NEW YORK — Dallas Stars left wing Jason RobertsonNew Jersey Devils goaltender Vitek Vanecek and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of November.
FIRST STAR – JASON ROBERTSON, LW, DALLAS STARS
Robertson paced the NHL with 15 goals and 26 points in 14 games (15-11-26) to power the Central Division-leading Stars (13-6-4, 30 points) to an 8-3-3 November. Robertson, who became the first player in franchise history to top the League in both goals and points during a calendar month, found the scoresheet in each of his 14 November appearances to extend his point streak to 16 contests dating to Oct. 27 (17-12-29) –the second-longest such stretch in Stars/North Stars history behind Brian Bellows’ 20-game run from Jan. 11 – Feb. 21, 1986 (11-18-29). Robertson’s November goal and point totals also ranked second for a single month in franchise history, behind Dino Ciccarelli’s 16 tallies in March 1986 (14 GP) and Tom McCarthy’s 27 points in November 1983 (12-15-27 in 13 GP). Overall, Robertson recorded multiple points in nine of his 14 outings and a quartet of multi-goal performances, highlighted by three straight such games from Nov. 21-25 (6-1-7). The 23-year-old Robertson, a second-round pick (39th overall) from the 2017 NHL Draft, now ranks first in the NHL in goals (19) and second in points (36) through 23 total contests this season after sitting fifth. goals and eight points back of the League leader – Connor McDavid (9-9-18 in 9 GP) – at the end of October (4-6-10 in 9 GP).
SECOND STAR – VITEK VANECEK, G, NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Vanecek shared the League lead with eight victories in 10 outings (9 starts), going 8-1-0 with a 2.13 goals-against average and .930 save percentage to help the Devils (19-4-0, 38 points) post an NHL-best 13-1-0 November en route to moving into first place in the Metropolitan Division. Vanecek, who yielded two or fewer goals in seven of his 10 appearances and made at least 25 saves seven times, improved to 11-2-0 (2.12 GAA, .923 SV%, 1 SO) in 15 total games since being acquired by July in New Jersey. Only one other goaltender in Devils/Scouts/Rockies history has earned at least 11 wins through their first 15 contests with the franchise: Sean Burke (also 11-2-0 in 15 GP). The 26-year-old Vanecek, who helped New Jersey match franchise records for both overall and road winning streaks, places among the top netminders this season in goals-against average (3rd; 2.12), wins (t-4th; 11) and save percentage (8th; .923).
THIRD STAR – MITCHELL MARNER, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Marner found the scoresheet in each of his 15 appearances, totaling 6-14-20 to propel the Maple Leafs (15-5-5, 35 points) to a 25-point November (11-1-3) – their highest single- month point total in franchise history. Marner matched a Toronto record – previously achieved by Darryl Sittler (17-16-33 in 1977-78) and Eddie Olczyk (11-17-28 in 1989-90) – by extending his point streak to 18 games dating to Oct. 27 (7-17-24). He also shared sixth place in November with seven power-play assists and 10th place with 15 takeaways while ranking seventh among forwards with 16 blocked shots. The 25-year-old Marner, the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, has skated in 25 total contests this season, placing among the League leaders in assists (t-5th; 21), power-play assists (t-7th ; 10) and points (11th; 29).
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