NHL Three Stars For October

Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov and St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of October.

FIRST STAR – STEVEN STAMKOS, C, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Stamkos led the NHL with 18 assists and 24 points (6-18—24) in 13 games to power the Lightning (10-2-1, 21 points) into first place in the League standings. He registered at least one point in 12 of his 13 outings, highlighted by an 11-game streak to open the season (4-17—21) as well as eight multi-point performances. Stamkos, who picked up his 600th career point with 1-3—4 Oct. 21 vs. PIT, also paced the League with 10 power-play points (4-6—10). The 27-year-old Markham, Ont., native – who was limited to 17 games last season – ranks second in the NHL with 327 goals and 11th with 606 points since making his League debut in 2008-09 (599 GP).

SECOND STAR – NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Kucherov topped the NHL with 13 goals and placed second with 21 points to help the Lightning reach 10 wins faster than any other season in franchise history. He scored in 11 of his 13 contests, including seven straight games to open the campaign (8-5—13) – the longest such streak by any player since 1992-93. Kucherov also began the season with an 11-game point streak (12-7—19), making him and Stamkos the seventh set of teammates in League history – and first since 1992-93 – to achieve the feat. The 24-year-old Maykop, Russia, native paces the League with 53 goals and ranks second with 106 points over the past two seasons (87 GP).

THIRD STAR – JADEN SCHWARTZ, LW, ST. LOUIS BLUES
Schwartz placed third in the NHL with 8-9—17 in 13 games to lift the Blues (10‑2‑1, 21 points) into first place in the Western Conference. He collected at least one point in 11 of his 13 appearances, highlighted by five multi-point efforts and his third career hat trick Oct. 18 vs. CHI. Schwartz’ 17 total points were the most by any Blues player in October since 2000, when Pierre Turgeon posted an equal number (4-13—17 in 12 GP). The 25-year-old Wilcox, Sask., native has registered 97-132—229 in 331 career games since making his NHL debut in March 2011.