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Jaros helps Avangard, Chmelevski delivers for Ufa. Last week’s top imports
Pasquale had a tremendous week between the Magnitka’s piping, while Jaros helped Avangard returning to the right side of the playoffs line. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Canada
G, Metallurg, 2 G, 2 W, 97.73%, GAA 0.50, 1 SO
The Canadian netminder is further cementing his position of one of the leading KHL goalies. Last week, Pasquale played two games, helping Metallurg winning both. First, he started the week stopping 23 shots as Magnitka defeated Admiral in Vladivostok on Wednesday. On Saturday, he earned his 15th career shutout in our league as he blanked Kunlun Red Star in a 4:0 home victory – he posted 20 saves that night. Overall, the Magnitka’s duo of Pasquale and Koshechkin is on of the top in the league, and will surely be a key factor this spring. For his efforts, Pasquale was awarded goalie of the week honors.
Slovakia
D, Avangard, 4 G, 4 (2+2) points, +1
At his first year in the league, Jaros has already established himself as one of the top defensemen this season. The Slovak blueliner had a striking week, helping the Hawks winning three of four games and returning to the right side of the playoffs line. After being left scoreless in Monday’s Avangard win in Chelyabinsk, Jaros posted 2 (1+1) points as the Hawks downed HC Sochi on Wednesday. The Slovak had a tally in Avangard’s losing effort against Torpedo (2:4), then assisted on Nail Yakupov’s game-winner in Nizhnekamsk. Soon Avangard will have its debut at their brand-new arena, and Jaros is likely to log a lot of icetime there as well. For his efforts, the Slovak has received defenseman of the week honors.
United States
F, Salavat Yulaev, 3 G, 4 (2+2) points, +4
The American forward is another first-year player who’s having an impact right away. This week, he helped Salavat Yulaev achieving three straight victories, starting from a road win in Khabarovsk where he assisted on both Ufa goals. Going on, he had a goal in each of the next couple of games, with Salavat Yulaev first defeating Amur again on Wednesday, then Dinamo Minsk on Saturday – both times after SO. His goal against the Belarusian was particularly remarkable – he got the puck from Danil Bashkirov, then he rushed the puck in the offensive zone just to beat Konstantin Shostak glove-side with a nice wrister from deep in the slot. The Ufa forward is currently in the league’s top-20 in scoring, and his side is the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Sweden
D, Severstal, 3 G, 3 (1+2) points, -1
Severstal is not in the best shape of late, but Robin Press isn’t slowing down. The Swedish blueliner is having a tremendous season in Cherepovets, and his contribution meant a lot of the Andrei Razin’s men even in hard times. Last week, Press was on a three-game scoring streak. He started netting a goal to Dinamo Minsk as Severstal lost in a hard-fought away game (2:3). In the next two games, he had an assist each, against Dynamo Moscow (1:3) and Barys (5:2) respectively. Other than in points, Press is leading all Severstal defensemen in average time on ice, shots on goal, and takeaways.
