LIGHTNING SURVIVE DEJA VU AGAINST FLYERS TO EXTEND STREAKS
Steven Stamkos (2-2—4) and Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4) each posted four points as the League-leading Lightning (29-7-2, 60 points) survived another multi-goal, third-period comeback by the Flyers to extend their point streak to 13 contests (12-0-1 dating to Nov. 29).

* In the last meeting between these clubs on Nov. 17 in Philadelphia, the Flyers scored four goals in a span of 6:04 during the third period to erase and 5-1 deficit and force overtime, becoming the ninth team in NHL history to rally from a four-goal deficit in the final 10:00 of regulation to tie the game. Conversely in that contest, the Lightning became the sixth team in NHL history to relinquish a four-goal lead in the third period and win.

* Tampa Bay’s current 13-game point streak trails only an 18-game stretch for the longest such run in franchise history (14-0-4 from Feb. 5 - March 12, 2004). They improved to 11-0-1 in December, matching the franchise record for victories in a calendar month (11-3-2 in January 2004 and 11-2-0 in December 2017). The only other time they recorded at least 23 points in a calendar month was January 2004 (24 points).

* With two games remaining in December (Saturday vs. MTL and Monday at ANA), the Lightning aim to become the seventh team in the last 10 years to finish a calendar month without a regulation loss (min. 8 GP).

* The Lightning also improved to 20-2-0 against Eastern Conference clubs in 2018-19, becoming the first team in NHL history to win 20 of its first 22 intraconference meetings of a season. Only two teams won 19 of their first 22 such contests to start a season: the 2012-13 Blackhawks (19-0-3 vs. West) and 2005-06 Senators (19-3-0 vs. East).

SCORING RACE GAINS NEW LEADER AS KUCHEROV, STAMKOS SET RECORDS

With matching four-point performances, Lightning teammates Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos each set franchise records Thursday. Kucherov also overtook Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen for the League lead in points.

* Kucherov (1-3—4) set a franchise record for points in a calendar month (7-16—26 in 12 GP) while also becoming the first player in Lightninghistory to recordconsecutive performances of at least four points. Only five other players have done so since 2011-12.

* Kucherov now has four straight multi-point showings, the third time he has done so in his career. There have been six instances of a Tampa Bay player recording multiple points in five or more consecutive team games, including one by Kucherov from March 18-27, 2017 (5 GP). Only one Lightning player has had a multi-point run longer than five games: Vincent Lecavalier from Nov. 3-19, 2007 (8 GP).

* Kucherov eclipsed 60 points as he increased his season totals to 17-44—61 to surpass Rantanen (16-44—60), who had one assist Thursday. Kucherov (38 GP) needed the fewest games in franchise history to hit the 60-point mark, three fewer than the next fastest player (Lecavalier: 41 GP in 2007-08).

* Stamkos scored his 14th goal of December to establish a franchise record for goals in a calendar month. Prior to the Lightning captain, the last two players to score at least 14 goals in the month of December were Sidney Crosby (14 goals in 2010) and Jarome Iginla (14 goals in 2007). In fact, the last player to register more than 14 goals in the month of December was Mario Lemieux in 1996, when he found the back of the net 17 times in 15 contests.

* Meanwhile, Stamkos has also collected 21 points in December, the third-most in the League behind the aforementioned Kucherov and Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau (9-13—22).

AMERICAN-BORN STARS NET HAT TRICKS TO HIT SEASON BENCHMARKS

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau (Salem, N.J.) and Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (Buffalo, N.Y.) each tallied a hat trick to propel their respective club to victory. There now have been 46 hat tricks in 2018-19, the most such performances prior to Jan. 1 since 1992-93 (57).

* Gaudreau recorded his fourth career hat trick as the Pacific Division-leading Flames (23-12-3, 49 points) defeated the Western Conference-leading Jets (24-11-2, 50 points). It marked just the fourth time since 1994-95 that two Canadian clubs faced off in December or later, with each sitting atop their division standings. The others in that time frame: WPG at MTL on April 4, 2013, OTT at VAN on Jan. 8, 2003 and TOR at EDM on March 7, 2000.

* Gaudreau (19-32—51 in 38 GP) became the sixth player to reach the 50-point mark this season, marking the tenth instance of a Flames player hitting the mark before the team’s 40th contest of a season. Jarome Iginla, the franchise leader in goals and points, accounted for the previous two such occurrences (37 GP in 2006-07 and 38 GP in 2007-08).

* Kane (20-27—47 in 39 GP) netted his fifth career hat trick to extend his point streak to six contests and reach the 20-goal mark for the 12th consecutive season. In 2017-18, Kane collected his 20th goal while skating in his 46th contest on Jan. 20 - the same night he tallied his 800th NHL point.

* Kane became the 14th player in NHL history to score 20 or more goals in each of his first 12 seasons, with teammate Jonathan Toews only four goals shy of joining him on that list. The only other players to post at least 12 consecutive 20-goal campaigns at any point for the Blackhawks are Stan Mikita (14) and Bobby Hull (13).

* Additionally, Kane became just the second U.S.-born player to record 20 or more goals in at least 12 consecutive seasons at any point in his career, joining Keith Tkachuk (Melrose, Mass.), who also posted 12 such campaigns. Penguins forward Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.) sits four goals shy of the 11th straight 20-goal season of his NHL career.

CROSBY NOTCHES TWO MORE POINTS AS HE APPROACHES 900-GAME MILESTONE

Sidney Crosby notched two assists - both on goals by Phil Kessel (2-1—3) - to boost his career totals to 427-732—1,159 in 898 regular-season games and surpass Daniel Alfredsson (444-713—1,157 in 1,246 GP) into sole possession of 52nd place on the NHL's all-time points list.

* Crosby, who is scheduled to skate in his 900th NHL game on New Year’s Eve, trails only Joe Thornton (402-1,041—1,443 in 1,523 GP) and Alex Ovechkin (636-531—1,167 in 1,039 GP) for most career points among active players.

* Only seven players in NHL history recorded more assists through their 900th career game: Wayne Gretzky (1,375), Mario Lemieux (1,025), Paul Coffey (817), Adam Oates (792), Peter Stastny (758), Denis Savard (754) and Bryan Trottier (744).

* In addition, only 11 skaters had more than 1,159 points through their 900th career game; Gretzky topped the list with 2,085 points in just 900 games - more than any other player has had in an entire career.

OTHER IMPRESSIVE FEATS FROM THURSDAY’S 13-GAME SLATE
A few more highlights from the first night of action following the holiday break:

* Brent Burns became the 10th player in NHL history, and just the third defensemen, to score the winning goal while skating in his 1,000th career game. The others: Fredrik Olausson on Dec. 11, 2002 with Anaheim and Chris Phillips on Feb. 9, 2012 with Ottawa.

* Anton Khudobin turned aside all 49 shots he faced to establish a Stars/North Stars franchise record for saves in a shutout performance, eclipsing the previous mark set by Cesare Maniago on March 1, 1970 (41 saves vs. TOR). Since the League began tracking saves in 1955-56, there have been 13 instances of a goaltender recording at least 49 saves in a shutout, with Jaroslav Halak (50 saves on Feb. 15, 2018 w/ NYI) the last to do so prior to Khudobin. Ben Scrivens (59 saves on Jan. 29, 2014 w/ EDM) holds the record for most saves in a shutout since 1955-56.

* Dylan Larkin extended his career-best point streak to 12 games (6-9—15), the longest by a Red Wings player since Henrik Zetterberg had a 17-game run in 2007-08 (13-14—27). Zetterberg's performance 11 years ago matched the fourth-longest point streak in franchise history.

* Kevin Hayes extended his career-best point streak to eight games (5-10—15), tied for the longest such run by a Rangers player since 2014-15 when Rick Nash had an 11-game point streak from Nov. 19 - Dec. 16, 2014 (8-6—14 in 11 GP). Two other New York players have had eight-game runs since then: Ryan McDonagh in 2016-17 (0-9—9 in 8 GP) and Jesper Fast in 2017-18 (3-7—10 in 8 GP).

MATTHEWS, MACKINNON, OVECHKIN, MCDAVID VOTED ALL-STAR CAPTAINS

Toronto’s Auston Matthews (Atlantic), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (Central), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan) and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (Pacific) topped their divisions in the 2019 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by adidas to earn the captaincies and first roster spots for the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, which will be held Jan. 25-26 in San Jose. Click the photo for more details.

QUICK CLICKS

* Bruins, Blackhawks make time for holidays on 'Road to Winter Classic'
* Alex Ovechkin excited with All-Star Game honors

* WJC Day 2 roundup: Russia shuts out Denmark

* WJC Day 2 roundup: Canada survives strong effort from Switzerland

* Auston Matthews wore 'Macho Man' onesie while celebrating Christmas with Marleau

SNEAK PEEK AT FRIDAY’S ACTION

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department