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

Nicklas Backstrom of Dynamo Moscow

In two games, the Washington Capitals center put up six points – three goals and three assists – including a game-winning marker and a +3 rating.  On the season, the speedy Swede has seven goals and ten assists for 17 points in just 11 games.  His amazing 1.54 points per games is the highest among all players in the league.

Here’s his four-point birthday night against Severstal, which just happened to be on his 25th birthday.  What a way to celebrate!

Defenseman of the Week

Vitaly Proshkin of Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Proshkin scored four points in three games – one goal and three assists – along with a +3.  The 36-year-old veteran, in his sixth season with Salavat, has three goals and 11 helpers for 14 points in 30 games played this year.

Goaltender of the Week

Edgars Masalskis of Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk

Masalskis went 2-0 last week, allowing an average of 0.95 goals per game with a 97.2% save percentage.  This is a huge turnaround for the Latvian netminder, who is 8-8 on the season with a 3.06 goals against average.  More play like this will help Yugra get back in to playoff position.

Here’s a spectacular save from last week’s game against the KHL’s current leading scorer, Sergei Mozyakin of Manitogorsk:

Rookie of the Week

Andrei Mironov of Dynamo Moscow

The rookie defenseman had one assist and a +5 rating while averaging 18:11 of ice time in two game.  The 18-year-old Russian has two points on the season.  He also made his mark earlier this season with one of the KHL’s top ten hits of the week —  he was number one with a dangerously-low hip check: