MAPLE LEAFS WIN 8-1 ON 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST NHL GAMES
Wearing Toronto Arenas jerseys as part of their “Next Century Game” – for which fans were encouraged to bring a “next generation fan” – the Maple Leafs erupted for four goals in both the first and third periods en route to victory on the 100th anniversary of the first NHL games. Toronto fell one goal shy of equaling its total from its first NHL game, a 10-9 defeat against the Montreal Wanderers on Dec. 19, 1917.

* The Maple Leafs, who posted an 8-5 victory vs. NYR on Oct. 7 and rank fourth in the NHL with 117 goals, are one of two clubs to score at least eight goals multiple times this season – the Canadiens, who won 7-4 on the first day of NHL play in 1917, have also accomplished the feat twice this season.

* Forwards Mitchell Marner (1-3—4) and Tyler Bozak (1-3—4) set and matched career highs for points in a game, respectively. Marner, 20, scored his first goal since Nov. 11 and was one of six players age 25 or younger to find the score sheet for Toronto.

DID YOU KNOW?

James van Riemsdyk (1-2—3) scored Toronto’s third goal of the game at 10:34 of the first period, marking the 20,000th regular-season goal in franchise history (including 52 shootout-deciding goals). Toronto became the third club in NHL history to record at least 20,000 goals in the regular season.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS EXTEND POINT STREAK WITH LAST-SECOND GOAL

Shea Theodore (1-3—4) scored the go-ahead goal with 2.3 seconds remaining in regulation to power the Golden Knights to their eighth consecutive game with a point (7-0-1). Vegas – who snapped the League-leading Lightning’s win streak at seven games – improved to 22-9-2 (46 points), trailing only Tampa Bay (24-7-2, 50 points) for the most points in the NHL this season.

* Theodore added three helpers to establish career highs for assists and points in a game. He became the first defenseman to register four power-play points in a game since Dennis Wideman on Dec. 9, 2011 vs. TOR (2-2—4).

* Elias notes that the Golden Knights (59:57) scored the latest regulation game-winning goal in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) by a team in its inaugural season. The previous mark was set by the Sharks when Pat Falloon scored at 19:52 of the third period on Jan. 12, 1992 to give San Jose a 4-3 win over Winnipeg.

RANGERS, LUNDQVIST CONTINUE TO SHINE AT THE GARDEN

Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 39 of 40 shots he faced to backstop the Rangers to a 14-5-3 (31 points) record at Madison Square Garden, tied for the most home wins in the NHL this season (w/ VGK and WSH).

* Lundqvist improved to 11-0-0 in his last 11 home decisions dating to Oct. 31 (2.12 GAA, .933 SV%, 1 SO). Elias notes that Lundqvist became the second goaltender in franchise history to earn wins in 11 consecutive home decisions, joining Dave Kerr from Dec. 19, 1939 – Feb. 25, 1940 (14-0-0).

* Lundqvist earned his 422nd career win to move within one of tying Tony Esposito (423) for eighth place on the NHL’s all-time list among goaltenders.

VANEK SCORES 10TH CAREER HAT TRICK

Canucks forward Thomas Vanek (3-1—4) scored the 10th hat trick of his NHL career and first since March 18, 2014 vs. COL (3-0—3). Only Alex Oveckin (20), Jaromir Jagr (15), Marian Gaborik (14), Eric Staal (13) and Evgeni Malkin (11) have netted more hat tricks among active players.

GOALS GALORE

Seven games contested on Tuesday featured at least seven combined goals. Including shootout-deciding goals, the average goals per game in 2017-18 is 5.97 (525 GP) – an increase from 5.44 through 525 contests in 2016-17.

‘ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC’ EPISODE 2 PREMIERES THIS WEEK

The second episode of the critically-acclaimed Road To The NHL Winter Classic presented by Honda, a behind-the-scenes series that takes viewers inside the dressing rooms and homes of the Sabres and Rangers, premieres this week. The two teams will meet outdoors in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classicon Jan. 1 at Citi Field in New York.

NBCSN: Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 11:30 p.m. ET following DET-PHI game

YouTube & Facebook.com/BestoftheNHL: Thursday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. ET

Sportsnet: Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. ET

NHL Network: Sunday, Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. ET

NHL NETWORK DEBUTS DOCUMENTARY ON FIRST WINTER CLASSIC

NHL Network celebrates the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the first-ever Winter Classic in the documentary NHL Network Originals: The First NHL Winter Classic, Hockey Goes Outside, which debuts tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Click here to watch a clip from the documentary, which is narrated by award-winning actor and Pittsburgh native Michael Keaton.

QUICK CLICKS

· Maple Leafs victory in Next Century Game caps joyous day in Toronto (via Mike Zeisberger)

· Fan Arena, The PreGame part of Winter Classic festivities

· 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Legacy Project unveiled in the Bronx

SNEAK PEEK AT WEDNESDAY’S ACTION

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Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.