BY THE NUMBERS: GOAL-SCORING TRENDS
* There have been 28 hat tricks this season, the most through 395 games since 2010-11 (33).

* There have been 25 contests to feature at least 10 total goals (excluding shootout-deciding goals), the highest such total through 395 games since 2006-07 (33).

* There have been 19 instances of a team scoring at least seven goals in a game, the most such instances through 395 contests since 2010-11 (22).

DECEMBER OPENS WITH TWO 11-GOAL GAMES
Two games on Friday featured 11 combined goals, with the Jets and Senators each emerging with victories in high-scoring affairs:

* The Jets matched a season high with seven goals – powered by three-point performances from Patrik Laine(1-2—3), Mark Scheifele (1-2—3) and Blake Wheeler (0-3—3) – to earn their fifth consecutive win at Bell MTS Place. At 16-6-4 (36 points), the Jets sit atop the Western Conference standings and are tied with the Lightning (17-6-2, 36 points) for the most points in the NHL.

* The Jets have scored seven goals in a game three times this season (also 7-1 W on Oct. 29 vs. PIT and 7-2 W on Nov. 27 vs. MIN) – the highest such total among all NHL teams.

* Scheifele shares fourth in League scoring with 13-19—32 this season after setting career highs in goals, assists and points in 2016-17 (32-50—82). Wheeler, meanwhile, is tied for second in the NHL with 25 assists, one back of Steven Stamkos.

* The Senators matched a season high with six goals to snap a seven-game slide (0-6-1) and hand the Islanders their first regulation loss at home in 2017-18. Thomas Chabot (1-2—3), the 18th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, scored the first goal of his NHL career.

* Chabot became the seventh rookie defenseman to record three points in a game for the Senators and the first to do so since Patrick Wiercioch on March 19, 2013, also against the Islanders (0-3—3).

GRABNER’S HAT TRICK HELPS RANGERS EARN 11TH HOME WIN
Michael Grabner scored three consecutive goals – including two empty netters – to record the fifth hat trick of his NHL career and help the Rangers earn their League-leading 11th home win of the season (11-5-2).

* Elias notes that Grabner scored the first natural hat trick of his NHL career and became the first Rangers player to accomplish the feat since Marian Gaborik on Jan. 31, 2010 at COL. Grabner also became the first Rangersplayer in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to score two empty-net goals in a game.

BLUES HONOR ARI DOUGAN IN FINAL HOCKEY FIGHTS CANCER NIGHT OF 2017-18
The Blues hosted the final Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the season and honored the late Ari Dougan, an 11-year-old who joined Vladimir Tarasenko and the team for a road trip last March and instantly captured the hearts of players, coaches and fans. Click the photo below to watch the pre-game ceremony at Scottrade Center, which featured a special tribute to Ari and a ceremonial puck drop by the Dougan family.

"ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC" DOCUSERIES RETURNS DEC. 13
The critically-acclaimed Road To The NHL Winter Classic presented by Honda behind-the-scenes series will return to take viewers inside the dressing rooms and homes of the Sabres and Rangers as they prepare to meet outdoors in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Citi Field in New York. Click the photo below for details.

QUICK CLICKS

· MacKinnon, Andersen and Schenn named NHL 'Three Stars' for November

· Canucks’ Boeser named NHL Rookie of the Month for November

· Blake, Chelios, Alfredsson, Lehtinen elected to IIHF Hall of Fame

· Tickets for NHL100 Classic on sale

· Vote Now: Greatest NHL Uniforms

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

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above information was provided by the NHL PR department