Patrice Bergeron Named NHL’s First Star of the Month for January

Patrice Bergeron might have just had the quietest 17-point month in history.

While not everyone might have been aware of the outstanding production Bergeron’s posted this month, they will now, as the B’s center has been named First Star of the Month.

Bergeron led the NHL with 17 points in the month, scoring eight goals and registering nine assists. Those numbers were highlighted by the 25-year-old’s first career hat trick, which came against Ottawa on Jan. 11. He also posted a plus-13 rating in 14 games.

The output in January is just part of what has been an excellent season for Bergeron. He leads the Bruins with 40 points in 50 games, and he’s on pace to finish the season with 64 points. That would be his most since 2006-07, when he had 70 points in the season before sustaining a Grade 3 concussion early in the 2007-08 season. Despite the 70 points that year, however, Bergeron was a minus-28. This season, he’s a plus-21.

Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle was named Second Star of the Month, while Predators goalie Pekka Rinne was the Third Star.