NHL MORNING SKATE – DEC. 24, 2019 THREE HARD LAPS * Matinee madness! The Maple Leafs and Hurricanes combined for 14 goals Monday afternoon, tied for highest-scoring contest of 2019-20 (also Nov. 27: PIT 8 vs. VAN 6). Toronto, which hosted its first of four Next Gen Games presented by Scotiabank this season, scored eight goals in a contest for the first time since the 2017 edition of the event just over two years ago – which was also versus Carolina (Dec. 19, 2017: 8-1 W). * Scotiabank Arena wasn’t the only venue to feature manifold goals, with five other teams in addition to the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes scoring at least six. Overall, a total of 91 goals were recorded across 13 games – the most on a Monday in NHL history, surpassing the previous high of 84 set exactly six years ago on Dec. 23, 2013 (including shootout-deciding goals). * Fans didn’t have to wait long for goals either, with 31 scored in the opening 20 minutes of games (34.1%). That total was eight shy of the NHL record for most first-period goals on one day (39), a mark set Dec. 19, 1981 and matched Oct. 7, 2017. NOTE: The Morning Skate will return following games played on Dec. 27. TORONTO, CAROLINA COMBINE FOR 14 GOALS IN WILD NEXT GEN GAME Toronto raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening 5:10 of the first period but surrendered five consecutive goals as Carolina took a 5-3 lead into the second intermission. The Maple Leafs responded by tallying five of the contest’s six combined third-period goals – including two in a span of six seconds – to earn an 8-6 win over Hurricanes, their fifth straight victory. * * Monday marked the 13th instance in League history of a team overcoming a multi-goal deficit to win a game where it also surrendered a lead of three or more tallies – a feat last achieved by Nashville on Oct. 10, 2017 (6-5 W vs. PHI). * John Tavares (1-2—3) factored on each of the Maple Leafs’ first three goals and established a franchise record for fastest three points by a Toronto player from the start of a game, eclipsing the previous mark set by Harry Watson on Nov. 16, 1947 (5:54 at CHI). Tavares became the first player on any team with three points in the opening 5:10 or less of a game since Colorado’s Wojtek Wolski on Dec. 19, 2009 (4:15 vs. CBJ). * Mitch Marner (2-3—5) led all players with five points, including converting on a spin-o-rama assist from teammate Auston Matthews (1-1—2) which cut Carolina’s lead to 6-5 in the third period. Marner, who extended his scoring streak to eight contests (6-11—17), matched his single-game career high for points – a mark set on Feb. 10, 2018 (2-3—5 vs. OTT). DIVISION-LEADING BLUES, BRUINS EARN WINS The Blues (24-8-6, 54 points) and Bruins (22-7-9, 53 points), who occupy first place in the Central Division and Atlantic Division standings, respectively, earned wins Monday: * St. Louis extended its win streak to six games, the longest active run in the NHL. The Blues also earned their 70th victory since Jan. 1, 2019 (including 16 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs) – tied for the eighth-most by one team during a calendar year in League history. * Six different players found the back of the net to help the Bruins improve to 13-1-8 (34 points) at TD Garden, with Tuukka Rask (39 saves) manning the crease for 14 of their 22 home games this season. Rask (9-0-5; 2.23 GAA, .925 SV%, 2 SO) became the second goaltender in franchise history to record at least one point in each of his first 14 or more home appearances in a season. STOCKING STUFFERS Other highlights from the final games before the NHL’s three-day holiday break: * Predators captain Roman Josi (1-1—2) extended his career-high goal streak to five games (7-2—9) and established a franchise record for longest by a defenseman, eclipsing the previous mark of four contests set by Mattias Ekholm from Nov. 14-20, 2017 (4-2—6). Josi became the first blueliner on any club to score at least once in five or more consecutive team games within a regular season since Mike Green did so in eight straight with Washington from Jan. 27 – Feb. 14, 2009 (10-7—17), the longest goal streak by a defenseman in League history. * Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (2-2—4) became the fourth player age 20 or younger in team history to record four or more points in a game (since 1997-98), joining Elias Lindholm on March 8, 2015 (3-2—5 vs. EDM), Sebastian Aho on Jan. 31, 2017 (3-1—4 vs. PHI) and Eric Staal on Oct. 12, 2005 (1-3—4 vs. WSH). Five players under the age of 21 accomplished the feat when the franchise was known as the Hartford Whalers: Ron Francis (6x), Sylvain Turgeon (3x), Ray Ferraro (2x), Michael Nylander (1x) and Geoff Sanderson (1x). * Brayden Point (1-3—4), Victor Hedman (2-1—3) and Nikita Kucherov (1-2—3) each collected at least three points as the Lightning defeated the Panthers and improved to 8-0-0 in their last eight home games against the intrastate rival dating to Oct. 18, 2016 (FLA: 0-5-3). Kucherov eclipsed 500 career regular-season points (201-301—502 in 481 GP) and became the fourth player in franchise history to reach the milestone (also Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos). * Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored the first goal of his NHL career to help the Flyers extend their win streak to four games. Aube-Kubel, who was born in Slave Lake, Alta., was a second-round pick (48th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2014 NHL Draft and has appeared in 14 games with the Flyers since making his League debut on Oct. 30, 2018. * Nathan Gerbe scored a goal in his first NHL game since Feb. 24, 2018 to help the Blue Jackets extend their point streak to eight contests (6-0-2), including five straight wins. Gerbe, who has now played in parts of 10 NHL seasons since debuting with Buffalo in 2008-09, spent the 2018-19 campaign as captain of the Cleveland Monsters (10-22—32 in 41 GP) – Columbus’ AHL affiliate. QUICK CLICKS * Mika Zibanejad, Rangers don OskarStrong T-shirts in support of rival Oskar Lindblom * John Tavares, Mitch Marner play rock-paper-scissors to determine No. 1 star * Winter Classic rink preparation for Predators, Stars 'ahead of schedule' * Noel Acciari, Roman Josi and Joonas Korpisalo named NHL's "Three Stars" of the week * 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship highlights week ahead NHL RETURNS FROM HOLIDAY BREAK DEC. 27 The NHL will return from a three-day holiday break (no games from Dec. 24-26) with an 11- game slate on Friday, Dec. 27. #NHLSTATS REWIND: DECADE IN REVIEW CONTINUES WITH “THE OUTDOOR GAMES” The NHL Stats and Information team reminisces on memorable moments and achievements of the past decade. The nine-part countdown features a daily theme, continuing with “The Outdoor Games” – a look at 10 outdoor contests from the 2010s. The series will resume Thursday, Dec. 26. .