AHL names award winners for November

Photos: Mark Nessia, Vince Rappleyea, John Saraya

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Bakersfield Condors forward Taylor Beck, Tucson Roadrunners forward Brendan Perlini and Milwaukee Admirals goaltender Juuse Saros have been selected as the league’s award winners for November.

Beck, the CCM/AHL Player of the Month, skated in nine games for Bakersfield during November and posted seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, contributing on nearly two-thirds of the Condors’ 23 goals on the month.

Beck began the month with his first two goals of the season as part of a three-point effort in a 7-1 win over San Antonio on Nov. 2. He matched a career high with four points (one goal, three assists) to help Bakersfield past Texas, 5-3, on Nov. 5, earning a recall to the parent Edmonton Oilers. Back with the Condors on Nov. 12, Beck scored twice in regulation and assisted on the overtime winner in a 3-2 victory over Tucson. He scored again in a 3-1 win over San Jose on Nov. 22, and closed out the month with a goal and an assist in the Condors’ 3-2 overtime loss to San Diego on Nov. 26.

A sixth-year pro from St. Catharines, Ont., Beck is currently tied for fourth in the AHL scoring race with 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 14 games for Bakersfield. He has totaled 68 goals and 116 assists for 184 points in 257 career AHL games with Bakersfield, Bridgeport, San Antonio and Milwaukee, as well as 11 goals and 12 assists in 88 National Hockey League contests with Edmonton, the New York Islanders and Nashville. Beck, who was selected by the Predators in the third round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, signed as a free agent with the Oilers on July 3, 2016.

Perlini, the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month, scored nine goals and added three assists for 12 points in nine games during November, helping the Roadrunners stay atop the Pacific Division.

Perlini notched points in seven consecutive games from Nov. 4 to Nov. 27, including a six-game goal-scoring streak that matched the longest by an AHL rookie since Tyler Johnson scored in nine straight contests in March 2012. Perlini recorded his first two-goal game as a pro on Nov. 5, helping Tucson to a 5-4 overtime victory over Ontario, then had the game-winning goal in a 3-0 victory at Bakersfield on Nov. 11. He scored again as the Roadrunners erased a two-goal third-period deficit to earn a point in a 3-2 OT loss to the Condors on Nov. 12, and picked up two goals and an assist in a 5-2 victory over Manitoba on Nov. 18. Perlini notched a second straight two-goal outing vs. Stockton on Nov. 26, and finished his streak with a goal and an assist in a 5-4 win over the Heat on Nov. 27.

Perlini, a 20-year-old native of Guildford, England, was the 12th overall pick by Arizona in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He currently leads all AHL skaters with 11 goals and is tied for third among league rookies with 16 points in 14 games for Tucson. Perlini spent the previous four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Barrie and Niagara.

Saros, the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month, was a perfect 5-0-0 in November with a 1.37 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and one shutout for Milwaukee, allowing just seven goals on 156 total shots.

Saros began the month with a 27-save effort in a 3-2 shootout victory over Chicago on Nov. 4, then stopped 29 of 32 shots in a 5-3 victory over Iowa on Nov. 5. He earned his first shutout of the season with 35 saves in a 1-0 win at Cleveland on Nov. 17, and followed that up with 30 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory over the Monsters on Nov. 19. Saros made 28 saves as Milwaukee defeated Grand Rapids, 3-1, on Nov. 23, then earned his second recall of the month to Nashville where he allowed one goal and earned third-star honors in a game at Winnipeg on Nov. 27.

A 21-year-old native of Forssa, Finland, Saros (9-1-0, 1.59, .945) is tied for the AHL lead in wins and ranks first in both goals-against average and save percentage over 10 appearances with Milwaukee this season. He is also 1-1-0 with a 1.02 GAA and a .965 save percentage in two NHL starts with Nashville. Saros, a fourth-round pick by the Predators in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2015-16 and is now 38-9-0 with a 2.10 GAA, a .926 save percentage and five shutouts in 48 career AHL appearances.

Each monthly award winner will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming home game in recognition of his achievement.