Best players of November

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

In November, the League’s teams played 119 games, with 625 players (53 goalies, 201 defensemen, and 371 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.51 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Zach Fucale (Dinamo Minsk), who won five games from seven last month. The Minsk goalie faced 180 shots, or 25.7 per night, posting a saves percentage of 94.44% and a goals-against average of 1.44. Fucale posted shutouts in games against Sibir on Nov. 12 (7:0) and Spartak on Nov. 22 (6:0).

- Best defenseman for the second time in his career was Trevor Murphy (SKA), who scored 11 (3+8) points in nine November games, with a plus-4 differential. The St. Petersburg defenseman netted game-winning goals in consecutive matches, against the Shanghai Dragons on Nov. 6 (3:2 OT) and Dynamo Moscow on Nov 8 (3:2), respectively. He also delivered five hits, blocked fourteen shots, made three pass interceptions and had two takeaways.

- Best forward for the first time in his career was Vladimir Tkachyov (Metallurg), who scored 18 (5+13) points in eleven November games, with a plus-9 differential. The Magnitogorsk forward netted the game-winning goal in Metallurg’s win over Lada on Nov. 12 (6:4). He also delivered five hits, blocked three shots, made six pass interceptions, and had six takeaways.

- Best rookie for the second time in his career was forward Alexander Zharovsky (Salavat Yulaev), who scored 4 (2+2) points in nine November games. The Ufa forward potted game-winners in matches against Barys on Nov. 5 (2:1) and Neftekhimik on Nov. 23 (3:1). Zharovsky also recorded two hits, blocked three shots, made four pass interceptions, and had four takeaways.