The NHL announced earlier today that Artemi Panarin was named the league’s Third Star for the month of December.

From the release:

• Panarin tied for the most points in the NHL in December and finished one back of the League lead in goals, posting 10-12—22 in 14 games to help the Rangers (19-16-4, 42 points) to a 6-7-1 record in the month.
• In his first season with New York, Panarin has had at least 20 points in each of the past two calendar months (7-16—23 in November) – a first by a Rangers player since Jaromir Jagr in November and December 2005.
• Panarin became the ninth different Rangers player to record three straight three-point games; John Ogrodnick (Feb. 21-26, 1990: 3 GP) was the last before him, while only Andy Bathgate (Nov. 8-19, 1961: 4 GP) and Frank Boucher (Dec. 8-17, 1929: 4 GP) had a longer such run.
• Panarin scored a goal in eight of 14 games – including his third NHL hat trick – as he and Mika Zibanejad (10-7—17 in 14 GP) became the second set of Rangers teammates in the last 40 years to each score 10 goals in the same calendar month (also Pat Verbeek and Mark Messier in December 1995).

Panarin was named an All-Star earlier this week.