The Final’s Finest: Koshechkin, Antipin, Dadonov and Rykov
To mark the end of the fourth round of the playoff stage of the Championship – the Gagarin Cup final - the Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of the final series in four categories.
– Best goaltender was Vasily Koshechkin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), who in five outings saved 203 out of 218 shots – a save percentage of 93.11. Koshechkin faced an average of 43.6 shots per game and was named the MVP for the entire 2016-17 Gagarin Cup playoffs;
The Victors’ Voices – SKA players look back on their triumph.
– Best defenseman was Viktor Antipin (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), who played in all five matches of the final. Despite being on the losing side, the Magnitka D-man finished the series with 3 goals, 8 blocks and no negative ratings;
– Best forward was Evgeny Dadonov (SKA), who banked 5 (4+1) points from his five appearances and ended the final at a +1. The in-form SKA sniper hit a double in Game 1, including the game-winner, and scored the crucial goal in Game 3 which sealed victory in overtime;
– Best rookie was SKA defenseman Yegor Rykov, who was given a total of 31 minutes and 53 seconds of ice time, spread across four of the five games (averaging 6 minutes and 22 seconds for the series). The youngster, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday the 14th, also struck two shots at the opposition net and blocked two attempts on the SKA goal.
