Matthews praises Ovechkin’s scoring ability ahead of Maple Leafs-Capitals showdown

Heading into a clash with the greatest scorer of his generation, Auston Matthews expressed his admiration for the scoring ability of Alex Ovechkin.

“It’s certainly impressive, what he’s been able to do,” Matthews said Thursday ahead of the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals. “Guys like him, Sid, Patrick Kane, they continue to get it done as the league continues to get younger, as more and more younger guys come in, these guys are still producing at an incredible rate and obviously what he’s been able to do this year is pretty spectacular. He’s been doing it his whole career. It’s fun to watch, fun to go up against a guy like him.”

Matthews appears ready to take the title of greatest scorer of his generation, as he sits at a league-leading 58 goals. Ovechkin has 46 and earlier this season passed Jaromir Jagr to take third place on the all-time scoring list, behind Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe.

“It seems like it’s just automatic for him, to be honest,” Matthews said of Ovechkin’s ability. “Every season he’s up there. He scores goals and he knows how to score and his shot is probably the best in the game. To be able to sit on that spot a lot of the time you know it’s coming, and you still can’t stop it. I just think what he’s been able to do, year after year, is impressive and a testament to him and his ability.”

Matthews said he likes the intangibles Ovechkin brings to the game as well.

“He’s fun to watch, his competitive, he’s so passionate,” Matthews said. “You can see that when he scores, how much he wants to score and how much he wants to see the other guys succeed and score as well and produce out there. Watching him growing up, that’s something that always jumped out to me from him is his fire and passion for scoring goals, for winning, and competing out there.”