Mikko Rantanen named NHL second star for the month of November

Avalanche star winger Mikko Rantanen was named second star of the month for November, the league announced Sunday.

Rantanen finished tied for the league lead in goals (11) while adding eight assists for a total of 19 points in 14 games. Colorado was 8-6-0 and Rantanen scored the game-winning goal in four of them. Only three other matches had a winner since shootout victories do not record GWG.

Rantanen scored in seven of 14 games, including his second hat trick of the season and two other two-goal games.

Even though he’s playing without a contract extension, the 28-year-old Finn, one of the NHL’s best wingers, hasn’t let his impending free agency status become a distraction. He has 15 goals, 19 assists and 34 points in 25 games. The 111 point pace he is currently playing at would be a career high. Rantanen is one of the few skaters to have accumulated more than 100 points in each of the last two seasons.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (7 G, 15 A, 22 P in 15 PJ) was named first star, while Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (8-2-0, 2.10 GAA, .931 save percentage) earned third star.