5️⃣0️⃣ Auston Matthews hits 50 goals

In today’s edition:

• 5️⃣0️⃣ Auston Matthews hits 50 goals in a season and sets record

• ⛔️ Morgan Rielly’s suspension upheld by Commissioner

• 🤠 Discussions about a team in Houston heat up

• 🏟️ 2025 NHL Stadium Series revealed

• 💸 Lomberg fined maximum for elbowing

• And more!

Auston Matthews reaches 50 goals; breaks records

Auston Matthews scored his 50th goal of the season Wednesday night when they played the Coyotes in his hometown. He became the first player of the 2023-2024 season to hit this number. Not only did he achieve that, but he also set several records in doing so.

Matthews became the first active player to reach the 50-goal mark in 55 games or fewer. Connor McDavid previously held the record when he scored 50 goals in the 2022-2023 season in 61 games. Matthews had already held the record of fewest games to 50 goals by a US-born player.

Auston Matthews required just nine games to go from the 40- to 50-goal mark. Only nine different players in NHL history needed fewer contests to make the jump.

Auston Matthews also became the fourth active player to record multiple 50-goal campaigns across seasons. He joins Alex Ovechkin (9 times), Leon Draisaitl (3 times), and Steven Stamkos (2 times).

A vision for Houston heats up

Texas Billionaire Tilman Fertitta has his eyes on an NHL franchise for Houston which he thinks would boost the downtown. Fertitta owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets and achieved his notoriety from his group of restaurants which include Mortons Steakhouse, the Oceanaire, Rainforest Cafe, among several others. He has long held a desire to own an NHL team, but that desire has since grown even greater in recent time.

Driving much of his desire is to boost the downtown district, where he also owns many ventures. While efforts to expand gambling in the area have failed in the Texas legislature, there remains hope in its future. There has also been significant interest from many of the surrounding suburbs.

2025 Stadium Series announced

The National Hockey League announced the Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings for the 2025 Stadium Series. The showdown will occur on March 1, 2025 at Ohio Stadium which can hold over 100,000 people is home to The Ohio State Buckeyes. 9.4 Million fans in North America tuned in to watch the games, making it the most watched Stadium Series since 2019.

Bettman upholds suspension of Morgan Rielly

On Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the original five-game suspension handed down from the Department of Public Safety to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. Rielly was suspended for cross-checking Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig during their match on Saturday, February 10th.

Morgan Rielly appealed the five-game suspension by Player Safety to Commissioner Bettman as permitted in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The hearing occurred on February 16th and lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. In which, the Maple Leaves and Rielly admitted the cross-check was illegal, but labeled the five-game suspension as excessive and suggested three instead.

In his reasoning for upholding the suspension, Bettman highlighted most significantly the premeditation and egregious nature of the act. He also mentioned the game being all but over with only a few seconds remaining and the force and direct contact to his head.

In other news…

• The 2023-24 NHL Trade Deadline is 3 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, just 15 days away

  • 19 trades occured on deadline day last season

• The Rangers and Panthers – the top teams in the Eastern Conference – extended their winning streak to eight and six games, respectively

• The Toronto Maple Leafs reached 200 consecutive games without being shut out. This is the first time this has been achieved in over 30 years

• Alex Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history who was 38 years or older to record a 4-game home goal streak

• Frank Vatrano leads the Ducks with 26 goals in 2023-24 and is on pace to score 39 goals this season, which would be the highest total by an Anaheim skater since Corey Perry (43 in 2013-14)