PREDATORS’ FORSBERG NAMED NHL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER
Nashville Predators center Filip Forsberg, who led all rookies with nine goals, 15 points and a +9 rating in 13 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for November.
Forsberg edged Winnipeg Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson (4-0-2, 1.22 GAA, .958 SV%, 1 SO in 6 GP), Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (2-7—9 in 13 GP), Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (2-9—11 in 13 GP), Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman (6-2—8 in 14 GP) and Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3-5—8 in 10 GP) for the honor.
Forsberg, the 11th overall selection by the Washington Capitals in the 2012 NHL Draft, opened the month on a six-game goal/point streak (7-5—12). He became the first rookie to score in six straight games since Feb. 5-15, 2011, when Michael Grabner did so with the New York Islanders (10-3—13). Forsberg also became just the fourth active player to record a goal streak of at least six games during his rookie season, joining Alex Ovechkin (2x in 2005-06), Evgeni Malkin (2006-07) and Grabner (2010-11).
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Three of Forsberg’s nine goals in November were game-winners. He posted 2-1—3, including his first career multi-goal game, first career three-point performance and first career game-winning goal, in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 2. Forsberg then collected a pair of decisive markers against the Edmonton Oilers – in a 3-2 triumph Nov. 11 and a 1-0 win Nov. 27, highlighted by his first career overtime goal. He also registered a career-high nine shots on goal, plus the shootout winner (his first career shootout goal), in a 3-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers Nov. 22.
Forsberg, a 20-year-old native of Ostervala, Sweden, paces the NHL with a +20 rating and leads all rookies in goals (10), assists (13-tied), points (23), power-play points (6-tied), game-winning goals (3) and shots on goal (70) in 23 appearances this season. He joins Los Angeles Kings left wing Tanner Pearson (October) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2014-15.
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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