Ducks' Corey Perry earns NHL "Three Stars" for the month; LA Kings Tanner Pearson wins Rookie of Month

One reason for the Anaheim Ducks hot 10-3 start to the season has been the stellar play of right wing Corey Perry. Today Perry was recognized by the NHL for his performance during October, as the league named him one of its “Three Stars” for the month. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin also were given the honor.

FIRST STAR – COREY PERRY, RW, ANAHEIM DUCKS

Perry led the League with 10 goals in 12 games, helping the Ducks (9-3-0, 18 points) finish October with the top record in the NHL. He began the season with points in each of his first five outings (5-2—7), including his sixth career hat trick in Anaheim’s season-opener Oct. 9 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Perry then recorded his second hat trick of 2014-15 Oct. 22 versus the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the sixth player in the past 29 years – and first since 2003-04 (Ilya Kovalchuk) – to post multiple three-goal games in his team’s first seven contests of one season.

Perry capped the month with multi-point performances Oct. 24 against the Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1—2) and Oct. 31 versus the Dallas Stars (1-1—2). Overall, Perry found the scoresheet in eight of Anaheim’s 12 October games, including four multi-point performances. The 28th overall selection by the Ducks in the 2003 NHL Draft, Perry has 274-288—562 in 668 career regular-season games.

SECOND STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Crosby (7-8—15) tied for the League lead with 15 points in nine October games to lift the Penguins (6-2-1, 13 points) to the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. He posted consecutive three-point performances to open the season – Oct. 9 versus the Anaheim Ducks (2-1—3) and Oct. 11 against the Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2—3) – becoming the first Penguins player since 1995-96 to register three or more points in each of the team’s first two games of one season. Crosby then collected his 500th NHL assist Oct. 18 against the New York Islanders, becoming the sixth-fastest player in League history to reach that milestone (554 GP). Overall, he found the scoresheet in seven of Pittsburgh’s nine contests, including five multi-point efforts. The reigning Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Art Ross Trophy winner, Crosby has 281-506—787 in 560 career regular-season games.

THIRD STAR – TYLER SEGUIN, C, DALLAS STARS

Seguin (7-8—15) shared the League lead with 15 points to power the Stars to a 4-2-4 record (12 points) in their 10 October games. After being held off the scoresheet in each of the team’s first two outings, he collected points in seven straight appearances. Among Seguin’s highlights were his fifth career hat trick Oct. 14 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the game-winning goal with 2.9 seconds remaining in regulation Oct. 16 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a career-high four assists Oct. 18 versus the Philadelphia Flyers. He then capped the month with matching 1-1—2 performances Oct. 25 at the New York Islanders and Oct. 28 against the St. Louis Blues (including his 100th career goal). Seguin, the second overall selection in the 2010 NHL Draft, has 220 points in 294 career regular-season games, including 44-55—99 in 91 outings since joining the Stars for the 2013-14 season.


LA Kings' Pearson earns NHL Rookie of the Month Honor

One member of the defending champion Los Angeles Kings collected an individual honor today, as left wing Tanner Pearson, who led all rookies with seven goals and nine points in 11 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for October.

Pearson, 22, edged Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (2-6—8 in nine games), Nashville Predators center Filip Forsberg (1-7—8 in 10 games), and New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson (4-3—7 in 10 games) for the honor.

The 30th overall selection by the Kings in the 2012 NHL Draft, Pearson scored the team’s first goal of the season Oct. 11 against the Arizona Coyotes. He followed that up with consecutive multi-point performances: 1-1—2 Oct. 12 against the Winnipeg Jets and 2-1—3 Oct. 14 against the Edmonton Oilers, setting career highs for goals and points in one game. Pearson then capped the month with his second career multi-goal game Oct. 26 against the Columbus Blue Jackets (2-0—2).

Pearson made his NHL debut Nov. 14, 2013 against the New York Islanders, scoring a goal in his first career game. Playing alongside Tyler Toffoli (6-8—14) and Jeff Carter (5-7—12), the trio known as “That ’70s Line” combined for 35 points in 11 October games, including 18 of the team’s 25 regulation/overtime goals.