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Sochi on a hot streak, Boucher wins games for Avangard. Top imports
Sochi’s imports helped the team winning three games in a row, while Reid Boucher is cementing his position as one of the league’s top forwards. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Canada
D, HC Sochi, 3 G, (2+2) points, +1
The Canadian blueliner had a tremendous week, with Sochi being on a three-game winning streak – it’s clear that Graham had a significant impact on the team’s defense since his acquisition. Graham is at his second year in the league, having lined up for Barys last term, and on Wednesday he potted his first KHL double when he helped the team defeating Severstal 5:4 OT – he made it a 3:3 game in the third period with Sochi down by two. Graham currently leads Sochi’s skaters for average time on ice and is tied for the best goal differential among the team’s blueliners. For his efforts in the regular season’s second week, he received Best defenseman honors.
Slovakia
F, HC Sochi, 3 G, 8 (3+5) points, +5
As said, Sochi is in excellent shape, and its imports’ game has been really impressive. Slovakian forward Michal Kristof had four points for Sochi in Monday’s 5:0 thumping of Lokomotiv, followed by another two multi-point games with two assists in Sochi’s win over Severstal and a goal and an assist on a 4:2 victory against Sibir on Friday. Kristof is at his second year in the league, after representing Admiral last year, and he has shifted really well into his new workplace, being the team’s top scorer tied with Croatian Borna Rendulic and the best passer with five assists. The Nitra native is also leading all Sochi’s forward with more than eighteen minutes a night.
United States
F, Avangard, 3 G, 4 (3+1) points, +5
The American forward had a strong showing last week for the Hawks, and was instrumental for his team especially in the Thursday game against Admiral. Avangard had a hard time against the Sailors, and the score was tied at three as the teams headed into OT. There, the Hawks pulled their goalie, taking full advantage of an offensive rush. D-man Libor Sulak found Ryan Spooner on the goal line, then the forward sent it to Boucher between the circles – it was an easy one for Boucher to take the game for his team. The forward also had three points on Saturday, when Avangard got rid of Neftekhimik 5:1 – he potted his first double of the season. Moreover, Boucher is now leading the league with a plus-6 rating, tied with Admiral’s Daniil Gutik.
Croatia
F, HC Sochi, 3 G, 6 (3+3) points, +5
Sochi had a fantastic week, and its imports were among the best in the league. Croatian forward Borna Rendulic had a double when Sochi defeated Lokomotiv 5:0 on Monday – he also had an assist – and scored three points again on Friday against Sibir. Rendulic is at his third year in the league, having spent one and a half season with Vityaz between 2017-2019, and had his best start in his KHL career. If Sochi will be able to keep the pace, much will depend on the team’s imports, even if several Russian players are also doing great, and the team has just loaned from SKA hot prospect Matvei Michkov.
