Auston Matthews became the talk of the hockey world just an hour into the 2016-17 season.
Related: Watch: Matthews scores 1st NHL goal on 1st shot
After the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie scored his first goal off a scramble in front, Matthews put his skilled hands and legs on display, dummying two Ottawa Senators in the neutral zone before stripping Erik Karlsson of the puck and scoring his second career goal on only his sixth shift.
Matthews completed his hat trick 1:25 into the second period. Three goals on three shots.
Twitter, of course, lost its damn mind. Here's the best reactions:
Three shots, three goals for Auston Matthews. I mean, really?
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) October 13, 2016
Insanity.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 13, 2016
Oh yes they are chanting Auston Matthews' name in Ottawa
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 13, 2016
It's raining hats in Ottawa. Matthews with the hat trick.
— Christine Simpson (@SNChrisSimpson) October 13, 2016
Auston Matthews 3, Senators 2.
— David Alter (@dalter) October 13, 2016
So Auston Matthews will finish the season with 300 goals. Fine.
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 12, 2016
That play began on hellacious forechecking in the neutral zone. Wow.
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) October 12, 2016
Matthews for Hart.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 12, 2016
Holy mama, Auston Matthews undresses Erik Karlsson and then beats Anderson inside the post. Um, yeah.
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) October 12, 2016
Matthews with the goal of the year. #GoLeafsGo
— Dan Chen (@DanCJAY92) October 12, 2016
He just undressed a 2x Norris winner and scored his second goal less than 15 minutes into his debut. I mean, come on.
— Conor McKenna (@mckennaconor) October 12, 2016
Pretty cool how Auston Matthews won the Calder and cost Erik Karlsson the Norris on the same play. #NHL #NHLFaceoff
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 12, 2016
Auston Matthews? More like Awesome Matthews.
— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) October 12, 2016
Auston Matthews: making America great again
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 12, 2016
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