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It’s opening night of the new campaign and a 19-year-old kid has just racked up four goals in an astonishing introduction for the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first sharpshooter in the NHL’s modern era to one-up a hat-trick in his first skate at hockey’s highest level.

As word spreads of Auston Matthews’ dazzling debut, as folks catch the highlights of his historic hello, jaws drop.

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Well … most jaws.

“Honestly, I wasn’t really that surprised,” insisted Calgary Flames left-winger Matthew Tkachuk, another of the NHL’s impact rookies, a former linemate of Matthews with USA Hockey’s national development program and his sidekick again at the world juniors last holiday season.

“Just because if there is one guy capable of doing it, it’s him. But the way he did it, the manner he did it, it was unbelievable.”

Finally home from a gruelling six-game jaunt, the Flames will welcome the Maple Leafs for Wednesday’s clash at the Saddledome (6:30 p.m., Sportsnet/Sportsnet 960 The Fan), the first opportunity for the C of Red faithful to get a live look at Matthews and another fab freshman, right-winger Mitch Marner.