Jaskin win titles, Duszak qualifies Dinamo Minsk. Week 25 top imports
With the regular season at its end, imports keep on playing huge roles within their respective teams. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Czech Republic/Russia
F, SKA, 2 G, 6 (4+2) points, +4
The SKA forward had a tremendous season, and this week he ended it with six points in just two games as he ended the season on the top of the scoring race with 62 points – he also won the sniping contest for the second time in his career with 40 goals, becoming the second player in the KHL history to reach the 40-tally milestone after Metallurg’s legend Sergei Mozyakin netted 48 in the 2016-2017 regular season. Last week, Jaskin posted 3 (2+1) points in both games, against Kunlun Red Star and HC Sochi, further cementing his lead in the scoring race. However, Roman Rotenberg, SKA’s head coach, will want Jaskin to start scoring now that it matters more, in the elimination stage.
Latvia
G, Amur, 2 G, 1 W, 95.55%, GAA 1.53
Amur failed to reach the playoffs, but one thing is certain: goalies haven’t been Amur’s problem this season, with Kalnins and Evgeny Alikin playing lights out for most of the games. Last week, with Alikin still having health problems, the Latvian goalie was iced in both games for the Tigers, with one win and one loss in the Far East derby final series. The Sailors made it to the playoffs, but Amur won their bragging rights, with six victories to four in the ten-game challenge between the two regional rivals. For the Tigers is now time to regroup and get stronger for the next season, and Kalnins is expected to play a central role in the team.
United States
D, Dinamo Minsk, 2 G, 2 (1+1) points, even
Maybe Duszak posted no stellar numbers last week – but did he deliver on Saturday: his game-winning tally meant that Dinamo Minsk could clinch a playoff spot as the Bisons achieved a key 2:1 away win over Vityaz to end the regular season as the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Duszak’s snipe from the right circle allowed the Belarusians to get to the elimination stage for the third straight time, and this year they will face SKA again. In two years, Dinamo Minsk could only win once against the St. Petersburg giant, but maybe this year they will be able to do better. For his efforts, Duszak was awarded defenseman of the month for February.
Canada
F, Dynamo Moscow, 2 G, 4 (2+2) points, +3
The forward had an excellent end of the season for the Blue-and-Whites, with two multipoint games as he helped Dynamo Moscow ending as the West’s fifth seed with Torpedo waiting for them in the playoffs’ first round. Weal started the week posting a goal and an assist as Dynamo defeated Vityaz 4:1. Two days later, on Feb 24, the Blue-and-Whites lost their last game of the regular season against CSKA, suffering from a 4:5 OT defeat, but Weal had again one goal and one helper – including opening the score in the first stanza for his 14th of the season. After those two striking performances, he was left out resting for Dynamo’s closing game of this year’s campaign. With the playoffs starting soon, Weal is going to play a key role for the Blue-and-Whites attack.
