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Preds’ Mazanec named NHL rookie of the month

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After bailing Nashville out of a potentially disastrous goaltending situation, Marek Mazanec has been named the NHL’s rookie of the month for November.

Mazanec, 22, was projected to back up Carter Hutton after Hutton inherited Nashville’s No. 1 goalie gig from the injured Pekka Rinne. But when Hutton proved incapable of carrying the load, Preds head coach Barry Trotz gave Manzanec a shot -- and the rookie delivered.

Mazanec, who made his NHL debut on Nov. 8, posted a 5-4-1 record with a 2.00 GAA and .932 save percentage last month. What’s more, he posted a pair of shutouts and kept Nashville in the playoff picture, as the Preds currently sit just five points back of Phoenix for the second and final wild card berth.

The Czech netminder edged out a number of worthy rookies for this month’s award, including Chris Kreider (13 points in 15 games, including his first career hat trick), Tomas Hertl (10 points in 13 games) and Torey Krug (nine points in 15 games).