Saturday, December 29, 2012

KHL December 29th 2012

Four games today, beginning in...

Kazan, with Ak Bars hosting Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton and Konstantin Barulin are in front of the nets. Kazan started with a first period goal by Konstantin Korneyev, courtesy of Danis Zaripov. Ak Bars added on in the second period with an Alexei Tereshchenko goal, fueled by Ilya Nikulin and Zaripov. Kazan padded the lead with a Tereshchenko power play goal, powered by Nikulin and Alexei Morozov. This prompted Maxim Sokolov to relieve Dalton in goal. Ak Bars struck again on an Artyom Lukoyanov goal, going down with help from Nikulin, who got a sock trick, and Evgeny Bodrov. Nizhnekamsk got one back as Maxim Pestushko scored, thanks to Martin Cibak. Neftekhimik chipped away as Cibak scored a goal, guided in by Yegor Milovzorov. The scoring went dry in the third period, leaving the final at 4-2 Ak Bars. Tereshchenko, Nikulin, and Cibak get the three stars while Zaripov gets an honorable mention.

West to Cherepovets, where Severstal welcomes Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco and Vasily Koshechkin will play goal. Cherepovets opened with a first period power play goal by Denis Kazionov, passed from Vadim Shipachyov. Donetsk tied it on a Sergei Varlamov goal, made possible by Denis Kochetkov and Vitaly Donika. Donbass took the lead as Lukas Kaspar scored, with a lone assist from Alexei Ponikarovsky. Severstal retied it as Pavel Dedunov scored a goal, via Alexander Fedoseyev. Cherepovets gained the lead as Shipachyov scored, thanks to Evgeny Ketov. Severstal padded the lead with an Alexei Medvedev goal, assisted by Niclas Bergfors. Donetsk chipped back in the third period on a power play goal by Peter Podhradsky, powered by Vaclav Nedorost. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars being Shipachyov, Medvedev, and Kazionov.

South to Chekhov, as Vityaz hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Ivan Lisutin are the masked men. Chekhov led off with a first period goal by Artemy Panarin, going down unassisted. Riga tied it on an Alexandre Giroux goal, with a lone assist by Arvids Rekis. Vityaz took the lead back on a Dinar Khafizullin goal, courtesy of Alexei Badyukov. Chekhov extended the lead in the second period with an Evgeny Timkin goal, coming off of Georgy Belousov. This held up for a 3-1 win, with the three stars being Lisutin (31 for 32 in saves), Panarin, and Khafizullin.

Finally, in Minsk, Dinamo hosts Spartak Moscow. Alexei Yakhin and Lars Haugen will guard the cages. Minsk got going in the first period as Geoff Platt recorded a goal on a penalty shot he earned after being tripped on a breakaway by Jaroslav Obsut. Dinamo added on in the second period with a power play goal by Zbynek Irgl, powered by Libor Pivko. Minsk struck again in the third period as Janne Niskala scored, with the help of Pivko and Teemu Laine. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars being Haugen (30 save shutout), Pivko, and Platt.

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Friday, December 28, 2012

KHL December 28th 2012

Eight more games today, beginning in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval and Karri Ramo tend the twines. Omsk got going in the second period on an Alexander Perezhogin goal, with a lone assist by Alexander Popov. This was the game's only goal, leaving the final at 1-0. Ramo (30 save shutout), Perezhogin, and Koval (16 for 17 in saves) received the three stars.

Northwest to Chelyabinsk, as Traktor welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Alexei Kuznetsov and Michael Garnett are starting in goal. Khabarovsk finally got going in the second period with a Perttu Lindgren goal, made possible by Nikita Gusev. Chelyabinsk tied it on an Andrei Popov goal, assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Ryabykin. Traktor took the lead in the third period when Yegor Dugin scored, thanks to Konstantin Panov and Vladimir Antipov. Chelyabinsk added on with a goal by Panov, passed from Alexei Vasilchenko and Antipov. This made it a 3-1 final score, with Garnett (16 for 17 in saves), Panov, and Antipov getting the three stars.

A touch to the west, Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Yury Klyuchnikov and Ari Ahonen are in the creases. Magnitogorsk led off with a first period Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Sergei Gonchar and Evgeny Malkin. Magnitogorsk struck again in the second period as Mats Zuccarello scored, with the help of Alexei Bondarev. Magnitogorsk added on as Nikolai Kulemin scored, with assists provided by Mozyakin and Malkin. Magnitogorsk extended the lead with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, coming off of Denis Platonov. Magnitogorsk padded the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Malkin, powered by O'Reilly and Gonchar. Magnitogorsk iced it at 6-0 with an O'Reilly goal, and Georgy Misharin got the lone assist. The three stars went to O'Reilly, Malkin, and Mozyakin, while Gonchar and Ahonen (22 save shutout) get the honorable mentions.

A bit north, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Jeff Glass and Chris Holt are the masked men. Novosibirsk started in the second period as Evgeny Fyodorov scored an unassisted power play goal. Sibir iced it at 2-0 with a shorthanded empty net goal in the third period, recorded by Jori Lehtera and going down unassisted. Glass (20 save shutout), Fyodorov, and Holt (26 for 28 in saves) got the three stars. As a note, please remember these recaps are unofficial. I have no way to verify the statistics and actions presented in the KHL. 

Northeast to Khanty-Mansiysk, as Yugra hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Mikhail Biryukov will be between the pipes. Mytishchi began in the first period as Igor Ignatushkin scored, with the help of Jonas Andersson and Nikolai Zherdev. Atlant added on with an unassisted goal from Ilya Kablukov. Mytishchi extended the lead with an Andreas Engqvist goal, set up by Viktor Stalberg and Jonas Frogren. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the second period as Anton But scored, with a lone assist from Dmitry Altaryov. Atlant replied on an Andersson goal, fueled by Zherdev. Yugra shot back on a Sergei Demagin goal, courtesy of Kirill Safronov and But. Mytishchi answered with Stalberg scoring a goal, guided in by Engqvist. Khanty-Mansiysk got one back in the third period on a power play goal by Rinat Ibragimov, powered by Konstantin Glazachev and Safronov. They failed to score again, losing 5-3, with the three stars going to Engqvist, Stalberg, and Andersson, while Zherdev, Safronov, and But receive the honorable mentions.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Vitaly Yeremeyev protect the nets. Astana was first to score in the first period as Dmitry Upper potted the puck, thanks to Andrew Hutchinson and Konstantin Rudenko. Barys added on in the second period with a power play goal by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev, powered by Talgat Zhailauov and Fyodor Polishchuk. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 2-0 win for Barys. Upper, Yeremeyev (27 save shutout), and Krasnoslobodtsev.

Northwest to Moscow, as Dynamo hosts Lev Praha. Tomas Popperle and Alexander Sharychenkov guard the cages. Praha opened in the first period with a Tomas Rachunek goal, coming off of Jiri Hunkes and Jakub Klepis. Lev added on in the second period as Jakub Krejcik scored a power play goal, powered by Jakub Voracek. Praha kept going in the third period with a Klepis goal, fueled by Rachunek and Petr Vrana. Lev struck again as Rachunek scored another goal, via Mathias Porseland and Voracek. Moscow got on the board with a shorthanded and unassisted goal by Denis Kokarev. Dynamo got another as Alexei Tsvetkov scored, with the help of Konstantin Volkov and Maxim Solovyov. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-2, leaving the three stars were Rachunek, Klepis, and Voracek.

Finally, ending the day in St. Petersburg, with SKA welcoming Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Sergei Bobrovsky receive the starting nods. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period with an unassisted Ilya Kovalchuk goal. This stood throughout the game for a 1-0 final, with the three stars being Bobrovsky (27 save shutout), Kovalchuk, and Janus (23 for 24 in saves).

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

KHL December 27th 2012

Four games on for today, the first coming from...

Cherepovets, as Severstal hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Vasily Koshechkin guard the cages. Riga led off with a first period goal by Girts Ankipans, assisted by Andris Dzerins and Mathieu Carle. Cherepovets tied it on a Denis Kazionov goal, fueled by Niclas Andersen and Gennady Stolyarov. Dinamo took the lead back in the second period on a power play goal by Kristaps Sotnieks, powered by Aleksandrs Nizivijs and Gints Meija. Riga padded the lead in the third period with Dzerins scoring a goal, passed from Nizivijs. Severstal got one back as Kazionov scored again, thanks to Bogdan Kiselevich and Vadim Shipachyov. Dinamo iced it at 4-2 with an unassisted empty net goal by Alexandre Giroux. The three stars went to Dzerins, Nizivijs, and Kazionov.

Back east, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk welcomes Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin and Matt Dalton are in the blue paint. Kazan opened in the first period as Evgeny Medvedev scored, thanks to Jarkko Immonen and Dmitry Obukhov. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the second period on a power play goal by Yegor Milovzorov, powered by Maxim Pestushko and Alexander Seluyanov. Ak Bars took the lead back as Ilya Nikulin scored, with a lone assist from Niko Kapanen. Neftekhimik retied it on a Pyotr Khokhryakov goal, made possible by Yaroslav Alshevsky. The game went to overtime, where Kazan won 3-2 on a goal by Medvedev, helped along by Grigory Panin. The three stars were Medvedev, Barulin (29 for 31 in saves), and Dalton (35 for 38 in saves).

Back west, Vityaz Chekhov hosts Spartak Moscow. Sergei Borisov and Ivan Lisutin receive the starting nods. Georgy Belousov started the scoring for Chekhov, and he received helpers from Dinar Khafizullin and Alexei Badyukov. Moscow tied it with a power play goal by Mikhail Yunkov, with assists coming from Jaroslav Obshut and Branko Radivojevic. Vityaz retook the lead in the second period as Badyukov scored, courtesy of Evgeny Timkin. Spartak tied it again as Stefan Ruzicka scored, with the help of Oleg Petrov. Chekhov regained the lead in the third period on a power play goal from Alexander Korolyuk, powered by Josh Hennessy. Moscow tied it once more as Denis Bodrov scored, via Petrov. Spartak won 4-3 with a lone shootout tally by Mikhail Zhukov. The three stars were Petrov, Badyukov, and Zhukov.

Finally, in Minsk, Dinamo brings in Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco and Lars Haugen are the masked men. Minsk began with a power play goal by Geoff Platt, powered by Teemu Laine and Janne Niskala. Dinamo added on as Andrei Stas scored, via Dmitry Meleshko and Zbynek Irgl. Minsk extended the lead in the second period on an unassisted Laine goal. Donetsk got on the board late in the third period with a power play goal by Ruslan Fedotenko, coming off of Lukas Kaspar and Oskars Bartulis. This only made it 3-1, a final, with Laine, Haugen (25 for 26 in saves), and Stas getting the three stars.

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

KHL December 26th 2012

Eight games going on today as we approach the new year. First up...

Avangard Omsk hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Semyon Varlamov and Karri Ramo tend the twines. Omsk led off in the first period with an Anssi Salmela goal, assisted by Alexander Nesterov and Vladimir Pervushin. Yaroslavl tied it in the second period on a Mikhail Pashnin goal with a lone assist from Yegor Yakovlev. Avangard retook the lead on an unassisted power play goal by Anton Kuryanov. Lokomotiv tied it again as Maxim Trunyov scored an unassisted goal. Omsk edged ahead on an Alexander Perezhogin goal, courtesy of Alexander Popov and Tomas Zaborsky. Avangard iced it at 4-2 with a power play goal going into an empty net off the tape of Perezhogin, with Popov claiming the only helper. This was a final, with the three stars being Perezhogin, Popov, and Salmela.

To the northwest, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Alexander Lazushin and Michael Garnett are the masked men. Chelyabinsk was first to score in the first period with a power play goal by Maxim Karpov, powered by Deron Quint and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Novokuznetsk tied it on a Yury Nazarov goal, fueled by Vadim Mitryakov. Traktor took the lead back with a power play goal by Maxim Yakutsenya, coming off of Vyacheslav Belov. Chelyabinsk added on in the second period as Yakutsenya scored again, with the help of Jan Bulis, and this goal chased Lazushin from the game. He was replaced by Yury Klyuchnikov. This worked well defensively, but the offense fell flat and lost 3-1. The three stars were Yakutsenya, Garnett (20 for 21 in saves), and Karpov.

A little southwest to Magnitogorsk, with Metallurg welcoming Sibir Novosibirsk. Sergei Gaiduchenko and Ari Ahonen receive the starting nods. Novosibirsk began in the first period as Viktor Drugov scored a power play goal with the help of Alexander Nikulin. Magnitogorsk tied it with a power play goal by Sergei Mozyakin, powered by Evgeny Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. Sibir retook the lead on a Viktor Bobrov goal, passed from Igor Velichkin. Novosibirsk extended the lead in the second period on a Maxim Krivonozhkin goal, guided in by Jori Lehtera. Metallurg replied on an unassisted power play goal by Dmitry Kazionov. Magnitogorsk tied it with another Mozyakin goal, made possible by Nikolai Kulemin and Malkin. Sibir took the lead back in the third period on an unassisted goal by Krivonozhkin. Novosibirsk struck again with a power play goal by Jonas Enlund, via Nikulin and Krivonozhkin. This made it 5-3, the final, with Krivonozhkin, Mozyakin, and Nikulin getting the three stars, while Malkin gets the honorable mention.

Northeast to Yekaterinburg, where Avtomobilist brings in Amur Khabarovsk. Alexei Kuznetsov and Chris Holt are in the blue paint. Khabarovsk opened with a first period goal by Mikhail Fisenko, assisted by Dmitry Lugin and Andrei Stepanov. Amur added on with a Timofei Shishkanov goal, helped along by Evgeny Orlov. Yekaterinburg got on the board as Rastislav Spirko scored, with helpers provided by Sergei Gusev and Alexei Simakov. Khabarovsk answered in the second period with an Alexander Yunkov goal, via Janne Lahti and Anton Poleshchuk. Avtomobilist shot back on an Artyom Kryukov goal, courtesy of Branislav Mezei. Yekaterinburg tied it in the third period when Simakov potted the puck, thanks to Gusev and Alexei Makeyev. Amur won 4-3 in the shootout with a lone tally by Yunkov. The three stars were Yunkov, Simakov, and Gusev.

Farther to the northeast, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Vitaly Koval and Edgars Masalskis are between the pipes. Khanty-Mansiysk quickly opened in the first period with a Dmitry Altaryov goal fourteen seconds in, helped along by Anton But and Sergei Demagin. Nizhny Novgorod tied the game as Mikhail Varnakov scored on a penalty shot after being hooked by Altaryov on the breakaway. Yugra took the lead back in the second period as Stanislav Bocharov scored, with a lone assist coming from Khanty-Mansiysk added on as Igor Magogin scored a power play goal, powered by Vitaly Sitnikov and Denis Grebeshkov. Yugra padded the lead as Sitnikov scored, thanks to Igor Skorokhodov and Magogin. Torpedo answered in the third period on a Dmitry Makarov goal, set up by Alexei Ugarov. Nizhny Novgorod pulled closer on an unassisted Alexander Semin power play goal. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars being Sitnikov, Magogin, and Altaryov.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Anton Khudobin and Vitaly Yeremeyev are in the creases. Astana started in the first period with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, fueled by Mikhail Grigoryev. Barys added on as Brandon Bochenski scored, thanks to Maxim Spiridonov and Ilya Solaryov. Astana kept going with a Fyodor Polishchuk goal, made possible by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. Barys extended the lead in the second period as Dustin Boyd scored, with the help of Vitaly Novopashin and Pushkaryov. Mytishchi got on the board as Mikhail Glukhov scored a goal, assisted by Ilya Kablukov and Roman Rukavishnikov. Atlant pulled closer on an Alexander Shavchenko goal, coming off of Sandis Ozolins. Mytishchi chipped away in the third period on another Shavchenko goal, via Andreas Engqvist and Ozolins. Atlant tied the game as Viktor Stalberg scored, with a lone assist from Engqvist. They failed to complete the comeback, losing in the shootout as goals from Astana's Roman Starchenko and Nigel Dawes overpowered the lone tally from Mytishchi's Nikolai Zherdev. The three stars belong to Pushkaryov, Shavchenko, and Engqvist, while Ozolins gets an honorable mention.

To the west, Dynamo Moscow welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Alexander Yeryomenko guard the cages. Bratislava got going in the first period on a power play goal by Milan Bartovic, with a lone assist by Andrej Sekera. Moscow tied it as Alexander Ovechkin scored a power play goal, powered by Ilya Gorokhov and Leo Komarov. The game went into a shootout, where Dynamo came out on top, riding two goals from Richard Gynge and one from Marek Kvapil to top goals by Slovan's Mario Bliznak and Jan Lipiansky. The final was 2-1, with the three stars being Gynge, Yeryomenko (26 for 27 in saves), and Janus (33 for 34 in saves).

Finally, we end in St. Petersburg, with SKA hosting CSKA Moscow. Ilya Bryzgalov faces his former Philadelphia Flyers backup, Sergei Bobrovsky, in goal. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period as Petr Prucha scored a power play goal, powered by Maxim Chudinov and Patrick Thoresen. Moscow tied it in the second period with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, fueled by Alexander Radulov and Yakov Rylov. CSKA won 2-1 in overtime as Mikhail Grabovsky scored, with a lone assist by Radulov. The three stars were Radulov, Bryzgalov (16 for 17 in saves), and Grabovsky.

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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

KHL December 25th 2012

Merry Christmas everybody. This may be a first-time occurrence, with me blogging on Christmas. There's just one game on in the KHL, played between the host Donbass Donetsk and the visiting Vityaz Chekhov. Ivan Kasutin and Jan Laco play in goal. Chekhov opened with a first period goal by Josh Hennessy, assisted by Alexander Korolyuk. Donetsk tied it with a Jan Kolar goal, fueled by Lukas Kaspar and Jani Tuppurainen. Vityaz took the lead back in the second period as Hennessy scored again, a power play goal powered by Alexei Troshchinsky. Chekhov padded the lead with an unassisted Artemy Panarin goal. Donbass got one back as Petr Podhradsky scored a power play goal, made possible by Kaspar and Petteri Wirtanen. Donetsk tied it in the third period as Evgeny Dadonov scored, via Vaclav Nedorost. Donbass took the lead with a Ruslan Fedotenko goal, courtesy of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Fredrik Pettersson. Donetsk kept going with a Fedotenko power play goal with a lone assist by Clay Wilson. Donbass extended the lead with a Wirtanen power play goal, passed from Kaspar, who got a sock trick, and Podhradsky. Vityaz got one back late as Nikita Dvurechensky scored a power play goal, with helpers provided by Pavel Chernov and Panarin. This made it a 6-4 final score, with the three stars being Fedotenko, Podhradsky, and Wirtanen, while Hennessy, Kaspar, and Panarin get the honorable mentions.

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Monday, December 24, 2012

KHL December 24th 2012

Two games for Christmas Eve, none of which being played in Russia. First up...

Dinamo Riga hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Edgars Masalskis and Mikael Tellqvist are the masked men. Riga led off in the first period with an Alexandre Giroux goal, assisted by Paul Szczechura and Kaspars Daugavins. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it on an Igor Skorokhodov goal, passed from Vitaly Sitnikov and Igor Magogin. Yugra took the lead in the second period as Konstantin Glazachev scored, with the help of Marek Troncinsky and Alexander Rybakov. Khanty-Mansiysk iced it at 3-1 in the third period on an empty net goal by Anton But, set up by Kirill Safronov and Sergei Demagin. The three stars belong to Glazachev, Masalskis (24 for 25 in saves), and Skorokhodov.

Ending the day in Prague as Lev Praha hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Emil Garipov and Jakub Stepanek tend the twines. Kazan began with a first period power play goal from Lauris Darzins, powered by Ilya Nikulin and Alexei Morozov. Ak Bars extended the lead with a Janne Pesonen power play goal, coming off of Jarkko Immonen and Evgeny Medvedev. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 2-0 final, and the three stars were Garipov (23 save shutout), Darzins, and Pesonen.

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Fantasy Football All-Stars Championship Weekend

Rough week for my teams, as I claimed a whopping 0 championships, as well as 4 second places, 0 third places, and 2 fourth places. Here's who was probably against me.

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers
Running Backs: Reggie Bush and Jamaal Charles
Wide Receivers: Dez Bryant and Roddy White
Tight End: Lance Kendricks
Kicker: Justin Tucker
Team Defense: San Diego and Chicago
Defensive Players: Richard Sherman and Julius Peppers

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

NFL Afternoon/Evening Games Week 16 2012

Four games to close out the week. First up...

The Denver Broncos hosting the Cleveland Browns. Denver led off with a first quarter Peyton Manning 22 yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, and Matt Prater was there with the extra point. Cleveland got on the board as Phil Dawson made a 27 yard field goal. The Broncos extended the lead in the second quarter on a 10 yard Manning touchdown pass to Eric Decker, and Prater handled the extra point. The Browns shot back in the third quarter with a 53 yard field goal by Dawson. Denver extended the lead as Manning found Decker for 8 yards and a touchdown, and Prater booted the extra point. The Broncos got some more in the fourth quarter on a field goal of 27 yards by Prater. Denver got some more as Jacob Hester ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Prater kicked the extra point. Cleveland shot back as Colt McCoy passed 6 yards for a touchdown to Greg Little, but the two-point attempt failed. The Broncos ended it at 34-12 with a Prater 41 yard field goal. Denver is now 12-3 while Cleveland falls to 5-10.

Down in Arizona, the Cardinals welcome the Chicago Bears. Chicago started in the first quarter as Zack Bowman pounced on a Beanie Wells fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, and Olindo Mare was there with the extra point. Arizona got on the board as Jay Feely made a 49 yard field goal. The Bears added on in the second quarter as Matt Forte ran 4 yards for a touchdown, and Mare nailed the extra point. The Cardinals replied with a Feely 35 yard field goal. Chicago padded the lead with Jay Cutler passing 11 yards to Brandon Marshall, and Mare again made the PAT. The Bears struck again in the third quarter on a Charles Tillman interception of 10 yards, returned for a touchdown, and Mare tacked on the extra point. Arizona got some back in the fourth quarter as Justin Bethel returned a blocked field goal attempt for 82 yards and a touchdown, and Feely kicked the extra point. This only made it 28-13, a final, with Chicago now at 9-6 while the Cardinals fall to 5-10.

To the east, the Baltimore Ravens host the New York Giants. Baltimore opened with a first quarter Joe Flacco touchdown pass of 6 yards to Torrey Smith, and Justin Tucker supplied the extra point. The Ravens padded the lead as Flacco ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Tucker again made the extra point. New York got going with a 14 yard David Wilson touchdown run, and Lawrence Tynes kicked the extra point. Baltimore replied in the second quarter as Tucker made a 23 yard field goal. The Ravens extended the lead as Flacco passed 27 yards to Ray Rice for a touchdown, and Tucker handled the PAT. Baltimore struck again in the third quarter on a Tucker 21 yard field goal. The Ravens got some more in the fourth quarter as Tucker made a 30 yard field goal. Baltimore continued as Tucker made a 29 yard field goal. The Giants chipped back as Eli Manning passed 13 yards to Domenik Hixon for a touchdown, and Tynes was true with the extra point. This made it 33-14, a final,with Baltimore at 10-5 and the Giants at 8-7.

Ending the day in Seattle, with the Seahawks hosting the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle began in the first quarter as Marshawn Lynch ran 24 yards for a touchdown, and Steven Hauschka made the extra point. The Seahawks added on as Russell Wilson passed 9 yards to Lynch for a touchdown, and Hauschka drilled the extra point. Seattle padded the lead in the second quarter as Richard Sherman returned a blocked field goal for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Hauschka made the extra point. San Francisco got on the board as David Akers made a 33 yard field goal. The Seahawks shot back with a Wilson 6 yard touchdown pass to Anthony McCoy, and Hauschka again supplied the extra point. The 49ers answered as Akers made a 54 yard field goal. Seattle kept going in the third quarter as Wilson passed 4 yards to Doug Baldwin for a touchdown, and Hauschka again tacked on the PAT. The Seahawks struck again in the fourth quarter as Wilson passed 6 yards for another touchdown to Baldwin, and Hauschka kicked in another extra point. San Francisco chipped back with Colin Kaepernick throwing 18 yards for a touchdown to Delanie Walker, and Akers notched the extra point. This produced a 42-13 final, with Seattle going to 10-5 and San Francisco falling to 10-4-1.

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NFL Morning Games Week 16 2012

This is probably the most brutal post-to-date, with eleven football games all at once. The back half of the day is much kinder if I can make it that far. KHL is in progress and should be the post just before this one. First up for football...

The Houston Texans hosting the Minnesota Vikings. Houston started with a first quarter Shayne Graham 51 yard field goal. Minnesota took the lead as Christian Ponder found Kyle Rudolph for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Blair Walsh made the extra point. The Vikings added on with a second quarter Walsh field goal from 56 yards out. Minnesota kept going as Walsh made a 41 yard field goal. The Vikings padded the lead in the third quarter as Walsh was good with a 39 yard field goal. The Texans replied as Graham made a 33 yard field goal. Minnesota extended the lead in the fourth quarter as Toby Gerhart ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Walsh knocked in the PAT. This held up for a 23-6 win, with the Vikings going to 9-6 and the Texans falling to 12-3.

Next, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcome the St. Louis Rams. Tampa Bay led off with a first quarter Connor Barth field goal from 29 yards out. St. Louis took the lead in the second quarter when Janoris Jenkins returned an interception of Josh Freeman for 41 yards and a touchdown, and Greg Zuerlein made the extra point. The Buccaneers pulled back on a Barth field goal of 49 yards. The Rams extended the lead as Steven Jackson ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Zuerlein made the PAT. St. Louis quickly padded the lead in the third quarter as Sam Bradford passed 80 yards for a touchdown to Lance Kendricks, and Zuerlein kicked in the extra point. The Rams added on again as Bradford passed 5 yards to Austin Pettis for a touchdown, and Zuerlein was there with the extra point. Tampa Bay got some back with Freeman connecting with Mike Williams for 61 yards and a touchdown, and Barth tacked on the extra point. There was no scoring in the fourth quarter, leaving St. Louis with the 28-13 win, moving them to 7-7-1 while dropping the Buccaneers to 6-9.

Up north, the Philadelphia Eagles bring in the Washington Redskins. Philadelphia got going in the first quarter as Nick Foles passed 27 yards to Jeremy Maclin for a touchdown, and Alex Henery was there with the extra point. Washington got on the board in the second quarter as Kai Forbath made a 45 yard field goal. The Redskins got closer as Forbath made a 42 yard field goal. Washington took the lead as Robert Griffin III passed 11 yards to Joshua Morgan for a touchdown, and Forbath supplied the extra point. The Eagles shot back with a 38 yard Henery field goal. The Redskins answered again in the third quarter as Alfred Morris ran 10 yards for a touchdown, allowing Forbath to make the extra point. Philadelphia shot back as Henery kicked a 30 yard field goal. Washington replied on a 22 yard Griffin touchdown pass to Santana Moss, and Forbath supplied the extra point. The Eagles pulled back on a 17 yard touchdown run by Dion Lewis, and Henery tacked on the PAT. They failed to tie the game, losing 27-20, with Washington now at 9-6 and Philadelphia falling to 4-11.

Back south, the Dallas Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans was first on the board in the first quarter after a 9 yard Mark Ingram touchdown run, and Garrett Hartley handled the extra point. Dallas tied the game as Tony Romo passed 58 yards for a touchdown to Dez Bryant, and Dan Bailey knocked in the extra point. The Cowboys took the lead when Romo and Bryant put us through dé jà vu all over again, meeting for another 58 yard touchdown, and Bailey kicked the PAT. The Saints tied the game as Drew Brees passed 6 yards for a touchdown to Lance Moore, and Hartley nailed the extra point. New Orleans gained the lead on a Hartley 37 yard field goal. Dallas retied it in the third quarter as Bailey booted a 47 yard field goal. The Saints took the lead on a Brees touchdown pass of 5 yards to Pierre Thomas, and Hartley tacked on the extra point. New Orleans extended the lead with a Brees touchdown pass to David Thomas, good for 3 yards, and Hartley made the extra point. The Cowboys got some back on a Romo touchdown pass of 16 yards to Dwayne Harris, and Bailey drove in the extra point. Dallas tied it as Romo passed 19 yards for a touchdown to Miles Austin, and Bailey's extra point was the equalizer. The Saints got the last laugh in overtime, winning 34-31 on a Hartley 20 yard field goal. New Orleans is now 7-8 while Dallas goes to 8-7.

A little north, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis was first to score in the first quarter as Darius Butler picked off Brady Quinn and returned the ball 32 yards for a touchdown, allowing Adam Vinatieri to make the extra point. Kansas City got on the board with a Ryan Succop 47 yard field goal. The Colts shot back in the second quarter as Vinatieri made a 48 yard field goal. Indianapolis kept going as Vinatieri made a 36 yard field goal. The Chiefs chipped away in the third quarter as Jamaal Charles ran 86 yards for a touchdown, and Succop nailed the PAT. Succop tied the game for Kansas City on a 47 yard field goal. The Colts took the lead in the fourth quarter as T.Y. Hilton passed 7 yards to Reggie Wayne for a touchdown, and Vinatieri booted the extra point. This gave them a 20-13 lead they would not let go of, winning by such a margin. Indianapolis is now at 10-5 while Kansas City falls to 2-13.

Back in Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars host the New England Patriots. Jacksonville opened with a first quarter touchdown pass off 3 yards from Chad Henne to Justin Blackmon, and Josh Scobee booted the extra point. The Jaguars added on as Scobee made a 41 yard field goal. New England answered with a Stephen Gostkowski 25 yard field goal. Jacksonville replied in the second quarter as Scobee was true on a 35 yard field goal. The Patriots kept pace as Gostkowski made a 49 yard field goal. New England tied it as Tom Brady passed 14 yards for a touchdown to Danny Woodhead, and Gostkowski's extra point was the equalizer. The Patriots took the lead in the third quarter with Gostkowski kicking a 38 yard field goal. New England extended the lead in the fourth quarter with Brady passing 2 yards for a touchdown to Wes Welker, and Gostkowski supplied the PAT. The Jaguars got some back with a Scobee field goal of 42 yards. They couldn't score again, falling 23-16, with New England moving to 11-4 while the Jaguars drop to 2-13.

Northward to Pittsburgh, where the Steelers welcome the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati busted things opened with a 17 yard interception return for a touchdown by Leon Hall, and Josh Brown kicked the extra point. The Bengals added on in the second quarter with a Brown 41 yard field goal. Pittsburgh quickly answered as Ben Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for 60 yards and a touchdown, and Shaun Suisham kicked in the PAT. The Steelers tied it in the third quarter with a Suisham 40 yard field goal. Cincinnati made it 13-10 in the fourth quarter as Brown made a 43 yard field goal. This was a final, allowing the Bengals to go to 9-6 while the Steelers fell to 7-8.

South to Florida once more, as the Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills. Miami finally began in the first quarter with a 17 yard Ryan Tannehill touchdown pass to Reggie Bush, and Nate Kaeding made the extra point. Buffalo shot back with a second quarter Rian Lindell field goal of 42 yards. The Dolphins padded the lead as Bush ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Kaeding kicked in the extra point. Miami extended the lead in the third quarter as Tannehill found Bush again for a 12 yard touchdown connection, and Kaeding was true with the PAT. The Dolphins got some more as Kaeding made a 45 yard field goal. The Bills replied in the fourth quarter as Ryan Fitzpatrick passed 2 yards for a touchdown to Brad Smith, and Lindell drove in the extra point. They came no closer, dropping a 24-10 final. Miami moves to 7-8 while Buffalo is now 5-10.

Up the coast, the Carolina Panthers bring in the Oakland Raiders. Carolina was first to score in the first quarter as Cam Newton passed 23 yards to Steve Smith for a touchdown, and Graham Gano made the extra point. Oakland got on the board in the second quarter as Sebastian Janikowski made a 21 yard field goal. The Panthers shot back as Newton ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Gano was there with the PAT. The Raiders got closer in the fourth quarter with a Janikowski 31 yard field goal. Carolina shot back on a Gano 51 yard field goal. This produced the 17-6 final, with Carolina moving to 6-9 while Oakland fell to 4-11.

Northwest to Green Bay, where the Packers host the Tennessee Titans. Green Bay struck first in the first quarter on a 6 yard touchdown run by Aaron Rodgers, and Mason Crosby knocked in the extra point. The Packers added on as Rodgers passed 20 yards to Randall Cobb for a touchdown, and Crosby was true with the PAT. Green Bay kept going in the second quarter as Crosby made a 26 yard field goal. The Packers continued as Crosby mas good with a 48 yard field goal. Green Bay struck again in the third quarter on a DuJuan Harris 7 yard touchdown run, and Crosby tacked on the extra point. The Packers extended the lead with a Rodgers touchdown pass of 1 yard to Greg Jennings, and Crosby nailed the extra point. Green Bay padded the lead again in the fourth quarter as Rodgers passed 12 yards for a touchdown to James Jones, and Crosby knocked in the extra point. The Packers got some more as Ryan Grant ran 7 yards for a touchdown, and Crosby tacked on the extra point. Green Bay was relentless as Grant ran in a 9 yard touchdown, and Crosby was given another extra point. Tennessee got on the board late as Jake Locker passed 2 yards to Kenny Britt for a touchdown, and Rob Bironas was there with the extra point. The final was 55-7, with Green Bay going to 11-4 while Tennessee fell to 5-10.

To the east, we end this post at MetLife Stadium, with the New York Jets hosting the San Diego Chargers. San Diego led off with a first quarter punt return touchdown of 63 yards by Micheal Spurlock, and Nick Novak made the extra point. New York tied it as Shonn Greene ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Nick Folk made the extra point. The Jets took the lead on another Greene 1 yard touchdown run, and Folk again made the PAT. The Chargers answered as Novak made a 51 yard field goal. San Diego gained the lead in the third quarter on a 37 yard Philip Rivers touchdown pass to Danario Alexander, and Novak handled the extra point. The Chargers padded the lead as Rivers passed 34 yards to Antonio Gates for a touchdown, and Novak again made the extra point. San Diego got some more in the fourth quarter on a Novak 27 yard field goal. New York got some back with a Folk 40 yard field goal. They couldn't score again, losing 27-17, with both teams going to 6-9.

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KHL December 23rd 2012

Nine games on today, beginning in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Sharychenkov and Alexei Kuznetsov play in front of the goals. Moscow got going with a first period penalty shot goal by Konstantin Kasyanchuk, after drawing the penalty shot by being hooked on the breakaway. Dynamo added on in the second period with an unassisted Alexander Ovechkin goal. Moscow padded the lead in the third period when Denis Kokarev scored, thanks to Konstantin Volkov and Ilya Gorokhov. Khabarovsk got on the board as Nikita Gusev scored, with the help of Juha-Pekka Hytonen and Janne Lahti. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-1, and the three stars were Sharychenkov (21 for 22 in saves), Ovechkin, and Kasyanchuk.

A little to the west, Sibir Novosibirsk hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Sergei Bobrovsky and Jeff Glass are all padded up. St. Petersburg quickly began in the first period with an unassisted goal by Patrick Thoresen. SKA added on with a Petr Prucha goal, with a lone assist by Tony Martensson. Novosibirsk got on the board in the third period when Viktor Drugov scored a goal, guided in by Jori Lehtera. They failed to tie the game, falling 2-1, with the three stars going to Bobrovsky (27 for 28 in saves), Prucha, and Thoresen.

Way to the west, Spartak Moscow welcomes Barys Astana. Teemu Lassila and Sergei Borisov play in the creases. Astana led off in the second period as Nigel Dawes scored, via Vitaly Novopashin. Moscow tied it with a third period power play goal by Mikhail Yunkov, powered by Jakub Nakladal and Nikita Shchitov. The game went to a shootout, where Barys won with two goals by Dmitry Upper and Dawes to take down a lone Spartak tally from Stefan Ruzicka. This made it a 2-1 final, and Dawes, Lassila (32 for 33 in saves), and Borisov (26 for 27 in saves) got the three stars.

Staying in the city, CSKA Moscow hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vadim Tarasov and Sergei Bobrovsky have the green light to start. Moscow opened with a first period power play goal by Andrei Sergeyev, powered by Igor Grigorenko and Oleg Kvasha. Ufa tied with a shorthanded and unassisted goal by Alexei Glukhov. CSKA took the lead again on a Yakov Rylov goal, fueled by Alexander Radulov on the power play. Moscow extended the lead in the second period as Mikhail Grabovsky potted the puck, with helpers provided by Radulov and Pavel Datsyuk. CSKA made it 4-1 in the third period with a shorthanded, unassisted, and empty net goal by Kvasha. This was a final, with the three stars being Bryzgalov (20 for 21 in saves), Kvasha, and Radulov.

Up in Mytishchi, Atlant welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Chris Holt and Stanislav Galimov receive the starting nods. Yekaterinburg started in the first period as Vasily Streltsov scored an unassisted goal. Avtomobilist padded the lead as Stanislav Zhmakin scored, thanks to Atyom Kryukov and Evgeny Lapenkov. Yekaterinburg extended the lead with a Zhmakin power play goal, powered by Denis Sokolov and Lapenkov. Anton Khudobin relieved Galimov for the remainder of the game. Mytishchi got on the board in the second period on a power play goal by Roman Rukavishnikov, with a lone helper from Viktor Stalberg. Avtomobilist replied in the third period with an Alexei Makeyev goal, courtesy of Rastislav Spirko and Alexei Simakov. Yekaterinburg kept going as Branislav Mezei notched a goal, via Kryukov and Lapenkov on the power play, the latter getting a sock trick. Avtomobilist struck again with a power play goal by Spriko, with a lone assist coming from Simakov. Atlant got one back as Stalberg scored a power play goal, with the help of Andreas Engqvist and Fyodor Tyutin. This made it a 6-2 final, with the three stars being Zhmakin, Lapenkov, and Spirko, and the honorable mentions go to Stalberg, Kryukov, and Simakov.

North to Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen and Curtis Sanford are in the blue paint. Yaroslavl was first to score in the first period with a Sergei Plotnikov goal, assisted by Staffan Kronwall. Magnitogorsk tied it with a Mats Zuccarello goal, fueled by Justin Hodgman and Dmitry Mikhailov. Metallurg took the lead in the second period as Denis Platonov scored, with the help of Ryan O'Reilly and Dmitry Kazionov. Magnitogorsk struck again with a goal from O'Reilly, passed from Zuccarello and Sergei Bernatsky. Metallurg extended the lead with another Zuccarello goal, guided in by Viktor Antipin and Sergei Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk got another in the third period as Bernatsky scored, courtesy of Kazionov and Evgeny Malkin. This was it for the scoring, leaving the final at 5-1. The three stars were Zuccarello, Bernatsky, and O'Reilly, while Kazionov and Ahonen (26 for 27 in saves) get the honorable mentions.

Eastward, as Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Vitaly Koval guard the cages. Chelyabinsk struck first in the first period with a Maxim Karpov goal, going in unassisted. Nizhny Novgorod tied it in the second period on an Alexander Semin goal, passed from Matt Ellison and Mikhail Varnakov. Torpedo took the lead as Pyotr Schastlivy scored a power play goal, powered by Varnakov and Semin. Nizhny Novgorod iced it at 3-1 with a third period goal from Varnakov, an empty-netter with a lone assist by Ellison. The three stars were Varnakov, Semin, and Koval (25 for 26 in saves), and Ellison gets an honorable mention.

Over in Prague, Lev Praha hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton and Tomas Popperle will be the goalies. Praha began with a first period Tomas Rachunek goal, fueled by Marcel Hossa and Jiri Hunkes. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Stanislav Alshevsky, powered by Pyotr Khokhryakov and Yaroslav Alshevsky. Neftekhimik took the lead in the third period with a shorthanded goal by Igor Polygalov, set up by Petr Koukal. Lev tied it with a power play goal by Nicklas Danielsson, assisted by Jakub Klepis and Ondrej Nemec. Nizhnekamsk won 3-2 in overtime on a Khokhryakov goal, with a lone Yaroslav Alshevsky assist. The three stars belong to Khokhryakov, Yaroslav Alshevsky, and Dalton (27 for 29 in saves).

Finally, in Donetsk, Donbass hosts Avangard Omsk. Karri Ramo and Jan Laco tend the twines. Omsk led off with a first period goal by Andrei Ivanov, going in unassisted. Avangard extended the lead as Tomas Zaborsky scored a power play goal, powered by Anton Kuryanov and Anton Belov. This was all for the scoring, resulting in a 2-0 final, with Ramo (40 save shutout), Ivanov, and Zaborsky getting the three stars.

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