Flyers’ Gostisbehere sets NHL record for rookie defencemen

Shayne Gostisbehere became the first rookie defenseman in NHL history to record points in 11 straight games on Saturday with this howitzer from the blueline.

Rookie defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere has enjoyed an impressive run of success since he was recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL in November.

Gostisbehere scored his 10th goal of the season Saturday afternoon in the third period of the Philadelphia Flyers game versus the New Jersey Devils. The goal enabled him to set a pair of rookie records.

The 22-year-old set an NHL record for the longest point streak (11 games) for a rookie defenceman. He also set a Flyers rookie record, eclipsing Mikael Renberg’s record for long point streak, in the process.

Gostisbehere has piled up points at a rate unseen by rookie defencemen for a long time. The former third-round pick (78th overall, 2012) has 10 goals and 30 points in 36 games this season. That translates to 0.83 points per game. By comparison, John Klingberg of the Dallas Stars finished his rookie season with per game rate of 0.62 and 2015 Calder Trophy winner Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers scored at 0.48 points per game pace as defencemen.

The Flyers fell to the Devils 2-1 in overtime.

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