Facts and Figures: NHL offenses head into break with record-setting day

NHL goal-scorers made some history before taking their three-day Christmas break.

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.

Blues, Bruins roll

The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues extended their winning streak to six, the longest active run in the NHL this season,
with a 4-1 win
against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.
It was St. Louis' 70th win, including 16 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, since Jan. 1, tied for eighth-most by one team in a calendar year in League history. The Blues have three more games before the year ends.
The Boston Bruins, whom the Blues defeated in the Stanley Cup Final, improved to 13-1-8 at TD Garden
with a 7-3 win
against the Washington Capitals. Six players scored while Tuukka Rask, who is 9-0-5 while playing goalie in 14 of Boston's 22 home games this season, became the second goalie in Bruins history with at least one point in 14 or more home games in a season.

Stocking stuffers

* Roman Josi extended his NHL career-high goal streak to five games and set a Nashville Predators record for longest goal streak by a defenseman, passing the previous record set of four straight with a goal by the Mattias Ekholm from Nov. 14-20, 2017. Josi became the first defenseman on any team 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 the Capitals from Jan. 27-Feb. 14, 2009. It's the longest goal streak by a defenseman in League history.
* Forward Martin Necas had four points (two goals, two assists) to become the fourth Hurricanes player age 20 or younger to have four or more points in a game (since 1997-98), joining Elias Lindholm on March 8, 2015 (three goals, two assists), Sebastian Aho on Jan. 31, 2017 (three goals, one assist) and Eric Staal on Oct. 12, 2005 (one goal, three assists). Five players under the age of 21 accomplished the feat when the franchise was known as the Hartford Whalers: Ron Francis (six times), Sylvain Turgeon (three), Ray Ferraro (two), Michael Nylander (one) and Geoff Sanderson(one).
* Nikita Kucherov had three points (one goal, two assists) in the Tampa Bay Lightning's
6-1 win
against the Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena. Kucherov, who has 502 points (201 goals, 301 assists) in the NHL, became the fourth player in Lightning history to reach 500 points, joining Martin St. Louis (953), Vincent Lecavalier (874) and Steven Stamkos (798).