Crosby is NHL's top star for November

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Sidney Crosby's hot scoring pace for the Pittsburgh Penguins earned him the NHL's First Star honors for the month of November.

The 23-year-old team captain racked up a league-best 26 points (12 goals and 14 assists) in 14 games in leading Pittsburgh to a 16-8-2 record that has the Penguins tied with Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Crosby had eight multi-point games last month, including a hat trick that included his 200th career goal in a Nov. 27 win over Calgary.

The league's Second Star went to Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who went 8-4-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average, .952 save percentage and three shutouts in 12 contests.

Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Dustin Byfuglien was given the Third Star for his six goals, 11 assists and a plus-nine rating over 14 games. Two of his goals were game-winners, giving him an NHL-best five this season.