Best players of December

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

Last month, the League’s teams played 101 games, with 635 players (53 goalies, 214 defensemen, and 368 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.15 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the second time in his career was Vasily Demchenko (Avangard), who won five games of nine last month. Demchenko faced 244 shots, or 27.1 per night, posting a saves percentage of 94.67% and a goals-against average of 1.42. The Hawks’ goalie posted a shutout in Avangard’s win over Avtomobilist, and was awarded Goalie of the month honors back in November 2017, representing Traktor.

- Best defenseman for the first time in his career was Daniil Pylenkov (Severstal), who scored 8 (3+5) points in nine games. Only once did Pylenkov end a game with a negative rating, ending December with a plus-6 differential. The Cherepovets blueliner recorded five hits, blocked nine shots, and had three takeaways.

- Best forward for the seventh time in his career was Vadim Shipachyov (Ak Bars), who scored 12 (1+11) points in ten games. Only once did Shipachyov end a game with a negative rating, ending December with a plus-4 differential. His tally against Lokomotiv was the game-winner for Kazan. Shipachyov also recorded seven hits, blocked four shots, and had five takeaways.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was forward Stepan Nikulin (Lokomotiv), who scored 9 (4+5) points in ten games. Only once did Nikulin end a game with a negative rating, ending December with a plus-7 differential. The forward potted game-winners against Spartak and Ak Bars, and recorded four hits, three blocked shots, and three takeaways.