Auston Matthews' quest for 70 goals fell short in Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the Toronto Maple Leafs star remained in good spirits.
"I wanted it, for sure, but it just wasn't meant to be," Matthews told reporters. "The most important thing is the team and the team's success, making sure I'm pulling my weight as a leader on this team and help the team win. That's where my focus is at."
Matthews finished the 2023-24 season with an NHL-high 69 goals, 12 more than any other player. He would have been the ninth player in NHL history to top the 70-goal mark and the first since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny pulled off the feat in 1992-93.