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).

* 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.

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* Monday marked the 13th instance in League history of a team overcoming a multi- 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).

* (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 (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 ) – 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 (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 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 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 : Ron Francis (6x), Sylvain Turgeon (3x), (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 ).

* 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 "" 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.