Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat has been named the NHL’s rookie of the month for January. The Bolts rookie had five goals and 16 points in 15 games. (Photo/Susan Ferlita)
Here is the announcement from the NHL:
NEW YORK – Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat, who led all rookies in scoring with 16 points (5-11–16) in 15 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for January.
Palat edged Lightning center Tyler Johnson (7-7–14 in 15 games), Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (9-4–13 in 14 games), Minnesota Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper (6-2-1, 2.15 goals-against average, .932 save %) and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen (5-0-0, 1.86 goals-against average, .939 save %).
Palat registered points in the first five games of the month, extending his point streak to eight games (4-6–10, Dec. 23 to Jan. 9) — the longest ever by a Lightning rookie. He also tallied points in five consecutive games at the end of the month (2-7–9, Jan. 19-30).
Named to the Czech Republic team for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Palat leads NHL rookie forwards in plus-minus (+20) and ranks second in average ice time per game (17:14). The 22-year-old also ranks third among all rookies in assists (20) and fourth in points (11-20–31).
Palat joins San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl (October), Nashville Predators goaltender Marek Mazanek (November), Los Angeles Kings goaltender Martin Jones (December co-winner) and Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Raanta (December co-winner) as recipients of the award this season.
Ondrej Palat in January
| Date | Opponent | G | A | Pts | Result |
| Jan. 1 | at Vancouver | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4-2 win |
| Jan. 3 | at Calgary | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2-0 win |
| Jan. 5 | at Edmonton | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5-3 loss |
| Jan. 7 | at Winnipeg | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-2 win |
| Jan. 9 | WASHINGTON | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4-3 loss |
| Jan. 11 | at Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6-3 win |
| Jan. 13 | at Columbus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3-2 loss |
| Jan. 14 | at NY Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-1 win |
| Jan. 16 | NY ISLANDERS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2-1 S/O loss |
| Jan. 18 | SAN JOSE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5-4 loss |
| Jan. 19 | at Carolina | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5-3 win |
| Jan. 23 | OTTAWA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-3 S/O win |
| Jan. 25 | COLORADO | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5-2 win |
| Jan. 28 | at Toronto | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3-2 loss |
| Jan. 30 | at Ottawa | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5-3 loss |
| Totals | 5 | 11 | 16 | 8-6-1 |
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