FIRST STAR - JOHN CARLSON, D, WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Carlson paced defensemen in goals, assists and points - and ranked third in the entire NHL with 7-16-23 in 14 games - to power the Capitals to the top of the League standings on the strength of their best-ever October (9-2-3, 21 points). Only one blueliner in NHL history has recorded more points in a single October: Calgary's Al MacInnisin 1990 (8-17-25 in 13 GP). Carlson - who found the scoresheet in 12 of his 14 appearances - registered eight multi-point outings, highlighted by three-point performances Oct. 10 at NSH (0-3-3), Oct. 16 vs. TOR
(1‑2-3) and Oct. 18 vs. NYR (0‑3-3). That helped him establish a franchise record for points by a defenseman in any calendar month, surpassing Sergei Gonchar's 22 in January 2000 (10‑12-22 in 14 GP), and also match a Washington record for points by any skater in a single October (Alex Ovechkin: 14‑9-23 in 13 GP in 2009). The 29-year-old Natick, Mass., native has collected 97-329-426 in 702 career NHL games (all w/ WSH), tied for the third-most points by any blueliner in Capitals history.
SECOND STAR - DAVID PASTRNAK, RW, BOSTON BRUINS
Pastrnak shared the League lead with 12 goals and placed second overall with 24 points in 12 contests (12-12-24) to lift the Bruins to the top of the Atlantic Division, also via their best-ever October (9-1-2, 20 points). Pastrnak compiled all of his points during a 10-game streak to close the month, two shy of his career high set Nov. 22 - Dec. 18, 2017 (5-9-14 in 12 GP). The current run has featured a four-goal performance (Oct. 14 vs. ANA), the 25th such instance in franchise history, as well as a five-assist outing (Oct. 27 at NYR), the 13th such occurrence in Boston history. Additionally, Pastrnak became the third player in Bruins history to score 12 goals in a single October, following Phil Esposito (14-10-24 in 10 GP in 1973) and Charlie Simmer (12-7-19 in 10 GP in 1985). His 24 points also matched Esposito for the most by any Bruin in a single October. The 23-year-old Havirov, Czech Republic, native reached the 300-point milestone Oct. 22 vs. TOR, finishing the month with 144-164-308 in 332 career appearances.
THIRD STAR - LEON DRAISAITL, C, EDMONTON OILERS
Draisaitl topped the NHL with 12-13-25 in 14 games to help the Oilers climb into first place in the Pacific Division and equal single-season franchise records for wins and points in October (9-4-1, 19 points). Draisaitl opened the month with an eight-game point streak (Oct. 2-18: 6-10-16) and closed it with points in four straight (Oct. 24-30: 6-3-9). He registered eight multi-point outings, including four with 2-1-3: Oct. 12 at NYR, Oct. 16 vs. PHI, Oct. 24 vs. WSH and Oct. 30 at CBJ. Only one player in Edmonton history has scored more goals in a single October: Wayne Gretzkyin 1981 (13-14-27 in 13 GP) and 1983 (13-14-27 in 12 GP). The 24-year-old Cologne, Germany, native - who reached the 50-goal and 100-point milestones for the first time in 2018-19 (50‑55-105 in 82 GP) - has recorded 137-200-337 in 365 career NHL games.
