Best players of January

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

In November, the League’s teams played 120 games, with 610 players (51 goalies, 198 defensemen, and 361 forwards) taking part in the action. The scoring was at 5.22 goals per game.

- Best goalie for the first time in his career was Semyon Vyazovoi (Salavat Yulaev), who posted nine wins in ten January games. The Ufa goalie faced 295 shots, or 29.5 per night, posting a saves percentage of 93.9% and a goals-against average of 1.79.

- Best defenseman for the third time in his career was Damir Sharipzyanov (Avangard), who scored 17 (8+9) points in ten January games. He netted the game-winning goal in Avangard’s win over Ak Bars on Jan. 6 (2:1) and a hat-trick in his team’s win over Traktor on Jan. 18 (5:2). The Hakws’ defenseman also delivered six hits, blocked 13 shots, made one pass interception and had seven takeaways.

- Best forward for the first time in his career was Sergei Tolchinsky (Metallurg), who scored 16 (7+9) points in eleven January games, with a plus-6 differential. The Magnitogorsk forward netted the game-winning goal in Metallurg’s win over Dinamo Minsk on Jan. 31 (5:4). Tolchinsky also delivered three hits, blocked two shots, made four pass interceptions, and had seven takeaways.

- Best rookie for the first time in his career was 19-years-old defenseman Ivan Patrikhayev (CSKA), who scored 5 (1+4) points in eleven December games, with a plus-5 differential. The CSKA defenseman potted the game-winner against Dynamo Moscow on Jan. 28 (1:0). Patrikhayev also recorded four hits and blocked fourteen shots.