TREND OF HIGH-SCORING, BACK-AND-FORTH GAMES CONTINUES . . .

* A total of 70 goals were scored across nine games on Thursday (7.8 goals per game), with two contests reaching double digits. That brings the total number of games with 10 or more goals this season to 24.

* The Pacific Division-leading Canucks became the seventh different club to score at least eight goals in a game in 2018-19, their first eight-goal showing in nearly nine years (Nov. 14, 2009 at COL). Vancouver has played in two of the five games to feature 13 goals this season.

* The NHL is averaging 6.2 goals per game through the first 235 contests of 2018-19. It marks the second campaign in as many years to average over six goals per contest through the League’s first 235 games (6.1 in 2017-18).

* Three of nine games saw a team erase a multi-goal deficit to at least tie the game, including one in which both clubs evened the score after trailing by multiple goals (ARI-PHI). Philadelphia staged the 30th multi-goal comeback win of 2018-19 (235 GP), 10 more than at the same point last season.

* Seven of nine games featured at least one score-tying goal, including five with multiple such tallies. Overall, there were 16 tying goals on Thursday including five in the Sabres-Canadiens game (MTL: 4, BUF: 1). That contest was the fifth of 2018-19 to feature at least five combined tying goals, marking the second-most such games in one campaign since 1996-97 (2010-11: 7).

. . . AS PLAYERS KEEP PILING UP THE POINTS
* Buffalo’s Jeff Skinner (11-7–18) and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (10-7–17) each scored Thursday to become the 12th and 13th players to reach the 10-goal mark in 2018-19. This season marks the third campaign since 1996-97 to feature 13 or more players with at least 10 goals through the opening 235 games. The others: 1999-00 (14) and 2006-07 (13).

* Chicago’s Patrick Kane (12-9–21) and San Jose’s Brent Burns (3-17–20) each contributed on the score sheet to join six others in the 20-point club this season. This marks the second time in nine seasons that at least eight players hit 20 points by the League’s 235th game - there also where eight in 2012-13, with Kane and Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (7-13–20 in 2018-19) appearing on both lists.

* Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot collected 1-1–2 to boost his season totals to 5-17–22 in 2018-19, tops among defensemen and tied for the third-most points in the entire NHL (16 GP). The 21-year-old has a two-point lead over Brent Burns (3-17–20) among League blueliners. Since the inception of the Norris Trophy in 1953-54, only five different winners collected at least 22 points through 16 team games: Bobby Orr (5x), Denis Potvin, Doug Wilson, Ray Bourque and Larry Robinson.

HOFFMAN EXTENDS STREAK TO 10 GAMES AS PANTHERS SOLVE OILERS

Mike Hoffman (0-2–2) factored on two of four Panthers goals to extend his career-best point streak to 10 games and help Florida snap a nine-game skid on home ice against Edmonton dating to Dec. 7, 2002 (FLA: 0-4-5). It was the club’s first home win against the Oilers since March 8, 2002.

* Hoffman has 6-5–11 in a Panthers uniform (12 GP), all of which he has accumulated during his current run. He is the fourth different player in franchise history with a double-digit point streak.

THORNTON, BURNS REACH MILESTONES AS MEIER SCORES AGAIN
Sharks forward Joe Thornton played his 1,500th career game to surpass Mike Modano (1,499 GP) and become the 19th player in NHL history to reach the milestone - and the first top pick ever to do so.

* Brent Burns collected two assists, including the 400th helper of his NHL career, to become the fourth player in franchise history to record at least 20 points within the team’s opening 16 games of a season (3-17–20). The others: Owen Nolan in 1999-00 (10-13–23), Patrick Marleau in 2009-10 (11-11–22) and Thornton in 2009-10 (4-16–20).

* Timo Meier recorded his 12th goal of the season to move into a four-way tie with Patrick Kane, Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak for the most goals in the NHL this season.

COYOTES STRIKE TWICE MORE WHILE SHORTHANDED, ON RECORD PACE

The Coyotes scored two shorthanded goals in a span of 24 seconds during the second period to bring their League-leading total to nine this season (14 GP). Since the stat became official in 1933-34, only one other NHL team has scored as many shorthanded goals through 14 games of a season - the 1975-76 Blues, also with nine.

* Michael Grabner (3), Brad Richardson (3), Derek Stepan (2) and Lawson Crouse (1) have combined for Arizona’s nine goals while shorthanded, with Thursday marking the third time this season that the Coyotes tallied multiple such goals in a game - a feat achieved only two other times in 2018-19.

* Arizona is just the second NHL team to have multiple players each score three or more shorthanded goals within the team’s opening 14 games of a season (again since 1933-34), joining the 1978-79 Flyers (Bill Barber and Rick MacLeish).

* The Coyotes, who had 10 shorthanded goals over the past two seasons combined, have scored more than nine shorthanded goals in a season 11 times in franchise history. The single-season NHL record of 36 shorthanded goals was set by the 1983-84 Oilers.

BRUINS, BLACKHAWKS UNVEIL WINTER CLASSIC JERSEYS
The Bruins and Blackhawks each unveiled the jersey they will wear outdoors during the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Notre Dame Stadium.

* The Blackhawks jersey is inspired by the 1933-34 rendition of their uniform and pays tribute to Chicago’s first Stanley Cup championship. TheBruins jersey includes a nod to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with six shamrocks embedded in its neckline to acknowledge their Cup wins.

QUICK CLICKS

* Gary Bettman, entering Hockey Hall of Fame, remains fan at heart (by Nicholas J. Cotsonika)

* Willie O'Ree on CNN: From NHL pioneer to the Hockey Hall of Fame
* Commissioner Gary Bettman statement on the passing of Bob Naegele Jr.

* T.J Oshie makes Capitals fan jump for joy after giving him a stick

* Martin St. Louis glad he took hard road to Hockey Hall of Fame (by Dan Rosen)

* Hall of Fame links hockey's past with present, shows way to future (by Dave Stubbs)
* Kings host moment of silence to honor victims of Thousand Oaks shooting

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

MAPLE LEAFS TO HOST DEVILS ON HOCKEY HALL OF FAME NIGHT

The Maple Leafs (10-5-0, 20 points), who trail only the Lightning (12-3-1, 25 points) in the Eastern Conference standings, are set to host the Devils (6-6-1, 13 points) in the annual Hockey Hall of Fame game at Scotiabank Arena Friday.

* Former NHL players Martin St. Louis, Martin Brodeur, Willie O’Ree and fellow 2018 inductees Gary Bettman, Jayne Hefford andAlexander Yakushev will participate in a pre-game ceremony as part of the four-day celebration to continue through Monday.

the above information was provided by the NHL PR department