gretzky scored more than 70 goals on four separate occasions, including a 92-goal season with the Edmonton Oilers in 1981-82. Hull also scored 70-plus goals three times, including a career-high 86 with the St. Louis Blues in 1990-91.

Matthews becomes the first player in Maple Leafs history to score 70 goals. He finished 2021-22 with 60 goals in 73 games, surpassing Rick Vive (54) for the most goals in a single season by a Maple Leaf.

With a first-round playoff series on the line, several Maple Leafs may be resting Wednesday.

The team is without Bobby McMann, Max Domi and Kalle Jarnkrok, all of whom are nursing various injuries. McMann's status is up, and Jarnkrok is not expected to be available in time for Game 1. Keefe noted that Domi has a high chance of playing.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.