The weather took a wintry turn in December, clobbering much of the country with major snow storms and colder-than-normal temperatures. At the same time, a number of NHL players turned up the heat during the final month of 2007.

No one can top the 14 December tallies recorded by Calgary’s leader in goals and points, Jarome Iginla. He has 29 goals and 55 points on the season, good for third place in both goals scored and points. He trails Ilya Kovalchuk (33) and Alexander Ovechkin (32) in goals, Vincent Lacavalier (58) and Kovalchuk (57) in points.

Most Goals in December

Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gm. . Goals
Jarome Iginla, Cal. . . . . . . .14. . . .14
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl. . . . . . . 16. . . .12
Alexander Ovechkin, Was. . 13. . . . 11
Mike Ribeiro, Dal. . . . . . . . 14. . . .11
Joffrey Lupul, Phi. . . . . . . 13. . . . 10
Jason Spezza, Ott. . . . . . . .14. . . .10
Dany Heatley, Ott. . . . . . . .14. . . .10
Vincent Lecavalier, TB. . . . 14. . . .10

Iginla recorded a league-high seven power-play goals in December, and only he and Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin scored three game-winners last month. On Saturday with the scored tied 3-3, Iginla netted a late-third period goal to secure a 5-3 win over the Stanley Cup champion Ducks. His scoring touch has carried into January, as he’s scored four goals in his last two games.

Kovalchuk used his December surge to take over the league lead in goals scored, and he continues to pile up points. In his last four games, Kovalchuk has four goals and 10 points.

Ovechkin helped the Capitals to a home-and-home sweep of the Ottawa Senators in the last week. He tallied four goals in Saturday’s 8-6 win in Ottawa, and assisted twice in Washington’s 6-3 victory at home on New Year’s Day.

Veteran center Mike Ribeiro is enjoying a breakout season. The Stars forward has already surpassed his single-season career high with 21 goals in 38 games, and he’s been held without a point in only three of his last 15 games. Nashville and Detroit kept Ribeiro off the scorecard in his last two games.

On a team with numerous offensive weapons, Jason Spezza has been as hot as any Senators forward. He had a 10-game point scoring streak -- with nine goals and 20 points -- before he failed to get on the scoreboard in Tuesday’s loss to the Capitals. Spezza also was the points leader in December.

Most Points in December

Player. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gm. . .Pts
Jason Spezza, Ott. . . . . . . 14. . . .25
Pavel Datsyuk, Det. . . . . . .15. . . .22
Dany Heatley, Ott. . . . . . . 14. . . .22
Mike Ribeiro, Dal. . . . . . . .14. . . .20
Kristian Huselius, Cal. . . . .14. . . .20
Jarome Iginla, Cal. . . . . . . 14. . . .19
Daniel Alfredsson, Ott. . . . 14. . . .19
Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl. . . . . . .16. . . .19

Spezza’s teammate, Dany Heatley, has been held without a point only once in 12 games since the start of December. He has a goal and seven assists in his last four games.

Dating to late November, another Senator, Daniel Alfredsson, has been held without a point only once in 16 contests. He has four goals in four games going into Friday night’s game in Buffalo.