Players of the Week 19: Kareyev, Hietanen, Lemtyugov and Ivanov

To mark the end of the nineteenth week’s play of the ninth season of the Championship, the Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of the week in four categories.

– Best goaltender was Andrei Kareyev (Neftekhimik), who played in three matches, recording two shutout wins and allowing just a solitary goal all week. The 22-year-old claimed the highest save percentage (99.21) and lowest goals against average (0.33) of any goalie in the League;

– Best defenseman was Juuso Hietanen (Dynamo Moscow), who helped his team win all three games, contributing 10 shots at goal and 3 points (1+2), including the game-winner against Metallurg Novokuznetsk. The 31-year-old Finn did not receive a single negative rating on his way to earning a +2 for the week;

– Best forward was Nikolai Lemtyugov (Avangard), who after three appearances finished the week with two victories and 5 points (3+2), thanks in part to a double against Lokomotiv. The 30-year-old Russian also contributed 6 hits and received no minus ratings, meriting a +2 for the week;

– Best rookie was 21-year-old Ugra forward Yegor Ivanov, who enjoyed three outings and ended the week with two wins, an average of 16 minutes 20 seconds on the ice, no negative ratings and a +1 for the week. Ivanov’s strike against HC Sochi was his first ever goal in the KHL and it sealed victory for the Khanty-Mansiysk men.