Getting the ball rolling in the second round. Top imports
CSKA and Avangard get the most help from their imports as the sides reach the Conference finals stage once again. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Sweden
G, CSKA, 7 G, 4 W, 2 SO, 94.36%, 1.66 GAA
The Swedish netminder has been phenomenal between the piping for CSKA, especially when it mattered more – in the seventh game against Lokomotiv. Reideborn posted 30 shots to blank the Railwaymen as the Gagarin Cup reigning champion had seven games in two consecutive series following a first-round showdown against Severstal. Naturally, he had other high-performance showings in the series, but a shutout in the decisive, seventh game is something to remember as CSKA is currently battling out with SKA in the Western Conference finals.
USA
F, Avangard, 4 G, 7 (5+2) points, +6
Not only did Boucher score at a high rate in the second round against Metallurg, he also netted two game-winners (in game two and four, respectively), potted two doubles, and recorded points in all games. Avangard’s dynamic duo of Boucher and Corban Knight looked unstoppable by the Metallurg defense, as the Hawks swapped Magnitka in four games to achieve yet another qualification to the Eastern Conference finals, where they will be facing Ak Bars for the third time in a row. Boucher also posted a league-leading five goals in the short-lived series, tying for the lead in the differential with a plus-6 rating (once again, with Knight). For his efforts, Boucher was awarded best forward honors.
Canada
F, Avangard, 4 G, 5 (1+4) points, +6
We’ve already talked about Reid Boucher, but Knight’s contribution wasn’t any lesser as Avangard downed Magnitka in just four games in the second round. The veteran Canadian forward showed once again his class on the faceoff dots, and was the most-played forward in the league with 21 minutes and 52 seconds of average time on ice. The import duo, often played with Vladimir Tkachyov, has been a force for the Hawks, and they will certainly try to do some damage as Avangard is currently facing Ak Bars in the Eastern Conference finals.
Canada/Kazakhstan
D, CSKA, 7 G, 2 (1+1) points, +1
The veteran defenseman is an important piece in the CSKA’s defensive puzzle, and he has showed glimpses of excellence at both ends of the ice, ending the seventh and decisive game with a plus-2 differential and leading the league’s blueliners with 15 shots on goal. Dietz has already helped CSKA lifting a Gagarin Cup once – last year – and he’s looking forward to give his contribution as the Moscow side battles with SKA to reach the grand finals another time.
