* The League-leading Bruins became the first team to reach the 50-point mark in 2022-23 as Boston extended its home point streak to 18 games in a contest that almost featured a goalie goal.
* Rookie netminder Lukas Dostal had a standout performance Saturday as he recorded the second-most saves by a Ducks rookie goaltender in a single game.
* Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen became the NHL’s 11th and 12th players with 100-plus points in 2022. Only three calendar years in NHL history have featured more: 1992 (20), 1983 (15) and 1994 (14).
BRUINS FIRST TO 50 POINTS AS PASTA REACHES 20 GOALS
The Bruins (24-4-2, 50 points) extended their home point streak to 18 games (16-0-2, 34 points) to maintain their position atop the overall NHL standings while becoming the first team to reach the 50-point mark in 2022-23.
* The Bruins’ victory marked the 12th time in NHL history a team has had a home point streak of 18 games or more from the start of a season. Boston has done it once previously (21 GP in 1973-74), while Philadelphia’s 26-game run to start the 1979-80 season is the longest in NHL history.
* David Pastrnak (1-1—2) scored to record a 20-goal season for the seventh time in his career, tying four players for the 10th most in Bruins history. In doing so, Pastrnak also tied Peter McNab and Bobby Orr (both w/ 7) for the sixth-longest streak of 20-goal campaigns in Bruins history.
* ICYMI: Saturday at TD Garden featured a pair of must-see moments starting with Boston celebrating Patrice Bergeron’s recent 1,000-point milestone in a pre-game ceremony that included a special congratulations video featuring a bevy of Bruins legends. Additionally, as the third period was drawing to a close, Jeremy Swayman came within a hair of becoming the first Bruins goaltender and 13th different netminder overall to score a regular-season goal. 
22-YEAR-OLD DOSTAL DAZZLES FOR DUCKS IN NEXT GEN GAME
While Connor McDavid (1-1— 2) extended his point streak to 12 contests during Edmonton’s“Next Gen” game, it was 22-year-old goaltender Lukas Dostal (46 saves) who stole the show for the Ducks – falling three saves shy of the most by a rookie netminder in a single contest in franchise history.
* Dostal also turned aside 22 of 23 shots in the third period to help Anaheim preserve a one-goal lead. Only one other rookie goaltender in franchise history has posted more in a single frame: Frederik Andersen (24 in P3, March 2, 2014).
* Conversely, 31-year-old defenseman Cam Fowler (1-0—1) and 30-year-old blueliner John Klingberg (1-0—1) provided the offense for Anaheim, with the latter notching the game winner for the second time in as many games (also Dec. 15 at MTL). Klingberg joined Sheldon Souray (2 GP from Feb. 4-6, 2013) as just the second defenseman in Ducks history to accomplish the feat in consecutive contests.
CAROLINA, WINNIPEG’S MORRISSEY EXTEND STREAKS IN RESPECTIVE WINS
Streaks were extended in Carolina and Vancouver on Saturday as the Hurricanes defeated the Stars and the Jets bested the Canucks on the road:
* After Dallas rallied from two multi-goal deficits, Martin Necas scored in overtime to help the Hurricanes (18-6-6, 42 points) overcome the Stars’ comeback attempt and extend their point streak to 10 games (8-0-2). Carolina, which gained ground on New Jersey (21-8-2, 44 points) in the Metropolitan Division, has registered a double-digit run for the fourth time in the past 15 years (also 13 GP in 2020-21: 9-0-4, 13 GP in 2016-17: 9-0-4 & 10 GP in 2008-09: 9-0-1).
* Josh Morrissey factored onone of the Jets’ five goals to record his 200th career point (45-155—200 in 453 GP), extending his assist and point streaks in the process (0-9—9 in 8 GP). Morrissey established the longest assist streak by a defenseman in franchise history and tied the longest point streak by a Jets/Thrashers blueliner. Of note, only one Winnipeg skater has had a longer stretch of consecutive games with an assist: Blake Wheeler (9 GP in 2018-19 & 2017-18).
#NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES – A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Despite Christmas still being seven sleeps away, #NHLStats: Live Updates is the gift that keeps on giving, with over 90 notes available from Saturday. Here are some highlights:
* Joe Pavelski scored in his 1,200th career game (432-523—955). His 432 goals are the second most among active players at the time of the milestone behind Alex Ovechkin (734 on Oct. 19, 2021), while his 955 points are the third most among active skaters, trailing only Ovechkin (1,326) and Anze Kopitar (1,059 on April 2, 2022).
* Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves to improve to 10-0-0 in his past 10 regular-season appearances against the Canadiens. He became the third goaltender in NHL history, and first in the modern era (since 1943-44), to earn a victory in 10-plus consecutive regular-season games versus Montreal. The others to do so: Alec Connell (12 GP from Feb. 28, 1925 – Feb. 22, 1927 w/ SEN) and Turk Broda (12 GP from Dec. 9, 1939 – Jan. 23, 1941 w/ TOR).
* Erik Gustafsson scored his first three goals of the season to collect his first career hat trick and the second by a defenseman in 2022-23, joining Erik Karlsson (Nov. 1). He became the third blueliner in Capitals history to record a three-goal game, adding his name beside Kevin Hatcher (3-1—4 on Jan. 13, 1993) and Sergei Gonchar (3-1—4 on Jan. 4, 2000).
* Alex DeBrincat tallied three assists for his second consecutive three-point outing to help lift the Senators to their fourth straight victory. DeBrincat set a couple of franchise firsts in the win – he became the first Senators player to factor on eight consecutive team goals within a regular season (2-6—8 dating to Dec. 12) and the first Ottawa skater to assist on six consecutive team goals (dating to Dec. 14). Both of those runs ended with Claude Giroux’s unassisted goal at 8:14 of the third period.
QUICK CLICKS
*Luke Hughes, Devils prospect, named U.S. captain for 2023 World Juniors
*Lukas Sedlak released by Flyers after request, will play in Czech Republic
* Devils prospect Josh Filmon has 6 goals in WHL game
* CHL notebook: Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar blossoming in OHL
* Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews set to play 1,000th game together for Blackhawks
ORIGINAL SIX SHOWDOWN TAKES TO THE ICE ON ESPN
Artemi Panarin and the Rangers (17-10-5, 39 points) travel to United Center to clash with Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks (7-18-4, 18 points) in a contest broadcast nationally on ESPN. While New York has captured victories in each of its past two visits to Chicago, the latter owns an all-time home record of 134-118-46 against the visitors.
