Best Players of the 20th Week: Konovalov, Svedberg, Butuzov and Dzierkals
The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best players of the twentieth week of the Regular Season in four categories.
- best goalie was Ilya Konovalov (Lokomotiv), who won all his three games last week, including two shutouts, allowing only one goal overall. Konovalov posted a saves percentage of 98,89% and a goals-against average of 0,34 (both figures are the best result of last week). His shutout against HC Sochi was the tenth of the season for the 20-years-old goalie. The Yaroslavl goalie is leading the whole League in shutouts. His shutout streak is still going on and at the moment it is at 149 minutes and 21 seconds.
- best defenseman was Viktor Svedberg (Barys), who won two of three games with his team last week, scoring four points. The Swedish defenseman posted positive ratings in all last week’s games, ending the week with a plus-6. He also blocked six shots from the opposition.
- best forward was Vladimir Butuzov (Admiral), who won two games of three with his team last week, producing 6 (5+1) points (most goals among forwards in the week). The Vladivostok forward scored goals in all the week’s games, posting doubles on both the games against Sibir Novosibirsk played on January 24 and 26. He also had the game-winning goal against Avangard. Butuzov posted no negative ratings, ending the week being plus-1. He also had 14 shots on goal.
- best rookie was Martins Dzierkals (Dinamo Riga), who won two games of three with his team last week, scoring 2 (1+1) points. The 21-years-old Latvian forward had an average time on ice of 14 minutes and 6 seconds, had six shots on goal and blocked three shots from the opposition.
