RINNE, KUCHEROV AND McDAVID NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ FOR NOVEMBER
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of November.
FIRST STAR – PEKKA RINNE, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Rinne shared the League lead with nine wins (9-1-2) and paced the NHL with a 1.49 goals-against average and .949 save percentage in 12 appearances to guide the Predators (11-8-3, 25 points) to a 9-3-2 November. He allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his 12 outings, including his 41st career shutout Nov. 12 vs. ANA (27 SV). Rinne also made 30-plus saves in five of his November appearances, highlighted by 37 in a month closing win Nov. 29 at COL. The 34-year-old Kempele, Finland, native owns a 10-5-3 record in 18 total contests this season, ranking sixth in the League in save percentage (.934) and eighth in goals-against average (2.03).
SECOND STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Kucherov placed second in the NHL in both goals (10) and points (18) in 15 November outings to power the Lightning (13-10-1, 27 points) to an 8-6-1 month. He registered at least one point in 10 his 15 appearances, including five multi-point efforts. Kucherov also matched a career high with 2-2—4, including the decisive goal, Nov. 1 at NYI and added a pair of other winning tallies (Nov. 10 vs. NYI and Nov. 15 at DET). The 23-year-old Maykop, Russia, native ranks third in the League with 11-15—26 in 23 games this season. He also leads the Lightning and ranks in the top 10 in the NHL in both goals (t-7th) and assists (t-5th).
THIRD STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS
McDavid paced the League with 6-13—19 in 15 games as the Oilers (12-10-2, 26 points) posted a 5-8-2 November. He picked up at least one point in 11 of his 15 outings, highlighted by his first career hat trick Nov. 19 at DAL. McDavid registered four other multi-point performances, including two additional three-point games (Nov. 8 at PIT: 0-3—3 and Nov. 23 at COL: 1-2—3). The 19-year-old Richmond Hill, Ont., native leads the NHL with 20 assists and 31 points in 24 contests this season. His career average of 1.14 points per game (27-52—79 in 69 GP) ranks third among active players, behind only Sidney Crosby (1.33) and Evgeni Malkin (1.17).
* Information provided via NHL Press Release
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