NEW YORK --Ottawa Senators goaltender Mads Sogaard, who went 4-0-1 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .922 save percentage in six appearances (five starts), has been named the NHL's "Rookie of the Month" for February.
Sogaard edged Arizona Coyotes teammates Connor Ingram (2-1-2, 2.41 GAA, .935 SV%, 1 SO) and Matias Maccelli (1-7-8 in 10 GP), Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn (3-5-8 in 10 GP), Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (3-4-7 in 11 GP), and Calgary Flames left wing Jakob Pelletier (3-4-7 in 11 GP) for the honor. Sogaard, who made his season debut (in relief) Feb. 11 and first start of 2022-23 Feb. 13, became the fourth rookie goaltender in Ottawa history to earn points in his first five or more decisions of a campaign, following Ray Emery in 2005-06 (6-0-1), Robin Lehner in 2012-13 (2-0-4) and Jani Hurme in 2000-01 (3-0-2). Sogaard, who previously made two NHL appearances in 2021-22 (1-1-0, 3.07 GAA, .889 SV%), recorded at least 30 saves in three of his five February starts and also yielded two or fewer goals three times, capped by a run of three straight wins to close the month (Feb. 19-28: 1.67 GAA, .938 SV%). The 22-year-old Sogaard, a second-round pick (37th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, joins Senators teammate Shane Pinto (October) as a "Rookie of the Month" winner in 2022-23. Ottawa is the second team in as many years to have multiple recipients of the award in the same season, following the Detroit Red Wings' duo of Moritz Seider (October) and Lucas Raymond (November) in 2021-22.