Best players of March

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

In March, the League’s teams played 100 games, with 636 players (53 goalies, 209 defensemen, and 374 forwards) taking part in the action. Scoring was at 5.50 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the third time in his career was Daniil Isayev (Lokomotiv), who won four games from six last month. The Yaroslavl goalie faced 124 shots, or 20.7 per night, posting a saves percentage of 92.74% and a goals-against average of 1.48. Isayev posted a shutout on March 4 Lokomotiv’s win over Severstal (3:0), reaching a career-high eight blanking in this regular season.

- Best defenseman for the first time in his career was Robin Press (Metallurg), who scored 7 (3+4) points in six March games. The Magnitogorsk blueliner didn’t post any negative rating, ended the month with a plus-6 differential. He also made one hit, blocked two shots, and had three takeaways.

- Best forward for the second time in his career was Joshua Leivo (Salavat Yulaev), who scored 13 (7+6) points in eight March games. The Ufa forward ended the month with a plus-4 differential. Galimov posted game-winning goals in his team’s wins over Admiral (6:3) and Sibir (3:1), recorded three hits, made five pass interceptions and had eight takeaways.

- Best rookie for the second time in his career was forward Nikita Khoruzhev (Neftekhimik), who scored 6 (3+3) points in nine March games, ending the month with a plus-4 differential. The young forward potted the game-winning goal in his team’s road win over Admiral on March 6 (3:2), recorded three hits, blocked one shot, made three pass interceptions, and had two takeaways.