MacKINNON, FRANCOUZ LEAD AVALANCHE PAST CENTRAL DIVISION RIVALS
Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal and Pavel Francouz made 31 saves as the Avalanche improved to 8-1-1 in the past 10 games and extended their point streak against the Blackhawks to seven games (5-0-2) dating to Dec. 29, 2018 (CHI: 2-5-0).

* Twenty-nine-year-old Francouz improved to 8-0-1 in his last nine decisions dating to Nov. 7 vs. Nashville. The last Avalanche goaltender with a longer such run was Semyon Varlamov in 2013-14 (11-0-5).

* Francouz’s stretch includes a 5-0-1 mark since Dec. 1, including a 38-save performance on Dec. 5 at Montreal. He’s tied with three other goaltenders for the most wins since the start of the month. The others: Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry (5-1-0), Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper (5-1-0) and Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (5-2-0).

* MacKinnon’s winner extended his point streak to six games dating to Dec. 7-18 (3-5—8). It marked the third time that he has posted a run of at least six contests in 2019-20 (13 GP from Oct. 3 – Nov. 1 and 8 GP from Nov. 16 – Dec. 4). Only Sabres captain Jack Eichel (17 GP) and Jets forward Mark Scheifele (7 GP) own a longer active streak.

BLUES EDGE OILERS, COLLECT 50TH STANDINGS POINT
Jake Allen came within a 1:50 of his second shutout in four appearances as the defending Stanley Cup-champion Blues (22-8-6, 50 points) edged Connor McDavid and the Oilers to collect their 50th standings point. Only two seasons in franchise history have witnessed St. Louis reach the benchmark in fewer contests: 31 in 2000-01 and 34 GP in 2013-14.

* In the last 35 years, only four different reigning Stanley Cup champions have reached the 50-point mark in fewer games than St. Louis (36 GP): Edmonton (34 GP in 1984-85; 32 GP in 1985-86) Detroit (33 GP in 2008-09) and Chicago (34 GP in 2013-14).

VATANEN HELPS DEVILS RALLY PAST HIS FORMER CLUB
Ducks forward Adam Henrique opened the scoring and Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen scored the third of three unanswered goals to help New Jersey rally and collect their second win in as many contests.

* Vatanen, who collected 33-93—126 in 280 career games with the Ducks, was traded to New Jersey for Henrique on Nov. 30, 2017. It marked the fourth time in 2019-20 that two players who were traded for one another each scored in the same game.

* San Jose’s Evander Kane (to BUF from WPG) and Montreal’s Joel Armia (from WPG to BUF) each scored on Oct. 24; San Jose’s Brent Burns (to SJS from MIN) and Boston’s Charlie Coyle (from SJS to MIN) also did so on Oct. 29; and Arizona’s Nick Schmaltz (to ARI from CHI) and Chicago’s Dylan Strome (to CHI from ARI) each tallied on Dec. 12.

QUICK CLICKS

* Taylor Hall senses 'buzz building' with Coyotes entering home debut

* Hall trade to Coyotes, balance of power in Pacific debated by NHL.com

* John Tonelli, Butch Goring each to have number retired by Islanders

* Capitals bring holiday cheer to pediatric patients on annual visit

* Springfield of AHL to be known as 'Ice-O-Topes' in honor of 'Simpsons'

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION

20 TEAMS IN ACTION ON 102nd ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST GAMES IN NHL HISTORY

Twenty teams will be in action on Thursday, which marks the 102nd anniversary of the first games in NHL history. On Dec. 19, 1917 the NHL opened with a pair of games – The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 7-4 led by a five-goal outing from Joe Malone and the Montreal Wanderers edged out the Toronto Arenas 10-9 thanks in part to five goals from Harry Hyland.

* Senators forward Anthony Duclair (19), Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (18) and Bruins forward Brad Marchand (18) are each chasing their 20th goal of the season. Entering play on Thursday, nine players have already reached the 20-goal benchmark in 2019-20.

* Duclair (19-7—26 in 35 GP) is one goal away from matching his career high for goals in a season (20 in 2015-16 w/ ARI). If he scores his 20th goal in his next game, he would become the first Senators skater to score 20 or more goals through Ottawa’s first 36 games or fewer to begin a season since Daniel Alfredsson (20 G in 32 GP) and Dany Heatley (20 G in 31 GP) each did so in 2007-08.

* Kane (18-22—40 in 35 GP) sits two goals shy of becoming the 24th player in NHL history to accumulate 13 or more consecutive 20-goal seasons and the 11th to do so from the start of his career. The most consecutive 20-goal seasons from the start of an NHL career is 17 straight campaigns, accomplished by Mats Sundin, Jaromir Jagr and Marcel Dionne.

* Marchand (18-33—51 in 35 GP) sits two goals shy of his ninth career 20-goal season, all of which have come as a member of the Bruins. Only four players in franchise history have recorded nine or more 20-goal campaigns with the Bruins: Johnny Bucyk (x16), Rick Middleton (x10), Patrice Bergeron (x10) and Ray Bourque (x9).

the information above was supplied by the NHL PR department