Best Players of the nineteenth Week

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best players of the Regular Season’s nineteenth week in four categories.

Last week, the League’s teams played a total of 24 games, with 538 players (36 goalies, 181 defensemen, and 321 forwards) taking part in the action. The average goals-per-game was at 5.71.

— Best goalie was Henrik Karlsson (Barys), who won three matches of three last week, including one shutout. Karlsson faced 93 shots, or 31 per night, posting a saves percentage of 94.62% and a goals-against average of 1.66. Karlsson was first awarded Best goalie of the week honors in the 2016-2017 season.

— Best defenseman for the third time in his career was Igor Ozhiganov (SKA), who won two games from two with his team last week. Ozhiganov scored 3 (1+2) points, posted no negative ratings, ending the week being plus-3. The SKA blueliner also had ten shots on goal, recorded four hits, and blocked two shots. Ozhiganov was first awarded Best defenseman of the week honors in the 2014-2015 season playing for Sibir, and the second time in the thirteenth week of the current campaign.

— Best forward for the first time in his KHL career was JC Lipon (Dinamo Riga), who won one game from three with his team last week. Lipon scored 5 (2+3) points, including the OT game-winner against Ak Bars Kazan. The Riga forward posted no negative ratings, ending the week being plus-1. Lipon had seven shots on goal, recorded four hits, and earned two powerplays for his team.

— Best rookie for the first time was Nikita Guslistov (Severstal). The 18-years-old forward had 4 (3+1) points, all scored in the 6-3 win over Avtomobilist. He established a KHL record for the youngest hat-trick by a Russian player. Guslistov posted no negative ratings, ending the week being plus-3, had four shots on goal, and logged an average time on ice of nine minutes and 46 seconds.

When 18-year-old kid instead of trying to score his 4th of the night makes an assist like this one, it says a lot.

Way to go, Nikita Guslistov! pic.twitter.com/NnqhMze3PX

— KHL (@khl_eng) January 22, 2021