Boucher delivers, Yip sets record. Week 7 top imports
The veteran Chinese international sets a scoring record, Boucher keeps on scoring despite Avangard’s rocky period. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Canada
D, Admiral, 3 G, 2 (0+2) points, +4
In his first year in the KHL, the Canadian blueliner is quickly becoming a key figure in the Sailors’ defensive lines. Known for his defensive skills, Williams confirmed his competence in his own third leading the league with nine blocked shots and a striking plus-4 differential as Admiral won two games of three. Williams posted no negative ratings in the week, even in Admiral’s loss to Barys (1:3) on Thursday, earning a plus-2 differential in the Sailors’ wins over Sibir (4:2) and Avangard (4:3 SO). As an icing on the cake, the defenseman contributed with two assists. If he keeps on playing this way, other than increasing his time on ice in the future, he will soon open his goalscoring account in the KHL.
United States
F, Avangard, 2 G, 5 (3+2) points, +2
Avangard is certainly having a rocky season, but Reid Boucher is one of the few glimpses of light in the Omsk lineup. The forward led the league with five points last week (tied with Pavel Varfolomeyev and Brandon Yip), with two straight multipoint games, producing three points with a goal and two helpers in Avangard’s win over Amur and potting a double in the Hawks’ losing effort against Admiral. Avangard is currently the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference, and the team needs top performance by Boucher to return to the right side of the playoffs line.
Czechia
F, Admiral, 3 G, 4 (1+3) points, +6
Differently from Williams, in his first year in the KHL, Admiral’s Rudolf Cerveny has already lined up in the KHL before, representing Slovan Bratislava and Dinamo Riga. The Czech veteran was instrumental for the Sailors especially in their win in Novosibirsk on Tueday. He first scored in the second period during a powerplay stretch, then he assisted on both Anton Berlyov’s tallies of the night. After being left scoreless in Admiral’s losing effort in Kazakhstan against Barys (1:3), Cerveny had an assist when the Sailors took down the Hawks in Omsk – he also converted his shootout attempt as Admiral got the upper hand.
Canada/China
F, Kunlun Red Star, 3 G, 5 (2+3) points, +2
The forward netted a late goal for Kunlun Red Star in its loss at home to Severstal, meaning that it was his sixth game in a row with at least a tally – and that set a record for the veteran Chinese international. He overtook Jaromir Jagr’s five-game goalscoring streak to reach a new standard for players aged 37 and over. Yip’s goal run was halted soon after, with Kunlun defeating Spartak at home (3:0), but his helper that night stretched his productive streak to eight games. This speaks aloud about Yip’s importance to Kunlun and the Dragons are currently the ninth seed in the West, just two points shy of Severstal.
Slovakia
G, Barys, 3 G, 2 W, 90.57%, GAA 2.21
The Slovak’s goalie stats have been a bit tarnished by the Kazakh’s side 0:5 loss to Kunlun Red Star on Tuesday, but in the next couple of games Hudacek was nearly perfect between Barys’ piping. Barys accomplished two straight wins, against Admiral and Amur, and the Slovak stopped 41 out of 43 shots as the Kazakh franchise climbed up to the third place of the Eastern Conference’s standings. As Hudacek and Nikita Boyarkin keep on delivering excellent goaltending, Barys has big chances to go deeper in the playoffs.
