March 5th

GAGNER NAMED ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner, who led all rookies in scoring with 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) in 12 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for February.

Gagner edged New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky (6-5--11 in 12 games), Phoenix Coyotes center Peter Mueller (4-7--11 in 14 games), Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (3-7--10 in 10 games) and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (5-2-0, 2.33 goals-against average, .925 save percentage, one shutout) for the award.

Gagner recorded points in 10 of 12 games during the month, including a nine-game point streak from Feb. 4-24 (3-9--12). He tallied multiple-point games against Calgary, Feb. 4 (1-1--2), Chicago, Feb. 6 (0-2--2) and Nashville, Feb. 19 (1-1--2).

Edmonton's first choice and the sixth overall selection at the 2007 Entry Draft, Gagner registered 118 points (35 goals, 83 assists) in 53 games for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League last season. The 5-11, 191-lb. London, Ontario native represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2007, winning a gold medal.

Born Aug. 10, 1989, the 18-year-old Gagner is the youngest player in the NHL. The League's second-youngest player, 19-year-old Chicago Blackhawks rookie Patrick Kane, was born Nov. 19, 1988.

Gagner joins previous 2007-08 Rookie of the Month winners Kane (October), Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom (November), Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (December) and Mueller (February).


PLAYOFF STANDINGS

(RANK-TEAM--PTS--RECORD)

WEST

1-DETROIT*--92--43-18-6
2-DALLAS*--87--41-23-5
3-MINNESOTA*--79--37-25-5
4-ANAHEIM--83--38-23-7
5-SAN JOSE--82--37-21-8
6-CALGARY--79--35-23-9
7-COLORADO--76--35-26-6
8-NASHVILLE--76--34-25-8
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9-VANCOUVER--74--32-24-10
10-PHOENIX--71--33-28-5
11-CHICAGO--70--32-28-6
12-COLUMBUS--70--30-28-10
13-ST LOUIS--68--29-27-10
14-EDMONTON--67--31-31-5
15- LOS ANGELES--57--26-37-5

EAST

1-PITTSBURGH*--83--38-23-7
2-MONTREAL*--81--36-22-9
3-CAROLINA*--73--34-29-5
4-NEW JERSEY--82--38-23-6
5-OTTAWA--80--37-24-6
6-BOSTON--77--35-24-7
7-NY RANGERS--77--34-24-9
8-PHILADELPHIA--74--33-26-8
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9-BUFFALO--73--32-26-9
10-NY ISLANDERS--71--32-29-7
11-WASHINGTON--70--31-28-8
12-TORONTO--68--29-29-10
13-FLORIDA--68--30-31-8
14-ATLANTA--65--29-31-7
15-TAMPA BAY--59--26-33-7

(* DIVISION LEADER)


TODAYS NHL SCHEDULE (Central Time)

(3) HURRICANES @ (14) THRASHERS 6pm
(11) CAPITALS @ (9) SABRES 630pm
(13) BLUES @ (1) RED WINGS 630pm
(4) DUCKS @ (11) BLACKHAWKS 730pm
(10) COYOTES @ (2) STARS 730pm
(5) SENATORS @ (5) SAN JOSE 930pm