The second month of the season concluded with the Calgary Flames comfortably in a playoff spot. As the calendar flipped over to December, they were first the Pacific with games in hand to boot. They entered December with a 15-9-2 record. How did star selections look for them in November?

In 13 games played, 39 star selections were made, in which 23 game stars were Flames. Individual performances by Calgary’s top players stood out often enough for them to be awarded star selections in 59% of the available spots. Not a bad November at all. Let’s see who stood out game to game and what the did to earn the selections.

Game 14: Flames vs Avalanche

First Star Mark Giordano 1 G / 3 A / 7 SOG Second Star Mikael Backlund 1 G / 2 A / 2 SOG Third Star Matthew Tkachuk 0 G / 3 A / 2 SOG

Game 15: Flames vs. Blackhawks

First Star Sean Monahan 2 G / 0 A / 5 SOG Second Star Johnny Gaudreau 0 G / 2 A / 3 SOG Third Star Matthew Tkachuk 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG

Game 16: Flames @ Ducks

First Star Ryan Getzlaf 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG Second Star Josh Manson 0 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Third Star Rickard Rakell 0 G / 1 A / 3 SOG

Game 17: Flames @ Kings

First Star Travis Hamonic 1 G / 0 A / 5 SOG Second Star David Rittich 21 SA / 1.000 SV% Third Star Jack Campbell 36 SA / 0.972 SV%

Game 18: Flames @ Sharks

First Star Martin Jones 30 SA / 0.967 SV% Second Star Evander Kane 1 G / 1 A / 6 SOG Third Star Joe Pavelski 1 G / 2 A / 3 SOG

Game 19: Flames vs. Canadiens

First Star Carey Price 45 SA / 0.956 SV% Second Star Matthew Tkachuk 2 G / 0 A / 6 SOG Third Star Artturi Lehkonen 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG

Game 20: Flames vs. Oilers

First Star Elias Lindholm 2 G / 0 A / 4 SOG Second Star David Rittich 26 SA / 0.923 SV% Third Star Travis Hamonic 0 G / 2 A / 5 SOG

Game 21: Flames vs. Golden Knights

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 3 A / 2 SOG Second Star Matthew Tkachuk 2 G / 2 A / 2 SOG Third Star Sean Monahan 2 G / 1 A / 3 SOG

Game 22: Flames vs. Jets

First Star Sam Bennett 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Second Star David Rittich 40 SA / 0.925 SV% Third Star Patrik Laine 2 G / 0 A / 6 SOG

Game 23: Flames @ Golden Knights

First Star Marc-Andre Fleury 29 SA / 1.000 SV% Second Star Alex Tuch 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Third Star Colin Miller 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG

Game 24: Flames @ Coyotes

First Star Noah Hanifin 2 G / 0 A / 2 SOG Second Star Mark Jankowski 2 G / 0 A / 2 SOG Third Star Clayton Keller 1 G / 0 A / 2 SOG

Game 25: Flames vs. Stars

First Star Mark Giordano 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG Second Star Gavin Bayreuther 1 G / 1 A / 1 SOG Third Star Tyler Seguin 1 G / 1 A / 2 SOG

Game 26: Flames vs. Kings

First Star Johnny Gaudreau 1 G / 0 A / 3 SOG Second Star T.J. Brodie 0 G / 1 A / 1 SOG Third Star Mike Smith 14 SA / 0.929 SV%

In November, Tkachuk led the Flames, being selected as a star four times: twice as the second star and twice as the third star. In those four appearances, three were multi-point performances. Tkachuk has really stepped his game up and is undoubtedly one of, if not the best players on the Flames roster this season. In the four games he was selected as a star, he totalled five goals, five assists, and 12 shots on goal.

Gaudreau followed closely with three appearances, though he was the first star twice and second star once. His ability to control the puck and make plays never goes unnoticed. One of his best games of the season was against the Golden Knights, when he scored one goal and three assists… in the first period. Gaudreau is definitely stellar on the ice and November was no different.

Rittich has been a star for the Flames all season long, and he really shone in November. He earned a star selection three times, in which he averaged a .949 SV% in those games. He’s definitely made his case for the Flames to use a 1A/1B goaltending system between himself and Smith, and it would not be surprising if he earns the full-time starting position.

Two players that have deservedly been chosen as stars are Giordano and Hamonic, each with two selections to their names. The former has been putting together yet another Norris-calibre season, while the latter has arguably been even better than the defender the Flames hoped they were getting when they traded for him.

Both have been great on both ends of the ice, yet they are rarely seen on the ice together. Giordano has spent most of his time with Brodie; Hamonic with Hanifin (Brodie and Hanifin were each selected as a star once in November too). This speaks volumes about the Flames’ defensive corps this season and how they have found a system that works for them.

The season will be officially a third of the way over after the Flames play the Blue Jackets. The Flames have gotten contributions from most of their players, and the skill up and down the roster is evident. With any luck, other Flames will find themselves selected as stars throughout December and the rest of the season.

Related: How the Flames have fared for October star selections