It's cactus power for Leafs' Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies as they look to shine at home in desert

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Full of home-cooked meals the past couple of days, hopefully Auston Matthews saves room for dessert in the desert.

Because a lot of Maple Leafs teammates will be tempted to feed him pucks in Tempe on Wednesday night for the rare chance of netting his 50th goal of the season just a slap shot away from where he grew up in Scottsdale.

Ninety-six NHLers have reached 50 or more a total of 205 times and, while many did it in their team’s home arenas and Quebec natives Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Pierre Larouche and Michel Goulet reached it at the Forum or Coliseum, this would be the Leafs equivalent of Rick Vaive achieving one of his three 50s in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

There already is a lot of kismet around Matthews and timely goals, starting with four in his NHL debut in 2016 and breaking Vaive’s club record of 54 not far from Arizona in Dallas in April 2022, topping that evening with the overtime winner.

Who’s to say he didn’t set himself up perfectly for Wednesday with two hat tricks in Toronto last week and one goal Monday in St. Louis with an eye to hitting 50 in front of parents, Brian and Ema, and his siblings and friends?

Getting 50 in only 54 games would be another Leafs first, while two goals Wednesday would bring him to 350 in his career as he pursues Dave Keon (365), Darryl Sittler (389) and Mats Sundin (420) for the franchise lead.

As many Matthews clan members as possible will squeeze into 5,000-seat Mullett Arena when he and the Leafs play the Coyotes.

We recall a game early in his career when his hometown team was based in Glendale and Ema invited her relatives from northern Mexico to attend. Many wore traditional charro suits with bolo ties and sequined sombreros, quite the colourful post-game sight as she insisted Auston get a picture with each one.

Matthews says he’s just as happy for linemate Matthew Knies, who’ll be in his first game back in his Scottsdale birthplace.

“I love going back home. I’m having a lot of fun playing with him,” Matthews told travelling media.

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Though hockey in Arizona has been negatively impacted by the Coyotes’ ownership issues and their many arena troubles, the grassroots game has flourished via transplants from traditional hockey climates and locals such as the Matthews and Knies families.

Current Leafs executive Shane Doan first help put the sport on the map when the original Winnipeg Jets arrived in the mid-1990s. Matthews became a local idol and now Knies is catching on fast.

“Definitely, he’s kind of like that next wave of guys coming up,” Matthews said. “Himself and Josh Doan (Shane’s son is a second-round pick of the Coyotes).

“I still forget I’m five or six years older than Matthew. I grew up with his older brother (Phil, now playing in Europe). It’s really cool to be on the same team.

“Matthew was always bigger than his brother (Phil is 5-foot-9, Matthew 6-foot-3). They were both jacked, so strong, they had eight-packs (of abs) when they were eight-years-old and their Dad (Miroslav) is huge, too.

“They’re an awesome people and it will be very special for them to see their son play at home.”

Knies said he expects 50 to 60 people for the game “which is probably a (full) section in that arena” he added with a laugh. “It’s an exciting time and I’m so happy I have friends and family there to watch.

“I was pretty fortunate to grow up in Arizona to have a ton of retired NHL players stay and coach. I’m proud to be from Arizona and represent it.”

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