Players of the Week 21: Garnett, Koledov, Zaripov and Balinskis
To mark the end of the twenty-first week’s play of the ninth season of the Championship, the Kontinental Hockey League has named the best players of the week in four categories.
– Best goaltender was Michael Garnett (Medvescak), with two victories in two appearances, including a shutout at Severstal. Indeed, the 34-year-old Canadian was only beaten once over the past seven days, and both his stats - a 98.63% save percentage and a 0.50 goals against average – were the best in the League;
– Best defenseman was Pavel Koledov (Lokomotiv), who finished both his matches on the winning side and with a positive efficiency rating, earning a +4 for the week. He struck 5 shots at the opposition net, and one of these resulted in the game-winning goal against Lada;
– Best forward was Danis Zaripov (Metallurg Magnitogorsk), whose 4 points (3+1) helped his team inflict two defeats in two games against Avangard. Danis recorded a goal and an assist in the first encounter and his double in the rematch included the game-winner;
– Best rookie was 20-year-old Dinamo Riga defenseman Uvis Balinskis, who was given two outings on the road and celebrated victory in both encounters. The youngster scored his second goal of the season when his power-play strike broke the deadlock at Kunlun Red Star, and he averaged 20 minutes 27 seconds on the ice.
