NEW YORK – – Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavidBoston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak and New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of October.
FIRST STAR – CONNOR McDAVID, C, EDMONTON OILERS
McDavid paced the NHL with nine goals and 18 points in nine games (9-9-18) to propel the Oilers to a 6-3-0 (12 points) October. McDavid began 2022-23 with his second career season-opening hat trick (Oct. 12 vs. VAN: 3-1-4), helping him become the sixth-fastest player in League history to reach the 700-point milestone (488 GP ). Overall, McDavid – who also shared the League lead with five power-play goals and eight power-play points (5-3-8) – found the scoresheet in seven of his nine appearances, highlighted by a League-best three four-pointers. performances (also Oct. 20 vs. CAR: 1-3-4 and Oct. 27 at CHI: 3-1-4) and pair of hat tricks. The no. 1 overall pick from the 2015 NHL Draft – who is seeking his third consecutive and fifth overall Art Ross Trophy – tops the League with 715 points (83 more than the next-closest player) and 467 assists (62 more than the next-closest player ) since making his debut in 2015-16. McDavid’s career average of 1.44 points per game (248-467-715 in 496 GP) ranks fourth all-time among players with a minimum of 100 NHL appearances, behind only Wayne Gretzky (1.92), Mario Lemieux (1.88) and Mike Bossy ( 1.50).
Video: EDM@CHI: McDavid nets his 2nd hat trick this season
SECOND STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS
Pastrnak finished second in the NHL with 7-10-17 in nine contests to power the Bruins (8-1-0, 16 points) to the top of the league standings via their best nine-game start to a season – both in terms of wins and points – in the franchise’s 98-year history. Pastrnak also got off to a quick start in 2022-23, registering 1 3-4 Oct. 12 at WSH for his second career season-opening four-point performance – a feat achieved by only six other players in NHL history. He ultimately collected points in seven of his nine appearances, including a pair of three-point outings (Oct. 18 at OTT: 1-2-3 and Oct. 27 vs. DET: 1-2-3) and a run of four straight multi-point games to close the month (Oct. 22-28: 4-5-9). The 25th overall pick from the 2014 NHL Draft – who placed among the top 10 in October in shots on goal (3rd; 50), goals (t 4th; 7), assists (t-4th; 10), power-play assists ( t-6th; 5) and power-play points (t-6th; 7) – shares ninth place in the League with 247 career goals since making his debut in 2014-15 (247-274-521 in 519 GP).
Video: FLA@BOS: Pastrnak dekes for spectacular goal
THIRD STAR – ARTEMI PANARIN, LW, NEW YORK RANGERS
Panarin ranked third in the NHL with 5-11-16 in 10 outings to guide New York to a 5-3-2 month (12 points). Aided by a pair of four-point performances (Oct. 13 at MIN: 1-3-4 and Oct. 17 vs. ANA: 1 3-4), Panarin became the first Rangers player since Jaromir Jagr in 2006-07 (3 -15-18) with 16 or more points through the team’s first 10 games of a season. Panarin – who tied for second in assists (11) and shared the league lead in power-play assists (7) and power-play points (8) – did so by finding the scoresheet in eight of his 10 appearances, capped by a three. -point outing on his 31st birthday: Oct. 30 at ARI (1-2-3). The undrafted winner of the 2015-16 Calder Memorial Trophy has compiled 192-393-585 in 518 career NHL games, trailing only three players in points – McDavid (715), Patrick Kane (632) and Leon Draisaitl (623) – Since making his League debut.
Video: SJS@NYR: Panarin hammers Fox’s dish into the twine
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