Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Stars Of The Month

03/01/2020 at 12:02pm EST

NEW YORK (March 1, 2020) – Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad and Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak have been named the NHL's “Three Stars” for the month of February.

FIRST STAR – LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS

Draisaitl led the League lead in scoring for February with 23 points (10-13—23) in 14 games as the Oilers posted a 7-5-2 record to maintain second place in the Pacific Division (34-23-8, 76 points). Draisaitl had at least one point in 10 of 14 games, including seven multi-point efforts highlighted by four-point outings Feb. 1 (0-4—4 at CGY) and Feb. 11 (1-3—4 vs. CHI). He notched goals in eight games – including two game-winners – and concluded the month with 2-1—3 on Feb. 29 against the Winnipeg Jets to reach the 100-point mark for the second time in his career (also 2018-19). One of seven players to post multiple 100-point campaigns for the Oilers, Draisaitl (65 GP) became the fastest player to reach the mark for Edmonton since 1989-90 when Mark Messier notched his 100th point in his 62nd game. The 24-year-old native of Cologne, Germany is in his sixth season all with the Oilers after being the third overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft. He leads the League in scoring with 102 points (39-63—102) in 65 games played.

SECOND STAR – MIKA ZIBANEJAD, C, NEW YORK RANGERS

Zibanejad tied for first in goals (11) and ranked second in points for the month (11-9—20) as the Rangers shared the League lead with 11 wins in February (11-4-0) to move from nine points outside a playoff position to within two points of a Wild Card spot (35-25-4, 74 points). Zibanejad recorded a point in 12 of 15 games, scoring a goal in 11 contests – including an overtime winner Feb. 25 (at NYI) that gave the Rangers a new franchise record for longest road win streak. He had a career-high nine-game point streak (Feb. 11-27: 8-7—15) and hit the 30-goal mark Feb. 27 in Montreal, becoming the first Rangers player with consecutive 30-goal campaigns since Jaromir Jagr (2005-06—2006-07) and extending his career-best goal streak to six games in the process – the longest by a Rangers player in 14 years (Jagr in 2005-06) and tied for the longest in the NHL this season. Zibanejad, 27, a native of Huddinge, Sweden, is in his ninth NHL season, fourth with the Rangers. He has 30-32—62 in 51 games this season, one goal and 13 assists/points from setting career highs in each category.

THIRD STAR – DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS

Pastrnak finished February with 19 points (10-9—19) in 14 games, including an NHL-best four game-winning goals (tied) as the Bruins shared the League lead with 11 wins (11-3-0) to move into first place in the overall standings (41-13-12, 94 points). Pastrnak had a point in 10 contests, including seven multi-point efforts highlighted by three goals Feb. 12 versus the Montreal Canadiens. It was the ninth hat trick of his career (including playoffs) and fourth of the 2019-20 season, tied for the most by a player in one campaign since 2010-11. He scored the winning goal in each of Boston’s last two games (Feb. 27 vs. DAL & Feb. 29 at NYI) to finish with four game-winning goals in February; only five players in franchise history have had more such goals in any calendar month. The 23-year-old native of Havirov, Czech Republic is in his sixth season with the Bruins after being chosen 25th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. He paces all players with 47 goals and ranks second in the League with 91 points (47-44—91 in 66 GP). Aiming to become the first Boston player to top the NHL in goals since Phil Esposito (1974-75), Pastrnak already has the most goals by a Bruins player in 26 years (Cam Neely: 50 in 1993-94).

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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