Like Alex Ovechkin before him, Auston Matthews needed only one NHL game to cement himself as the league’s newest superstar. Matthews scored four goals in his NHL debut. He’d punctuate his rookie season with 40 goals, an unlikely playoff appearance, and the Calder Trophy.

This year, Matthews is somehow even better and on pace to eclipse his career highs set in 2016-17. Wednesday, the same day the Leafs forward was named to his second consecutive All-Star Game, Matthews had a highlight so unbelievable it seemed CGI’d.

But it’s not. I can assure you this is 100% real.

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During the third period, Matthews dangled around four (!) Senators players. Four. F-O-U-R.

At one point, he played keep away from three dudes at the same time. Matthews turned a turnover by his team into a shot attempt. Matthews is as strong on the puck as Jaromir Jagr was in his prime.

But that wasn’t all Matthews did that night. He also had three early scoring chances in the first 2:30 of the game. The puck was a magnet to his stick.

Chance 1

Chance 2

Chance 3

Matthews has spent much of his second NHL season rapidly improving an already impressive skill-set: such as his shootout moves.

While the Leafs leaf’d and lost the game, their young core has many bright days ahead of itself.