Panik’s return and Keane’s big performance. Week 25 top imports
Panik returns to production, Keane posts five points in one game, and Sulak keeps on rolling despite a rocky season for his team. KHL.ru presents the best players from each country.
US
D, Spartak, 3 G, 6 (2+4) points, +3
For the first time in his career, Joseph Keane was named the KHL’s Best Defenseman of the Week after recording six points in three games, posting a plus-3 rating and blocking seven shots. Keane’s standout performance came on March 7, when Spartak routed Lada 7:1 on the road. The blueliner delivered a remarkable five-point night, scoring once and adding four assists while finishing with a plus-3 rating in 21:27 of ice time. He followed it up the next day with another strong showing against Lada again, scoring a goal and finishing plus-2 in a 5:2 victory, logging 20:20. Earlier in the week, Keane was held off the scoresheet in Spartak’s 1:4 home loss to Avangard, skating 18:29 and blocking a shot. His explosive weekend, highlighted by the five-point effort, ultimately secured him the weekly honor.
Slovakia
F, Lokomotiv, 2 G, 4 (2+2) points, +3
The Slovak forward returned to high production last week, collecting four points in just two games. Panik delivered his best performance on March 4, when Lokomotiv edged HC Sochi 3:2 on the road. The Slovak veteran played a key role in the victory, scoring twice and adding an assist for a three-point night while finishing with a plus-3 rating in 13:30 of ice time and registering three shots on goal. Two days earlier, Panik contributed to Lokomotiv’s 3:2 SO win over Severstal Cherepovets, assisting on one of the goals. He logged 10:46 of ice time in that game, helping the Railwaymen secure the extra point. With Lokomotiv having mathematically secured first place in the Western Conference, the Slovak veteran is expected to raise the bar once the games start to matter most.
Canada
F, Traktor, 2 G, 5 (2+3) points, +1
Joshua Leivo of Traktor enjoyed a productive week, collecting five points in two games. Leivo delivered his best performance on March 4, when Traktor cruised past Torpedo with a commanding 5:0 road victory. The Canadian forward led the offense with a four-point outing, scoring twice and adding two assists while posting a plus-2 rating. He fired four shots on goal and logged 18:03 of ice time. He followed that performance with another point on March 8 in Traktor’s 2:3 SO loss against Metallurg. Leivo recorded an assist and registered four shots on goal in 20:55 of ice time, despite finishing the game with a minus-1 rating. Leivo has to continue his production as the elimination stage approaches.
Czechia
D, Admiral, 3 G, 4 (2+2) points, +2
Czech defenseman Libor Sulak recorded points in all three of his games last week, collecting four (2+2) despite a difficult stretch for Admiral during a rocky season. Sulak opened the week on March 3 with a goal in the Sailors’ 1:2 SO loss to Salavat Yulaev Ufa, firing five shots on goal and logging a heavy 25:49 of ice time. Two days later, he added an assist in Admiral’s 7:3 win over Neftekhimik, finishing with a plus-2 rating in 13:32. The Czech blueliner closed the week with a two-point performance on March 7, scoring once and assisting once in a narrow 3:4 loss to Neftekhimik. Sulak registered four shots on goal and skated 21:25, continuing to produce offensively even as Admiral struggled to find consistency. He will be expected to play a big role next season as well.
