Corey Perry Named First Star of the Month in the NHL

The Anaheim Ducks had a spectacular month of October, going 9-3-0. Their 18 standings points topped the NHL, as did the team’s eight regulation and overtime wins. With the strong performance, one particular Anaheim Duck was recognized for his strong performance. Today, it was announced that Corey Perry was named the First Star of the Month, essentially named as the player of the month of October.

Perry scored a league-high ten goals in October, including two hat tricks against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the season opener on October 9th and against the Buffalo Sabres on October 22nd. In Anaheim’s 12 games in October, Perry had points in eight games, including four multi-point efforts. Perry finished with 14 points in 12 games, including the ten goals. The 14 points put him at a tie for fourth in the NHL, and his stellar performance in October is a major reason the Ducks sit atop the Western Conference and the NHL in points right now.

Joining Perry in the Three Stars of the Month were Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Dallas Stars center and right winger Tyler Seguin. Crosby was named the Second Star of the Month after scoring seven goals and 15 points in October, which was tied for the most in the NHL. In nine October contests, Crosby had points in seven games, including five multi-point outings. The Penguins finished October with a 6-2-1 record, which was the best record in the Metropolitan Division. The 2014 Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner is well on his way to leading the league in scoring, and Crosby should be another favorite to win the Hart Trophy again this season with a spectacular opening month.

Seguin also scored seven goals and 15 points in the month of October, tying Crosby and Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek for the league lead. Though he was scoreless in the first two games of October, Seguin scored in seven consecutive contests, starting with a terrific outing against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 14th, where he scored a hat trick. He also scored a career-high four assists against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 18th and netted the power-play game-winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with three seconds left on October 16th. Those three games helped him win First Star of the Week in the NHL, and Seguin continued putting up points on the score sheet. Seguin continues to be terrific for Dallas after the Stars made the blockbuster acquisition for the 2nd overall pick in 2010 after the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.