Thomas, Toews and Lupul earn November honors from NHL

NEW YORK – Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews and Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Joffrey Lupul have been named the NHL ‘Three Stars’ for the month of November.
 
FIRST STAR — TIM THOMAS, G, BOSTON BRUINS
Thomas won all nine of his starts in November with a 1.76 goals-against average and .941 save percentage as the Bruins (15-7-1) completed the month without a regulation loss (12-0-1). The defending Stanley Cup champions jumped from last place to first in the Northeast Division and within two points of the first-place Minnesota Wild in the NHL overall standings. Thomas allowed two goals or fewer in five appearances, including three road shutouts: at Toronto November 5, New York Islanders November 19 and Montreal November 21. The 2011 Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy winner is just the fourth goaltender in NHL history to win all decisions in a calendar month with at least nine victories, joining Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils (9-0-0 in April 2006), Bernie Parent of the Philadelphia Flyers (10-0-0 in March 1975) and Jacques Plante of the Montreal Canadiens (9-0-0 in December 1955).
 
SECOND STAR — JONATHAN TOEWS, C, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Toews tallied 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in November as the Blackhawks (14-8-3) finished the month even in points with the Detroit Red Wings atop the Central Division. The 23-year-old Blackhawks captain sparked his club’s offense with five multiple-point performances and three game-winning goals. He recorded two goals, including the game-winner, in a 6-3 win over Edmonton Oilers November 13, tallied the game-winning goal among five points (two goals, three assists) in a 6-5 victory over the Anaheim Ducks November 25 and notched his second consecutive game-winner and fourth of the season in a 2-1 win at Los Angeles November 26. Toews leads the Blackhawks in scoring with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 25 games.
 
THIRD STAR — JOFFREY LUPUL, RW, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Lupul led all NHL scorers in November with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists)

in 14 games as Toronto (14-9-2) ended the month one point behind the Northeast Division-leading Bruins. Lupul tallied points in 12 games, highlighted by his first Maple Leafs hat trick — three goals in the second period of a 5-3 win at New Jersey November 2 — and became the first Leaf with three goals in a period since Wendel Clark on November 9, 1996 against Edmonton. He finished the month on a seven-game point streak (2-9–11), including a one-goal, three-assist performance in a 7-1 victory over Washington Capitals November 19. Lupul ranks second in the NHL scoring race with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists), two behind linemate Phil Kessel (16-16–32).
  Contact Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com