Huberdeau leads 3 Stars of the Month for January

NEW YORK - - Florida Panthers left wing Jonathan Huberdeau, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros and Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of January.

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FIRST STAR - JONATHAN HUBERDEAU, LW, FLORIDA PANTHERS

Huberdeau led the NHL with 19 assists and 25 points in 15 games (6-19-25) to lift the Panthers (32-9-5, 69 points) into first place in the overall League standings via a 12-2-1 January - their most wins in a calendar month in franchise history. Huberdeau found the scoresheet in 13 of his 15 appearances, including a seven-game run to open the month (Jan. 1-15: 4-11-15). He also recorded seven multi-point performances, highlighted by four points Jan. 14 vs. DAL (1-3-4) as well as a trio of three-point outings (Jan. 1 vs. MTL: 0-3-3, Jan. 23 at SEA: 1-2-3 and Jan. 29 vs. SJS: 1-2-3). Huberdeau - who was 14 points behind Connor McDavid in the Art Ross Trophy race entering January - currently tops the NHL with 17-46-63 through 46 total appearances this season. The 28-year-old Saint-Jerome, Que., native is scheduled to participate in his second career NHL All-Star Game this Saturday in Las Vegas (3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT, ABC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports).

SECOND STAR - JUUSE SAROS, G, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros started 12 of Nashville's 13 January games, going 8-2-2 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .934 save percentage to propel the Predators (27-14-4, 58 points) into second place in the Central Division. He yielded two or fewer goals in eight of his 12 appearances, bookended by four-game runs to open (Jan. 1-8: 4-0-0) and close (Jan. 20-27: 3-0-1) the month. Saros also made 35 or more saves in eight of his 12 outings, highlighted by a season-high 46 stops Jan. 6 at LAK (4-2 W). The 26-year-old Forssa, Finland, native - who is set to make his NHL All-Star Game debut this weekend - has compiled a 23-11-3 record, 2.36 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts through 37 total appearances in 2021-22, placing among the goaltending leaders in games played (1st), wins (t-3rd) and save percentage (5th).

THIRD STAR - BRYAN RUST, RW, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Rust paced the NHL with 1.91 points per game, collecting 10-11-21 in 11 outings to guide the Penguins (27-11-7, 61 points) into third place in the Metropolitan Division via a 10-3-2 January. Rust began 2022 in historic fashion, registering 7-4-11 through his first three contests to become the seventh different player in NHL history with 11 or more points in his first three appearances of a calendar year. Overall, Rust picked up multiple points in seven of his 11 January outings, highlighted by his fifth career hat trick and first career five-point performance Jan. 2 vs. SJS (3-2-5). The 29-year-old Pontiac, Mich., native has skated in 23 total contests this season, ranking ninth in the League with 1.30 points per game (12-18-30).