Gernat’s play and Priskie’s growth. Week 17 top imports
Gernat keeps on delivering for Lokomotiv, Priskie gets to the scoresheet and Leivo climbs up in the scoring race. KHL.ru presents the top players from each country.
Slovakia
D, Lokomotiv, 3 G, 5 (3+2) points, +4
Martin Gernat enjoyed another outstanding week with Lokomotiv, once again making his presence felt at both ends of the ice. The Yaroslavl defenseman totaled five points (3+2) in two games, highlighted by a three-point performance, with a double, on Thursday as Lokomotiv edged Sibir on home ice 3:2. He finished the week with a plus-4 rating, while also contributing physically with five hits and three blocked shots. For his efforts, Gernat was awarded Defenseman of the Week honors for the fifth time in his KHL career. As the playoffs approach, Lokomotiv will need the Slovak’s help to return to the top of the standings.
US
D, Sibir, 3 G, 4 (0+4) points, +2
Sibir didn’t have its best week this time around, with two losses in three games, yet defenseman Chase Priskie was very good for the Novosibirsk side. The 29-year-old blueliner, who won the AHL Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears in the 2022-2023 season, started the week dishing out a pair of assists as Sibir defeated Admiral on Tuesday on home ice (5:2). He also collected a plus-3 rating in the game. Two days ago, Priskie repeated his offensive performance in Sibir’s losing effort against the Gagarin Cup holder Lokomotiv (2:3). He was then left off the scoresheet in Sibir’s loss to Traktor. The Novosibirsk side is now fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and Priskie’s production will be key for the team.
Canada
F, Traktor, 3 G, 5 (4+1) points, +3
After a slow start, Leivo once again is among the KHL top scorers, currently in the top five for scoring and trailing only Metallurg’s Roman Kantserov in the snipers’ race. Last week, Leivo further improved his numbers, starting with a striking performance when Traktor celebrated a 3:1 win over Avtomobilist on Tuesday as he netted a double. On Friday, Leivo posted a double again in the Black-and-Whites’ 4:1 home win over Amur. On Sunday, Traktor won again, against Sibir; Leivo didn’t score, but had an assist to complete a three-game scoring streak. Traktor is currently the sixth seed in the East and will need Leivo’s points to climb even further.
Sweden
D, Metallurg, 3 G, 2 (0+2) points, +1
One of the top scoring defensemen in the league, Press had another strong week, helping Magnitka winning three straight matches and getting on the scoresheet twice. The Swedish d-man had assists in Magnitogorsk’s win over Avangard (2:1), when he helped Luke Johnson netting his fifth of the season, and SKA (5:1), further cementing his position as one of the league’s top blueliners. Metallurg is currently leading the league and the Eastern Conference, and Press’ contribution has been outstanding – just as he is doing year in, year out.
