Best players of the Playoffs’ first round

The Kontinental Hockey League’s commission has determined the best players of the Playoffs’ first round in four categories.

In the Playoffs’ first round the teams played 48 games, with 403 players (26 goalies, 129 defensemen, and 248 forwards) taking part in the actions.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Nikita Serebryakov (Admiral), who won four games of six against Salavat Yulaev. The Sailors’ netminder faced 223 shots, posting a 93.72% saves percentage and a goals-against average of 2.13.

- Best defenseman for the first time in his career was Igor Ozhiganov (SKA), who scored 5 (1+4) points in six games. Ozhiganov posted no negative ratings, ending the series with a plus-4 differential. He also potted the game-winner in the series’ second match. Throughout the showdown against Dinamo Minsk, Ozhiganov recorded five hits, blocked ten shots, and had three takeaways.

- Best forward for the first time in his career was Curtis Valk (Avtomobilist), who scored 10 (4+6) points in seven games. The forward potted two game-winners, recorded three hits, blocked nine shots, and had five takeaways.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was forward Vitaly Pinchuk (Dinamo Minsk), who scored 4 (2+2) points in six games. Pinchuk netted the game-winner in game one against SKA, recorded three hits, and blocked three shots.