Top 5 international KHL players at the Olympics’ group stage

Teemu Hartikainen leads Finland, Lucas Wallmark scores for Sweden, and Patrik Rybar gives a chance to Slovakia. KHL. ru presents the top five international KHL players at the Olympics group stage.

Teemu Hartikainen

Salavat Yulaev Ufa

F, Finland, 3 GP, 5 (1+4) points, +4

Salavat Yulaev’s all-time top scorer didn’t disappoint at the Olympics either — the Finns won all three games, and Hartikainen was a big part of the Leijonat’s success in Beijing. In their debut game, Team Finland downed Slovakia with a solid 6:2 win, with Hartikainen dishing out a pair of helpers. After being left out for the scoresheet in Finland’s 3:1 win over Latvia, Hartikainen starred again for the Leijoinat. In the Nordic clash against Sweden, Tre Kronor was up by three after the second period. However, Team Finland showed fantastic character and a true fighting spirit, rallying back, and defeating Sweden in OT after a goal by former Metallurg and Ak Bars’ forward Harri Pesonen. In the third period, Hartikainen first scored the 3:1 goal, then had two assists for Iiro Pakarinen’s double. With Finland winning in OT, both Nordic countries advanced to the quarterfinals, with the Leijonat facing the winner of the clash between Switzerland and Czechia.

Lucas Wallmark

CSKA

F, Sweden, 3 GP, 4 (4+0) points, −1

CSKA’s productive forward is currently on a three-game scoring streak, netting at least a goal in each of Sweden’s first three matches in the Olympics tournament. Wallmark potted a double — including the game-winning goal — in Tre Kronor’s debut clash in Beijing, against Team Latvia. The Swedish enjoyed another win on Friday, this time over the Slovaks, with Wallmark getting the game-winner again after putting Tre Kronor up by two in the first period. However, on Sunday, yet another goal by Wallmark wasn’t enough to grant Team Sweden a victory — the Nordic clash ended in favor of the Leijonat. With that being said, also Sweden advanced to the quarters, and they will wait the winner of the game between host China and Team Canada.

Andy Miele

Torpedo

F, USA, 3 GP, 4 (1+3) points, +3

Team USA’s captain had a tremendous start of the Olympics tournament, scoring points in all first three games for his team, and leading by example with the Americans gaining three wins to start. Torpedo’s veteran had an assist in USA’s 8:0 thumping of Team China, but he had his best game when it mattered the most. When the USA faced Team Canada, he scored a first-period goal and assisted on Kenny Agostino’s tally that sealed the deal in the closing frame, making it a 4:2 win. Miele also recorded a helper in Sunday’s American win over Team Germany (3:2). In the quarterfinals, Team USA will face the winner of the game between Slovakia and Germany.

Eric O’Dell

Dynamo Moscow

F, Canada, 3 GP, 4 (1+3) points, +4

Team Canada failed to qualify to the quarterfinals and will have to play the qualification game against host China, yet a few players had a strong impression, including Dynamo Moscow’s Eric O’Dell. The veteran of six KHL seasons had two multi-point games in the tournament, recording two helpers when Canada downed Germany 5:1 in the inaugural game, then posting a goal and an assist in Sunday’s shutout win over Team China — he also had a plus-three differential for the night. O’Dell proved to be a crucial player for the Canadian lineup, even if he was left scoreless in the team’s 2:4 loss to Team USA. The loss against their North American archrivals costed Canada the quarterfinals’ bye, so they will have to face China again on Tuesday.

Patrik Rybar

Dinamo Minsk

G, Slovakia, 2 GP, 94.4%, 1.01 GAA

The Slovak goalie had his Olympics debut against Sweden. With his fellow colleague Matej Tomek allowing three goals in the first period, head coach Craig Ramsay opted to switch goalies and iced Rybar in the middle stanza. The Dinamo Minsk goalie delivered, stopping 16 shots, and allowing no goals to Tre Kronor. However, it wasn’t enough, as Team Slovakia allowed the Swedish an empty-netter, with a late goal by Juraj Slafkovsky setting the final score on 1:4. However, two days later, on Sunday, Rybar allowed just two to Latvia, helping the Slovaks gaining their first win in the tournament (5:2). The Slovak netminder is now leading the tournament for saves percentage, right ahead of Sibir’s Harri Sateri and CSKA’s Ivan Fedotov. Team Slovakia will face Team Germany in Tuesday’s qualification game.

The 2022 Beijing Olympics ice hockey tournament will return on Tuesday with the qualification games. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Feb 16.