Defensemen in the spotlight. Week 27 top imports
Jaros returns to production with CSKA, Murphy keeps on getting assists. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Slovakia
D, CSKA, 3 G, 3 (0+3) points, even
It wasn’t the best week for CSKA, who only won once in three games, against Avtomobilist in the first-ever game at the brand-new UGMK Arena. On Monday, with a 4:3 score, the Muscovites got away with a much-needed road victory. Jaros assisted Stanislav Galiyev’s opening goal – the historic, first KHL tally at the new Avtomobilist’s home. Two days later, the Slovak towering defenseman had a couple of helpers in CSKA’s losing effort in Magnitogorsk, with the team wrapping up a three-game road trip with a 2:4 loss. On Saturday, Jaros scored no points as CSKA lost to Dynamo in a Moscow Derby (1:2). With the playoffs starting soon, Jaros’ imposing presence and physical play will be key for the Ilya Vorobyov’s squad.
US
D, Ak Bars, 3 (1+2) points, even
The young American blueliner showed an excellent play last week in Ak Bars’ commanding 6:2 win over Traktor on Wednesday. Miller posted a goal and two assists in the game, including setting up Artyom Galimov’s game-winning tally midway through the game. He also scored the Kazan side’s second goal of the night – it was Miller’s third goal of the season. That night, he also led all Ak Bars’ skaters for time on ice. Miller was held scoreless in the other two Ak Bars games of the week – both losses, to Spartak (3:5), and Vityaz (1:2). Miller’s skating, offensive abilities and elusiveness will be important for setting up plays when the Kazan side tries to climb up the rankings in the regular season’s last week.
Canada
D, Sibir, 3 (0+2) points, even
It wasn’t the most productive week for Murphy, who started the week with a minus-3 rating in Sibir’s losing effort against Vityaz (1:3) on Monday. That game marked the fourth straight loss for Sibir. However, the Novosibirsk side returned to victory right after, on Thursday. Returning home after three games on the road, Sibir defeated Amur 4:2 on home ice, with Trevor Murphy assisting Sergei Shirokov’s game-winner with the man advantage. In the next game, once again won by Sibir, Murphy repeated the trick, giving another assist to Sergei Shirokov on a powerplay stretch in the first period, with Sibir claiming a 4:2 home victory over Torpedo in front of more than 11,300 fans. With Sibir clinching a playoff spot, it will be exciting to see what kind of success the Novosibirsk side will have with Murphy’s production and strong 200-feet game. Murphy is still leading the league in assists, despite playing on the blue line.
