Players of the Week 13: Taylor, Mamashev, Kovalchuk and Poryadin
To mark the end of the thirteenth week’s play of the eighth season of the Championship, the Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of the week in four categories.
– Best goaltender was Danny Taylor (Medvescak), who played in two games, both of them victories, achieving one shutout and allowing just a solitary goal all week. Taylor recorded a save percentage of 98.18 and his shutout spell lasted 96 minutes 42 seconds;
– Best defenseman was Renat Mamashev (HC Sochi), with three wins and 2 points (1+1) from three appearances, Mamashev did not receive a single minus rating, earning a +5 for the week, and his goal clinched victory against Jokerit;
– Best forward was Ilya Kovalchuk (SKA), with 6 points (2+4) and 12 shots in three games. Kovalchuk scored a double (including the game-winner) at Lokomotiv and he finished the week with a +3;
– Best rookie was 19-year-old Neftekhimik forward Pavel Poryadin, with 3 points (0+3) from two games (against Dynamo Moscow and Metallurg Magnitogorsk) and an average ice time of 6 minutes 27 seconds. Poryadin earned a positive plus/minus in both outings and merited a +3 for the week.
