Rookie of the Month Honors For Connor McDavid; Player of the Month Honors For Ryan Getzlaf

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, wholed all rookies with 12 assists and 17 points in 14 games, has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for February.
McDavid edged Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4-9—13
in 15 GP), Chicago Blackhawks left wing Artemi Panarin (5-6—11 in 9 GP) and
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (7-3-2, 2.46 GAA, .922 SV%) for
the honor.

McDavid, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, registered at least one
point in 10 of his 14 February appearances. That included 1-2—3 in his return from a 37-
game absence Feb. 2 vs. CBJ and 2-3—5 – career highs for assists and points – Feb. 11
vs. TOR.

 At 19 years, 29 days, McDavid became the ninth-youngest player in NHL
history to record a five-point game and just the third rookie in Oilers history to accomplish
that feat (also Dave Lumley and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins).

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native paces all rookies with an average of 1.07 points
per game this season (10-19—29 in 27 GP). He also won Rookie of the Month honors in
October (5-7—12 in 12 GP)

---

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Nashville Predators left wing FilipForsberg have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of February.


FIRST STAR – RYAN GETZLAF, C, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Getzlaf led all players with 6-14—20 and a +13 rating in 14 games to power the
Ducks (34-19-8, 76 points) to a 12-1-1 February, their most wins and points in one
calendar month in franchise history. He recorded at least one point in 13 of his 14
outings, including an 11-game streak to close the month (5-12—17). Getzlaf also posted
seven multi-point performances, highlighted by four straight such contests Feb. 8-13
(2-6—8). He added three game-winning goals – Feb. 13 at CHI, Feb. 18 at VAN and
Feb. 21 vs. CGY – to lift the Ducks within two points of first place in the Pacific Division.
The 30-year-old Regina, Sask., native paces the team with 9-42—51 in 57 outings this
season; his 42 assists are tied for fifth place in the NHL.


SECOND STAR- ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS 

Ovechkin shared first overall with 12 goals in 13 games (12-4—16) to guide the
League-leading Capitals (45-12-4, 94 points) to a 10-4-0 February. He scored in nine of
his 13 outings, including a pair of multi-goal performances: Feb. 11 at MIN (3-0—3) and
Feb. 18 at NYI (2-0—2). Ovechkin then reached the 40-goal milestone for the eighth
time in his 11 NHL seasons Feb. 26 vs. MIN (1-1—2). In doing so, he became the 10th
player in League history to record eight or more 40-goal campaigns. The 30-year-old
Moscow native paces the League with 40 goals in 59 contests this season (40-18—58),
including 19 in his last 21 games (19-5—24). He also ranks first in the NHL with 16
power-play goals, aided by five in February.


THIRD STAR – FILIP FORSBERG, LW, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forsberg also tied for the League lead with 12 goals in 13 games (12-4—16) to
lift the Predators (31-21-11, 73 points) to a 7-3-3 February and the first Wild Card spot in
the Western Conference. He recorded a trio of multi-goal performances, highlighted by a
pair of natural hat tricks in his final three outings of the month: Feb. 23 at TOR (3-0—3)
and Feb. 27 vs. STL (3-1—4). In doing so, Forsberg became the first player to register
multiple natural hat tricks in three or fewer team games since 1986-87, when Petri
Skriko did so in consecutive outings (w/ VAN). The 21-year-old Ostervala, Sweden,
native paces the Predators with 26 goals in 63 games this season (26-20—46),
matching his rookie total from 2014-15 (82 GP).