Throwback to the game when Auston Matthews witnessed the greatest goal ever scored by Alex Ovechkin

Auston Matthews is a professional ice hockey center who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League. He was born in America on September 17, 1997. He was chosen first overall in the draft and was largely regarded as the best prospect.

Auston Matthews, who was 8 years old at the time, was present for what may have been Alex Ovechkin's greatest goal. It was indeed one of the craziest goals in the history of the NHL. It was also called "The Goal" because it was so unique and spectacular.

On January 16, 2006, Ovechkin outmuscled Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara as he raced to the net and scored on a no-look backhand after sliding his back past goalkeeper Brian Boucher.

That was one of the most memorable goals of his career.

Auston Matthews observed Ovechkin and other NHL stars when their teams visited to play the Coyotes while growing up close to Phoenix.

Fast forward 16 years, Matthews has joined Ovechkin as among the NHL's finest goal scorers after winning the Rocket Richard Trophy the previous two seasons as the league's leading scorer.

This is what Matthews had to say about Ovechkin:

"It's pretty cool thinking back to those times (Ovechkin) scored some pretty cool goals against the Coyotes back in the day, so I was lucky enough to be in the building for some of them. It was always quite a spectacle when a guy like him would come into town.

This is what Auston Matthews, the Toronto forward, said when asked what he thinks makes Ovechkin so good:

"His will to score, every year he always plays every game like it's his last. He's just a horse out there."

Auston Matthews's personal life and his family of athletes

Auston Matthews was born to Californian parents Brian and Ema, was originally from Hermosillo, Mexico. When he was two months old, his family relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona, and at two years old, he started going to Phoenix Coyotes games. He enjoyed watching Shane Doan and Daniel Brière the most.

The Zamboni equipment that was used to wipe the ice between intermissions initially piqued Matthews' curiosity despite his lack of initial enthusiasm for the sport. Soon after turning five, he first displayed an interest in hockey and started participating in the Arizona Bobcats minor hockey league.

Wes Matthews, his uncle who briefly played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, and his father, who played college baseball, are all athletes. His father works as the chief technology officer for a New Jersey-based manufacturer.

His two sisters are Breyana, five years younger, and Alexandria, three years older. Matthews can speak a little Spanish because his mother is of Mexican descent.

Auston Matthews was enrolled in a number of online courses at the University of Nebraska Omaha when he wasn't playing hockey. He relocated to Toronto in the latter part of August 2016 and started working out with teammates Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly.

Kobe Bryant was Auston Matthews' childhood hero, and The Mighty Ducks is his favorite sports film. Due to their all-round offensive and defensive play, he admires players Jonathan Toews and Anze Kopitar, and his playing style has been compared to theirs.