Best players of February

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

In February, the League’s teams played 119 games, with 658 players (54 goalies, 213 defensemen, and 391 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.17 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Timur Bilyalov (Ak Bars), who won six games from seven last month. The Kazan goalie faced 216 shots, or 30.9 per night, posting a saves percentage of 95.83% and a goals-against average of 1.29. Bilyalov posted a shutout in Ak Bars’ win over Neftekhimik on Feb 13 (3:0).

- Best defenseman for the second time in his career was Daniil Pylenkov (Dynamo Moscow), who scored 8 (2+6) points in ten February games. The Blue-and-Whites defenseman finished the month with a plus-2 differential. Pylenkov also recorded three hits, blocked 22 shots, and had one takeaway. He also potted the OT game-winner in the game against Salavat Yulaev on Feb 19 (2:1 OT).

- Best forward for the first time in his career was Jordan Weal (Dynamo Moscow), who scored 13 (8+5) points in ten games, with a plus-1 differential. Weal recorded two hits, blocked six shots, had three takeaways, and four game-winning goals.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was forward Dmitry Buchelnikov (Admiral), who scored 7 (3+4) points in eleven games. The Admiral forward recorded three hits, blocked three shots, and had four takeaways. Moreover, Buchelnikov potted the game winner in the game against Kunlun Red Star on Feb 2 (5:3).