Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg has been named the NHL’s rookie of the month for November, the league announced on Monday:
Forsberg, the 11th overall selection by the Washington Capitals in the 2012 NHL Draft, opened the month on a six-game goal/point streak (7-5—12). He became the first rookie to score in six straight games since Feb. 5-15, 2011, when Michael Grabner did so with the New York Islanders (10-3—13). Forsberg also became just the fourth active player to record a goal streak of at least six games during his rookie season, joining Alex Ovechkin (2x in 2005-06), Evgeni Malkin (2006-07) and Grabner (2010-11).
Three of Forsberg’s nine goals in November were game-winners. He posted 2-1—3, including his first career multi-goal game, first career three-point performance and first career game-winning goal, in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 2. Forsberg then collected a pair of decisive markers against the Edmonton Oilers – in a 3-2 triumph Nov. 11 and a 1-0 win Nov. 27, highlighted by his first career overtime goal. He also registered a career-high nine shots on goal, plus the shootout winner (his first career shootout goal), in a 3-2 triumph over the Florida Panthers Nov. 22.
Forsberg, a 20-year-old native of Ostervala, Sweden, paces the NHL with a +20 rating and leads all rookies in goals (10), assists (13-tied), points (23), power-play points (6-tied), game-winning goals (3) and shots on goal (70) in 23 appearances this season.
Other rookies in the running for this month’s award:
-- Winnipeg Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson (4-0-2, 1.22 GAA, .958 SV%, one shutout)
-- Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (2-7—9 in 13 GP)
-- Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman (6-2—8 in 14 GP)
-- Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3-5—8 in 10 GP)
With the win, Forsberg joins Los Angeles forward Tanner Pearson (October) as the rookie of the month award winners this season.