Auston Matthews sets NHL record with hat trick (Image via: Getty Images) Auston Matthews welcomed 2026 in a way that felt symbolic. After a long stretch without a hat trick, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain found his scoring touch on the first day of the new year, delivering a performance that carried both relief and historical weight. It was more than a breakthrough night as it marked a fresh start.The timing could hardly have been better, both personally and for a Maple Leafs team searching for consistency. For Matthews, the calendar turning may have done more than mark a new year. It may have unlocked a fresh chapter in a season that had been searching for one.
Why this year is already a lucky charm for Auston Matthews
Matthews’ New Year’s Day hat trick ended a 121-game wait and, in the process, pushed him into exclusive NHL history. Entering the game tied with Pat LaFontaine for the most hat tricks by an American-born player, Matthews emerged alone at the top with 14, breaking a long-standing benchmark set by one of the greats of U.S. hockey.The milestone carries added meaning because of how this season has unfolded. Matthews has not been his usual prolific self. Opposing teams have loaded up defensively, and minor disruptions have prevented him from finding a consistent scoring rhythm. The Maple Leafs, too, have endured an uneven campaign, often searching for momentum rather than controlling it.That is what made this performance stand out. Matthews didn’t look rushed or frustrated. His goals came naturally, the product of timing, positioning, and patience, the same traits that have defined his rise as one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers. On a night meant for fresh starts, he looked renewed.Historically, Matthews has been comfortable in elite company. With this hat trick, he now sits ahead of LaFontaine, while players like John LeClair, Joe Mullen, and Kevin Stevens remain tied further back with 11 each. At his age, Matthews has room to stretch the record, turning what was once a shared honor into his own territory.More importantly for Toronto, the timing could be crucial. A confident Matthews changes the tone of the Maple Leafs’ attack. If this game becomes a springboard rather than a one-off, the team’s offensive ceiling rises quickly.The next hat trick will simply add to the record. But this one, arriving on the first day of 2026, already feels like more than a number. It feels like the moment the year and perhaps the season began to tilt in Auston Matthews’ favor.Also Read: Auston Matthews’ hat trick leads Toronto Maple Leafs to 6-5 comeback win over Winnipeg Jets