Comparing Matthews and McDavid through their first 21 NHL games
Round 2 between Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid goes Tuesday night, and here's hoping for a little more intrigue this time around.
The first battle between the two most recent No. 1 picks was overshadowed by Nazem Kadri, who potted two goals for the Maple Leafs while the 19-year-old phenoms were held off the scoresheet.
The Oilers captain currently paces the NHL in points, while Matthews sits one point back of the rookie lead, 21 games into his inaugural campaign.
As the two rising stars collide for the last time this season - barring an incredibly unlikely meeting in the Stanley Cup Final - here's a look at their production rates through 21 games in their respective careers.
| Player | GP | G | A | P | Multi-Point Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDavid | 21 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 6 |
| Matthews | 21 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 4 |
Advantage McDavid, who was sidelined 13 games into his rookie season with a broken collarbone, but returned with something to prove.
He netted 13 points in his next eight games, including a career-high five-point effort Feb. 11 versus - that's right - Toronto.