Auston Matthews came up empty in his bid to become the ninth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season Wednesday night in the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular-season finale.
Matthews was denied on all seven first-period shots by 29-year-old rookie goalie Matt Tomkins, then rocketed a shot off the post midway through the second period. Tomkins finished with 34 saves, including 12 on Matthews, in his sixth NHL start.
Matthews’ 12 shots on goal were tied for his second-most in a game this season.
The third-place Maple Leafs open the playoffs in Boston against the second-place Bruins on Saturday.