Barzal named NHL Rookie of Month for January

NEW YORK - New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, who led all rookies with 12 assists and 15 points in 13 games (3-12-15), has been named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January.
Barzal edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Yanni Gourde (6-2-8 in 12 GP), Islanders teammate Ryan Pulock (2-6-8 in 13 GP), Pittsburgh Penguins center Dominik Simon (4-3-7 in 11 GP) and Chicago Blackhawks right wing Alex DeBrincat (4-3-7 in 12 GP) for the honor.

Barzal registered at least one point in eight of his 13 January appearances, highlighted by 2-3-5 Jan. 13 at NYR - his second five-point performance of the season (also Nov. 5 vs. COL: 0-5-5). Only four other rookies have posted multiple five-point games within a single season during the League's expansion era (since 1967-68); Barzal became the first to do so since 1981-82 (Marian Stastny).
The 16th overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, Barzal paces all rookies with 35 assists and 51 points through 52 contests this season. The 20-year-old Coquitlam, B.C., native joins Arizona Coyotes center Clayton Keller (October) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (November and December) as a Rookie of the Month winner in 2017-18.

Mathew Barzal in January

Date, Opponent, G, A, PTS, Result
Jan. 2, BOSTON, 0, 0, 0, 5-1, L
Jan. 4, at Philadelphia, 0, 1, 1, 6-4 L
Jan. 5, PITTSBURGH, 0, 0, 0, 4-0 L
Jan. 7, NEW JERSEY, 0, 2, 2, 5-4 SO W
Jan. 13, at NY Rangers, 2, 3, 5, 7-2 W
Jan. 15, at Montreal, 1, 2, 3, 5-4 OT W
Jan. 16, NEW JERSEY, 0, 0, 0, 4-1 L
Jan. 18, BOSTON, 0, 1, 1, 5-2 L
Jan. 20, at Chicago, 0, 1, 1, 7-3 W
Jan. 22, at Arizona, 0, 1, 1, 3-2 OT L
Jan. 25, at Vegas, 0, 1, 1, 2-1 W
Jan. 30, FLORIDA, 0, 0, 0, 4-1 L
Jan. 31, at Toronto, 0, 0, 0, 5-0 L
Totals 3, 12, 15, 5-7-1