A total of 91 goals in regulation, overtime and the shootout were scored in the 13 games on the final day before the three-day Christmas break, the most ever on a Monday in NHL history, surpassing the previous high of 84 set Dec. 23, 2013.
The highest output came in Toronto, where
the Maple Leafs won 8-6
against the Carolina Hurricanes in a Next Gen Games matinee. It was the first time the Maple Leafs, who were one of seven teams to score at least six goals Monday, scored eight goals in a game since their Next Gen Game on Dec. 19, 2017, an 8-1 win against the Hurricanes.
Teams didn't wait to score goals either. Thirty-one of the 91 goals came in the first period, falling eight shy of the NHL record for most first-period goals in one day, which was set Dec. 19, 1981 and done again Oct. 7. 2017.
Three of those goals came from the Maple Leafs, who jumped to a 3-0 lead in first 5:10 of the game, only to see the Hurricanes score the next five goals. Toronto then scored five of the next six goals to win its fifth straight. It was the 13th time in NHL history a team, after being down multiple goals, won a game in which it surrendered a lead of three of more goals. It was last achieved by the Nashville Predators in a 6-5 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 10, 2017.
Toronto captain John Tavares, who assisted on the first two goals and scored the third, set a Maple Leafs record for the fastest three points (5:10) to start a game, passing the mark set by Harry Watson (5:54) on Nov. 16, 1947. Tavares became the first player on any team with three points in the first 5:10 or less since Wojtek Wolski did it for the Colorado Avalanche in 4:15 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 19, 2009.