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Preds’ Forsberg named rookie of the month

Filip Forsberg

Nashville Predators’ Filip Forsberg, of Sweden, celebrates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

AP

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.