NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for November after posting 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 14 games. Also named the League’s top rookie for October, Nugent-Hopkins joins Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (2006-07) as the only players in the past 20 years to sweep rookie honors for the first two months of a season.
Nugent-Hopkins edged New Jersey Devils center Adam Henrique (5-9-14 in 14 games), Nashville Predators center Craig Smith (3-5–8 in 13 games), Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matt Read (6-1–7 in 10 games) and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth (6-4-1, 2.31 goals-against average, one shutout) for the award.
The first overall pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, Nugent-Hopkins recorded an historic five-assist performance in a 9-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks November 19, becoming the first 18-year-old in NHL history to tally five assists in one game and only the fourth 18-year-old with five points in a game. He scored a pair of goals in a 5-2 win at Minnesota November 25, ending the Oilers’ 17-game winless streak at Xcel Energy Center, and closed the month figuring in both Edmonton goals in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Wild November 30. The last Oilers rookies to exceed Nugent-Hopkins’ calendar month points total were Hockey Hall of Famers Glenn Anderson and Jari Kurri, who tallied 23 and 20 points, respectively, in March 1981.
Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers and all rookies in scoring with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 25 games and ranks sixth in the overall NHL scoring race.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in November
Date Opponent G A PTS Result
November 3 at Los Angeles 0 0 0 3-0 win
November 5 at Phoenix 1 0 1 4-2 loss
November 8 at Montreal 0 0 0 3-1 win
November 10 at Boston 1 0 1 6-3 loss
November 11 at Detroit 0 0 0 3-0 loss
November 13 at Chicago 0 1 1 6-3 loss
November 17 OTTAWA 0 0 0 5-2 loss
November 19 CHICAGO 0 5 5 9-2 win
November 21 at Dallas 1 0 1 4-1 loss
November 22 at Nashville 0 2 2 6-2 win
November 25 at Minnesota 2 0 2 5-2 win
November 26 at Colorado 0 0 0 5-2 loss
November 28 NASHVILLE 0 1 1 2-1 loss
November 30 MINNESOTA 1 1 2 3-2 loss (SO)
Totals 6 10
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