Best players of January

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

In December, the League’s teams played 142 games, with 668 players (59 goalies, 216 defensemen, and 393 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.23 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Alexander Samoilov (Severstal), who won six games from ten last month. The Cherepovets goalie faced 247 shots, or 24.7 per night, posting a saves percentage of 92.71% and a goals-against average of 1.94. Moreover, Samoilov posted four shutouts – the best figure of the month.

- Best defenseman for the fifth time in his career was Alexander Nikishin (SKA), who scored 13 (4+9+) points in twelve January games. The St. Petersburg defenseman finished the month with a plus-9 differential. Nikishin also recorded 16 hits, blocked 15 shots, and had four takeaways.

- Best forward for the first time in his career was Arseny Gritsyuk (SKA), who scored 19 (7+12) points in twelve games. Gritsyuk posted no negative ratings, ending January with a plus-15 differential. In the Jan 26 game against CSKA, the forward netted the game winner. He also recorded four hits, blocked one shot, and had one takeaway.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was goalie Maxim Motorygin (Dynamo Moscow), who had six wins in eight games. Motorygin faced 190 shots, or 23.8 per night, posting a saves percentage of 93.16 and a goals-against average of 1.88.