Wojtek Wolski of the Avalanche was named the NHL’s rookie of the month for December on Tuesday – one day after starting his January with two goals against the Nashville Predators.
Wolski, 20, scored five goals and 11 points in 13 games in December to beat out Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings for league honors. Left wing Wol- ski, whose production has increased since moving onto a line with captain Joe Sakic, had four multipoint games and has scored six goals in his past five games.
Wolski’s 29 points (14 goals) in 38 games tie him for third in the NHL in rookie scoring, behind Kopitar and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin. Wolski is tied with Avs teammate Paul Stastny, who has nine goals and 20 assists.
Kopitar had five goals and 12 points in 14 games for the Kings. Malkin had 14 points (six goals) in 14 games for the Penguins.
At 16.7 percent, Wolski’s shooting accuracy leads all Avalanche forwards with more than 15 games played. Wolski scored a pretty one-timer to get the Avs off to a 1-0 lead in Monday’s 5-3 victory at Nashville, Tenn., capping the game with an empty-net goal.
The Avalanche took Tuesday off from practice and does not play again until Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Pepsi Center.
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
