Best players of February

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

Last month, the League’s teams played 117 games, with 637 players (61 goalies, 214 defensemen, and 372 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.33 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Amir Miftakhov (Ak Bars), who won six from seven games last month, including two shutouts. The Kazan goalie faced 196 shots, or 28 per night, posting a saves percentage of 93.88% and a goals-against average of 1.80.

- Best defenseman for the first time in his career was Joseph Duszak (Dinamo Minsk), who scored 11 (3+8) points in ten games. His goal in the 2:1 win over Vityaz was the game-winner and helped Dinamo qualifying to the playoffs. Duszak also recorded one hit, blocked five shots, and had three takeaways. Duszak was the third Dinamo Minsk blueliner to be awarded the Best of the month, following Stepan Falkovsky (Dec 2020) and Nick Bailen (Dec 2014).

- Best forward for the third time in his career was Mikhail Grigorenko (CSKA), who scored 16 (10+6) points in 12 games last month. Grigorenko potted two doubles, and his OT goal against Lokomotiv was the game-winner for CSKA. He also recorded two hits, blocked two shots, and had one takeaway. Grigorenko was awarded Best forward awards in April 2018 and 2019.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was forward Matvei Michkov (HC Sochi), who scored 12 (4+8) points in 12 games in February. In the game against Kunlun Red Star, Michkov established a club record, scoring five points. He also recorded three hits, blocked eight shots, and had seven takeaways. Michkov was the second HC Sochi rookie to be awarded Best of month honors, following Pavel Koledov in Nov 2014.