Johny Gaudreau

Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau ended March leading all NHL rookies in scoring. (Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports)

Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau, named the NHL's rookie of the month for the second time this season on Wednesday, has been saying what matters most to him is capping off his first pro season off with playoff hockey,

The 21-year-old South Jersey product certainly is doing his part, as his great March has the Flames three points up on the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference's Pacific Division through Tuesday.

• Gaudreau puts on show as Calgary Flames toast Flyers

• Gaudreau deserving of Calder Trophy say Flames' teammates, coach

Gaudreau led all NHL rookies in March with 16 points on seven goals and nine assists to pass Nashville Predators center Filip Forsberg for the rookie scoring lead.

Heading into April, the Carneys Point, N.J native had 22 goals and 60 points with five games to go, while Forsberg had 23 goals and 59 points with four games remaining.

Gaudreau, who also was the rookie of the month in December, had a pair of three-point effort in March, one in Calgary against the Flyers, his hometown team.

Gaudreau closed the month on Monday night by scoring the winning goal and assisting on another in a Flames' 5-3 win in Dallas.

The Flames finished the month with a 9-3-3 record to go from being tied with the Kings on March 1 to three points up on March 31.

MORE ON JOHNNY GAUDREAU

• N.J.'s Johnny Gaudreau shares what it's like to walk streets of Calgary as Flames' rookie star

• Johnny Hockey? Flyers react to Calgary Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau's nickname

• Johnny Gaudreau calls 1st game against Flyers "dream come true"

• Here's look at Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau's NHL All-Star Skills Competition experience

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.