Leivo’s records and Kunlun’s strong streak. Week 20 top imports
Leivo sets records, Kunlun Red Star keeps on winning, and Da Costa never stops scoring. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Canada
F, Salavat Yulaev, 3 G, 7 (6+1) points, +5
For the third time in his career, Leivo was named Best Forward. Last week, he was in fantastic shape and tallied 7 points (6+1) in just three games with a plus-5 rating. Leivo recorded a double and two hat-tricks, including the game-winning goal in Salavat Yulaev’s 4-0 victory over Avangard on Jan. 20. The Ufa forward also registered two pass interceptions and one takeaway. He netted his fourth hat-trick in 26 days and, in the process, became the first player to achieve four trebles in one regular KHL season. With his recent scoring spree, it's no surprise that Leivo sits atop the KHL scoring race. He’s also on pace for a potential 50-goal regular season, putting him in contention to challenge Sergei Mozyakin’s 2016-2017 record of 55 goals in a single campaign.
Slovakia
G, Kunlun Red Star, 2 G, 1 W, 93.65%, 2.00 GAA
The Slovak goalie found his groove wearing the Dragons’ jersey and helped Kunlun Red Star win a key game for its playoff push against Vityaz. On Saturday, Rybar stopped 27 shots, denying the opposition forwards of several scoring chances and gaining a win over a key opponent. He was also guarding the Dragons’ gates in a losing effort against Severstal (0:3) on Thursday. With Kunlun Red Star pushing to reach the playoffs, goaltending won’t be an issue for the team, with two strong options in Rybar and veteran Jeremy Smith.
US
D, Kunlun Red Star, 2 G, 2 (1+1) points, -1
The American defenseman was a key figure for the Dragons in their win against Vityaz, participating in both goals for the team, including tallying the game-winner with fewer than four minutes to go in the closing frame. Earlier in the game, Clendening assisted Jan Drozg’s fourth goal of the season. With this effort, Clendening reached 13 points in his first season in the league after joining the Dragons after a productive year in the top Finnish league.
France
F, Avtomobilist, 2 G, 2 (0+2) points, even
The Yekaterinburg side is in excellent shape and won its last nine games – also thanks to the Frenchman, who is currently on a seven-game scoring streak. Last week, Da Costa had two helpers in as many games, helping the Motormen by adding four points to their standings. In particular, Da Costa had an assist in each of Avtomobilist’s wins over Avangard (2:1) and Lada (5:3). Avtomobilist returned to the top four teams in the Eastern Conference and his production will be key as the postseason approaches.
