Second round’s finest: Metsola, Chudinov, Gusev and Misyul

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best player of the playoffs’ first round in four categories.

- best goalie was Juha Metsola (Salavat Yulaev), who won four games of five in the series against Avtomobilist, including one shutout. The Ufa Finn goalie posted a saves percentage of 96.97% (best result in the second round) with a goals-against average of 1.16.

- best defenseman was Maxim Chudinov (Avangard), who scored 4 (3+1) points in the five-game series against Barys. In the fourth game, the Omsk defenseman recorded a double, including the game-winning goal. Chudinov posted no negative ratings and finished the encounter with the Kazakhstani club with a plus-5. He also had 20 shots on goal and blocked five shots from the opposition.

- best forward was Nikita Gusev (SKA), who scored 8 (3+5) points in the five-game series against Lokomotiv. The St. Petersburg forward scored a goal in game five and also had the game-winning goal in game two. Today, Gusev is tied on the top of the League with 14 (6+8) points in the playoffs. The forward also had 17 shots on goal.

- best rookie was defenseman Daniil Misyul (Lokomotiv), who posted no negative ratings in the series against SKA, finishing the Western Conference clash being plus-1. The 18-years-old Lokomotiv defenseman logged an average time on ice of 15 minutes and 43 seconds. He also had five shots on goal and recorded six hits.