ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Duchene edged Anaheim Ducks right wing Dan Sexton (6-5--11), New Jersey Devils right wing Nicklas Bergfors (7-3--10), Avalanche left wing T.J. Galiardi (3-5--8), Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers (0-8--8) and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (6-4-1, 1.90 goals-against average) for the award.
Duchene tallied points in nine games as the Avalanche posted an 8-5-1 record. He opened the month with his first NHL three-point game, notching two goals, one assist, a +3 rating and season-high seven shots in a 6-5 shootout loss at Florida on Dec. 2. Combined with his two-goal game at Tampa Bay on Nov. 30, Duchene became the first 18-year-old to tally multiple goals in consecutive games since Florida's Radek Dvorak in November 1995. He finished the month with points in six of his last seven games, capped by a two-assist effort in a 4-2 loss at Detroit on New Year's Eve.
The third overall selection in the 2009 Entry Draft, Duchene has moved within one point of the NHL rookie scoring lead thanks to a run of 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in his past 22 games. The Haliburton, Ont. native has 27 points (11-16--27), trailing 2009 first overall draft pick John Tavares of the New York Islanders (16-12--28).
Matt Duchene in December
| DATE | Opponent | G | A | Pts. | Result |
| Dec. 2 | at Florida | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6-5 loss (SO) |
| Dec. 3 | at Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4-1 loss |
| Dec. 5 | at Columbus | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3-2 win |
| Dec. 7 | at St. Louis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-0 win |
| Dec. 9 | MINNESOTA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-0 loss |
| Dec. 11 | TAMPA BAY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-1 win (SO) |
| Dec. 13 | CALGARY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3-2 win |
| Dec. 15 | WASHINGTON | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6-1 loss |
| Dec. 19 | COLUMBUS | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5-2 win |
| Dec. 21 | at Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-3 win |
| Dec. 22 | ANAHEIM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4-2 loss |
| Dec. 26 | DALLAS | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4-1 win |
| Dec. 30 | at Ottawa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-3 win |
| Dec. 31 | at Detroit | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4-2 loss |
| Total | 5 | 8 | 13 | 8-5-1 |
