Gernat’s presence and Sikura’s streak. Week 8 top imports
Slovakia’s Martin Gernat keeps on being a key player for Lokomotiv, and Canada’s Dylan Sikura helps Dynamo Moscow in its winning streak. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
Slovakia
D, Lokomotiv, 3 G, 5 (1+4) points, +4
It was a strong week for Lokomotiv’s defenseman, who is cementing his position as one of the league’s top import players. He had points in all three games last week, starting with a couple of assists in Lokomotiv’s win in Togliatti – he also posted a plus-2 differential that night. Gernat also posted a helper in the Railwaymen’s win over SKA on Friday, and had a goal and an assist as Lokomotiv defeated Salavat Yulaev on Sunday – the only game where he logged fewer than twenty minutes (19:40). With his solid production and excellent 200-foot game, Gernat remains a key piece of the puzzle for league-topping Lokomotiv.
Canada
F, Dynamo Moscow, 3 G, 3 (2+1) points, +6
The Canadian forward also had a strong week, being an important player for Dynamo Moscow’s winning streak. The 30-years-old native of Ontario started his week with a goal in the Blue-and-Whites 5:1 road win over the Shanghai Dragons. He also opened the score and dished out an assist in Dynamo Moscow’s win in Cherepovets on Thursday. As the team collected a shutout victory, his tally was also the game-winning goal. On Saturday, Sikura was left scoreless in his team’s 3:2 win over CSKA, but he collected a plus-2 differential. With Dynamo Moscow in excellent shape, the team has a strong chance to climb the standings, and Sikura is poised to add more points to his tally.
US
D, Barys, 3 G, 4 (1+3) points, -3
Barys is struggling of late, with eight wins in its last ten matches, but Reilly is definitely one of the best performers for the Kazakh side. The Astana franchise lost three games last week, but the American defenseman managed to get points in each of the matches, logging the most time on ice on the blue line in all contests. The week started with a goal – his seventh this season – in Barys’ losing effort against Neftekhimik (2:3). Walsh also posted an assist in the Kazakhs’ loss to Avangard on Wednesday (3:4), and had a pair of helpers as Barys lost to Traktor on Friday (3:6). The defenseman is expected to even improve his game as the season goes on, to help the franchise qualify for postseason after several years of hiatus.
Sweden
D, Metallurg, 2 G, 2 (0+2) points, even
The Swedish blueliner is having yet another strong season with Metallurg. He’s actually yet to tally his first goal this season, but his 16 helpers in 19 games speak aloud. He had two of these assists in last week’s Magnitka 4:1 road win over Avangard on Monday – both with the man advantage. He was then held scoreless in Metallurg’s losing effort in Kazan (0:4), but since then, Metallurg returned to the top of the Eastern Conference’s table. With the Swedish defenseman in excellent shape and Magnitka marching at the top of the league’s standings, it can be another long playoff run for the franchise, led by Press on the blue line.
