HUBERDEAU POSTS FIVE POINTS AS PANTHERS NET NINE GOALS
Jonathan Huberdeau (1-4—5) factored on five of Florida’s nine goals to record his fourth career five-point game as the Panthers (20-7-4, 44 points) defeated the League-leading Lightning and leapfrogged the Maple Leafs (20-8-2, 42 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division. Since Huberdeau entered the NHL in 2012-13, only two players have recorded more games with five-plus points: Connor McDavid (7x) and Brad Marchand (5x).

* Thursday’s nine-goal performance marked the franchise’s second-highest total in a game, behind a 10-goal contest on Nov. 26, 1997 (10-5 W vs. BOS). Florida also became the first team to score nine goals in a game this season.

DID YOU KNOW?
Thursday’s game at FLA Live Arena featured appearances by Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight and Lightning netminder Hugo Alnefelt, who made his NHL debut in relief of Maxime Lagace. It marked the first contest in League history where multiple goaltenders born in the 2000s made an appearance.

BARZAL, AHO EXTENDING STREAKS FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Several more notes from the seven-game slate are featured in Thursday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates. Some highlights include:

* Johnny Gaudreau (2-1—3) scored twice and assisted on the game winner with 2:26 remaining in regulation, which was the final goal during a sequence that saw the Flames and Kraken combine for three third-period tallies over a span of 41 seconds.

* Brent Burns scored to climb the NHL’s all-time goals and points lists among defensemen as the Sharks edged the Flyers in overtime, while Jonathan Quick collected his 48th career shootout victory as Los Angeles snapped Vancouver’s seven-game winning streak.

* Mathew Barzal (1-2—3) factored on three Islanders goals and has at least one point in each of his last seven games played dating to Dec. 2 (2-10—12). New York improved to 3-0-1 in its last four contests at UBS Arena after going winless in the franchise’s first seven games at the venue (0-5-2).

* Sebastian Aho accumulated two assists in his first game since Dec. 11 as Carolina (22-7-1, 45 points) blanked Montreal to reclaim first place in the Metropolitan Division. Aho has multiple points in each of his last six games played dating to Dec. 2 (5-9—14).

QUICK CLICKS

* Patrik Laine scores in return, Blue Jackets top Predators in shootout
* Dean Evason signs multi-year contract to remain coach of Wild
* NHL postpones Stars-Coyotes game Sunday
* Blues turn attention to Winter Classic showdown with Wild
* Winter Classic a reminder where it all started for Nick Bjugstad, Alex Goligoski

MORE 2022 DISCOVER NHL WINTER CLASSIC LINKS

* 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic By The Numbers
* Winter Classic providing TNT chance to showcase NHL coverage
* Winter Classic could rank as coldest outdoor game in NHL history
* Winter Classic profile: Golden Gophers big part of hockey in Minnesota
* Winter Classic profile: High School All-Hair Team goes with flow

EIGHT NHL TEAMS IN ACTION ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
An octet of clubs are set to ring in the new year during Friday’s slate, which begins at 1 p.m. ET when League scoring leaders Leon Draisaitl (24-26—50 in 30 GP) and Connor McDavid (17-33—50 in 30 GP) visit Prudential Center.