"Open net merchant": NHL fans mock Auston Matthews' first hat trick in 684 days, as Maple Leafs complete comeback win over Jets

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews returned to the ice tonight vs. the Winnipeg Jets, after missing the last game with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old franchise captain has been subject to a mountain of criticism for his lack of performance this season, which has caused a massive slump in Toronto's record.

On New Year's Day against the Winnipeg Jets, Auston Matthews turned back the clock for Maple Leafs fans in the Scotiabank Arena, after netting his 14th career hat trick, with his final goal being the game-winner to complete a comeback vs. the Jets.

NHL fans on X mocked the Maple Leafs captain, and downplayed his first hat trick in 684 days, his previous being vs. the Anaheim Ducks on 17th Feb., 2024.

"Open net merchant" said @Bos99Enjoyer.

After going 2-0 down in the first period, Auston Matthews scored the first goal for the Maple Leafs early in th 2nd period. He scored his second goal in the Leafs' power play towards the end of the 2nd period. His hat trick goal was the game-winner, and came off a Eric Comrie blunder, who did not take control of the puck in front of the net. Matthews pounced on the oppportunity, and netted his 3rd goal of the night, in an essentially empty net as Comrie was out of his crease.

---

Auston Matthews lauded by Connor McDavid's ex-Oilers teammte: "Kind of weird you expect that every night"

Connor McDavid's former Oilers teammate Troy Stecher, was picked up off waivers by Maple Leafs in mid-November 2025. Since then, the 31-year-old D-man has been a standout performer for Toronto. Stecher sang praises of Auston Matthews, for his hat trick in comeback win over Jets.

"I mean he's out captain for a reason, he's a leader. A heck of a performance by him. It's weird you expect that every night. But it's hard to score 3 goals in a game," said Stecher post-game.

Auston Matthews gave his two cents on his team's comeback win over the Jets.

"We got down early and we stuck with it. I don't think we were playing bad but caught a couple of bad break. We didn't give up. We just kept pushing shift by shift and clawed out way back. It's an exciting game."

Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama

Edited by Srihari Anand