Evgeny Kuznetsov has been selected as the NHL’s first star for the month of January after posting 16 points in 10 games (and earning his first ticket to the All-Star Game over the weekend).
To put that into perspective, Kuznetsov’s 16 points were the second-most in the League in January, trailing Patrick Kane by just a single point – and doing so in four fewer games played. He was held off the scoresheet just two times in those ten games, and had five multipoint games (with at least three points in three of those games).
Kuznetsov currently leads the Caps in scoring with 49 points, and ranks sixth in the League in that department; his 2.38 points per 60 at five-on-five rank 10th in the NHL.
Many congrats, Kuznetsov!
ARLINGTON, VA. – Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has been named the NHL’s “First Star” for the month of January, the NHL announced today.
Kuznetsov ranked second in the NHL with 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 10 games to lead the Capitals (35-8-4, 74 points) to a 7-1-2 January and the top of the League standings. He registered at least one point in seven of his 10 appearances, highlighted by a trio of three-point performances in a four-game span: Jan. 14 vs. VAN (two goals, one assist), Jan. 17 vs. NYR (three assists) and Jan. 19 at CBJ (four assists). In the latter two contests, Kuznetsov became the fifth player in franchise history to collect three or more assists in consecutive games – and the first to achieve that feat since teammate Nicklas Backstrom on Jan. 19-21, 2008 (eight assists). The Chelyabinsk, Russia, native – who earned 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 97 career outings prior to 2015-16 – shares fourth place in the NHL with 34 assists and is tied for fifth overall with 49 points in 47 games this season. He also shares the League lead with a +24 rating, boosted by a +7 clip in January.