McDavid, Draisaitl, and Keller Named Three Stars of March
via NHL.com
As we enter April, we are leaving behind the last full month of the 2022-2023 NHL season. In the month of March, we got to witness several amazing performances across the league. Three of those performances stood out among the rest to claim the honors of the NHL’s Three Stars of the Month for March. Those three are Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Leon Draisaitl, also of the Oilers, and Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes.
NHL’s Third Star of the Month – Clayton Keller
Clayton Keller found the back of the net 12 times in March and notched 12 assists for 24 points in 16 games. His 12 goals were tied for first in the league while his 24 points were good enough for third in the league. He scored in 14 straight games and that streak was tied for the longest active streak in the league with Elias Petterson of the Vancouver Canucks, and the longest scoring streak in franchise history since Teemu Selanne in 1995-1996. He reached new career highs in goals, reaching 30 for the first time, assists, and points, becoming the first player in franchise history since Keith Tkachuk in 1996-1997 to score 80 points in a season. The 24-year-old forward was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes with the seventh pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Keller is one of the best young players in the NHL and is poised to be a centerpiece of Arizona’s rebuild.
NHL’s Second Star of the Month – Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl put up at least a point in 14 of his 15 games in March, putting up 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points. His 28 points were good enough for second in the NHL, leading in powerplay goals and points in March. He scored his 300th career goal on March 27 against Arizona and on March 14 against the Senators, he became the second player this season to reach 100 points, the first being his teammate Connor McDavid. The two of them became just the second duo to both reach 100 points in consecutive seasons since the Boston Bruins duo of Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr in 1973-1974 and 1974-1975. The 27-year-old forward has established himself as a top player in the NHL and in recent years has won the Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, and the Hart Memorial Trophy.
NHL’s First Star of the Month – Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid finished the month of March with 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 15 games. His 29 points led the entire league, and he tied the league lead in powerplay points with 13. He finished the month on a 10-game winning streak, his fifth double-digit point streak of the season. In March he became the 22nd player in NHL history to reach 60 goals in a season, the 10th player to reach 140 points in a season, and the seventh player to reach 60 goals and 80 assists in a season. He has since surpassed the 150-point mark. The 26-year-old forward is the NHL’s first star for the second month in a row and the third time this season.
