Remember back in the preseason, just about 30 days ago, when we all got our first look at Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn for the first time since double hip surgery and went “Looks good for five months out but clearly needs more time to get back up to NHL game speed”?
Yeah, about that…
On the heels of a blistering October, where he not only came out at full speed but even better than he was in his 2014-15 Art Ross Trophy campaign, Benn was named the first star of the month by the NHL after posting a league-leading nine goals and 17 points in 11 games.
To quantify how absurd that is, that’s a 67-goal, 127-point pace over a significant stretch of play.
Benn had points in six consecutive games to start the season and has been the enemy of goalies up and down both coasts of North America. Alongside partner in offensive hockey chemistry Tyler Seguin, Benn has led the Stars to tie their best start in franchise history at 9-2-0. Mike Heika wrote a lovely Observations column on Benn last week, deeming him the bell cow of the Stars group. You should read it here.
The second star of the month was Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, while the third start of the month was Boston Bruins forward David Krejci, who the Stars will see tomorrow in Boston.
The NHL’s full release is below:
NEW YORK – Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price and Boston Bruins center David Krejci have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of October.
FIRST STAR – JAMIE BENN, LW, DALLAS STARS
Benn shared first in the NHL with nine goals and led the League with 17 points, helping the Stars (9-2-0, 18 points) match their best 11-game start to a season in franchise history (also 1996-97 and 2006-07). He recorded at least one point in nine of his 11 appearances, including a six-game point streak to open the campaign (6-4—10). Benn also registered six multi-point performances, highlighted by a pair of three-point games (Oct. 17 at FLA: 2-1—3 and Oct. 27 vs. ANA: 0-3—3) as well as two game-winning goals (Oct. 20 at PHI: 1-1—2 and Oct. 29 vs. VAN: 1-1—2). The 26-year-old Victoria, B.C., native and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner has spent his entire NHL career with the Stars, compiling 160-216—376 in 437 outings – that includes 16-16—32 in his past 17 appearances dating to last season.
SECOND STAR – CAREY PRICE, G, MONTREAL CANADIENS
Price went 7-2-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average, .936 save percentage and two shutouts to backstop the Canadiens (11-2-0, 22 points) to their best 13-game start in more than 40 years as well as the top record in the NHL. He played seven of nine games during the team’s season-opening winning streak, capped by a 49-save performance in a 5-3 victory Oct. 24 vs. TOR. Price allowed two or fewer goals in six of his nine outings, including shutouts Oct. 15 vs. NYR (25 SV) and Oct. 20 vs. STL (38 SV). The 28-year-old Anahim Lake, B.C., native – and reigning Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy winner – owns a 230-155-50 record in 444 career NHL appearances (2.43 GAA, .920 SV%, 36 SO).
THIRD STAR – DAVID KREJCI, C, BOSTON BRUINS
Krejci ranked third among skaters with 7-8—15 in 10 contests to power the Bruins (6-3-1, 13 points) to third place in the Atlantic Division, punctuated by a seven-game point streak to close the month (6-0-1). He collected at least one point in each of his first nine outings of the campaign, becoming the first Bruins player to compile a season-opening point streak of nine or more games since 1992-93 (Joe Juneau and Dmitri Kvartalnov: 14 GP). That included four multi-point performances, highlighted by three-point efforts Oct. 12 vs. TBL (1-2—3) and Oct. 17 at ARI (1-2—3). The 29-year-old Sternberk, Czech Republic, native has spent his entire NHL career with the Bruins, posting 124-300—424 in 561 appearances.