Friday, April 3, 2009

TJ Oshie

NEW YORK - St. Louis center T.J. Oshie, who helped spark the Blues' playoff surge by recording 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a +6 rating in 14 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March.

Oshie edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (8-7--15 in 15 games), Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (5-9--14 in 13 games), New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (5-8--13 in 13 games), Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott (9-3-0, 2.57 goals-against average), Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (8-4-2, 2.46 GAA) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (7-2-3, 2.53 GAA) for the award.

Oshie tallied points in nine games as the Blues posted a 9-4-1 record and climbed from 12th to ninth in the Western Conference standings. He recorded an assist and a +3 rating in a 5-2 victory over Dallas Mar. 10, notched a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Detroit Mar. 14 and notched a pair of assists in a 5-3 win over Minnesota Mar. 15. Forming a 'Kid Line' with fellow rookie Patrik Berglund and second-year David Perron, Oshie tallied a goal and an assist and was named First Star in a 4-2 victory over Vancouver Mar. 26 and registered 1-1--2 and a +3 rating in a 5-2 win at Columbus Mar. 29 that gave the Blues a sweep of the weekend home-and-home series.

Oshie is the fifth player to be named NHL Rookie of the Month this season, joining Columbus Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard (October), Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (November and December), Anaheim Ducks right wing Bobby Ryan (January) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (February).

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