Matthew Schaefer scored twice for the New York Islanders, including the game-winning goal at 4:11 of overtime, leading the Islanders to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. This match was particularly memorable as it marked a historic achievement for Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who became the franchise's all-time leading goal scorer.

During the second period, Matthews scored two goals, surpassing Mats Sundin's long-standing record of 420 career goals to set a new franchise milestone with 421 goals. His first goal, which came at 9:30 of the second period, tied Sundin's record. Matthews maneuvered past Islanders defenceman Scott Mayfield, transitioned the puck from his backhand to his forehand, and deftly slid it past goaltender David Rittich, leveling the score at 1-1.

Just 7:49 later, Matthews broke the record with a powerful one-timer from a cross-ice pass delivered by Bobby McMann, propelling Toronto ahead in the game. This achievement gave Matthews his second consecutive multi-goal game, as he had scored a hat trick just two nights earlier in a 6-5 win against the Winnipeg Jets. Since returning from the NHL’s Christmas break, Matthews has been on fire, netting six goals and accumulating ten points in just four games.

Currently in his second season as the Maple Leafs’ captain after taking over from teammate John Tavares, Matthews has climbed to fourth place in franchise history with 760 total points. He trails only Mats Sundin (987), Darryl Sittler (916), and Dave Keon (858) in overall points for the team. Furthermore, Matthews has made history as the first U.S.-born player to lead a Canadian franchise in career goals and joins notable U.S. players like Mike Modano in holding a franchise goal-scoring record while scoring a minimum of 50 goals.

In terms of his scoring efficiency, Sundin achieved his 420 goals in 981 games with the Maple Leafs, whereas Matthews reached his milestone in just 664 games. The leap in scoring efficiency underscores the generational talent Matthews brings to the ice. In a show of sportsmanship and respect, Sundin congratulated Matthews for breaking his record through a pre-recorded message that was shared on social media. He stated, "Auston, congratulations on beating my record. It feels good. You’re going to enjoy it more once your career is over. But it’s a great milestone, and good luck chasing the big championship for the Toronto Maple Leafs."

Sundin, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, continued to express his admiration for Matthews by highlighting not only his impressive skill level but also his exemplary character and leadership qualities. In a second video message while in his native Sweden, Sundin remarked, "What a treat for all Maple Leaf fans around the world to have a player like yourself representing the Toronto Maple Leafs. And even more importantly, you’re a great person and a great leader for the Toronto Maple Leafs."

This match and Matthews' achievement have thrilled hockey fans, offering a glimpse into the franchise’s promising future as they look to build off these milestones and aim for championship glory.