Each week, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) salutes their Players of the Week. The top forward, defenseman, goaltender, and rookie are selected based on their statistics and performance, as determined by the KHL Statistics and Information Bureau. This week, the league recognizes:
Forward of the Week
Sergei Mozyakin, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
The KHL’s leading scorer, Mozyakin scored 7 goals in three games – including a four-goal outburst – and posted three assists. The KHL’s all-time leading scorer, Mozyakin leads all players in scoring this season with 63 points in 37 games. His 28 goals are nine ahead of second-place goal-scorer Evgeni Malkin and his 35 assists are second only to Malkin’s 40. He’s a plus-18 on the year, and has a Lady-Byng-like four penalty minutes. The 31-year-old Russian is on pace to set career highs in goals, assists, and points, and to claim his third KHL scoring title. Here’s his amazing night in Magnitogorsk’s 7-0 shutout victory over Amur, which also included goals from Malkin, Antipin, and Kazionov. Both Malkin and Mozyakin finished with five-point nights.
Defenseman of the Week
Ilya Nikulin, Ak Bars Kazan
In three games, the 2000 second-round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers picked up a goal and three assists along with a plus-four rating. On the season, Nikulin has seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points. Here’s his blast from the point that squeaked by Neftekhimik netminder Matt Dalton:
Goaltender of the Week
Jeff Glass, Sibir Novosibirsk
Glass helped his team to two victories – one via shutout – last week. In two games, he allowed an average of 0.96 goals per game and saved 96.43% of shots. The former Senators prospect is 11-6 on the season with a 2.08 goals against average and a 93.3 save percentage, along with three shutouts. Here’s Glass with a spectacular glove save against Juha-Pekka Hytonen of Amur Khabarovsk:
Rookie of the Week
Tomas Rachunek, Lev Prague
In three games, the Czech forward picked up three points – two goals and one assist. In 23 games this season, the former Soo Greyhound has four goals and four assists. Here’s Rachunek, opening the scoring in a 4-2 victory over Dynamo: