KHL September 13th, 2014

Eight games on today, beginning with...

Sibir Novosibirsk hosting Avangard Omsk. Konstantin Barulin and Mikko Koskinen tend the twines. Omsk was first to score in the first period with a Sergei Shirokov goal, coming off of Miroslav Blatak. Avangard added on in the second period as Shirokov scored again, with the help of Vladimir Sobotka and Blatak. Omsk extended the lead with a power play goal by Kirill Lyamin, powered by Sergei Kalinin and Evgeny Kulik. Novosibirsk got on the board as Alexei Kopeikin scored a power play goal, assisted by Vyacheslav Belov and Igor Ozhiganov. Sibir pulled closer with an Andreas Thuresson goal, with a lone assist by Jonas Enlund on the power play. Novosibirsk tied it in the third period as Kopeikin scored his second of the game, thanks to Dmitry Kugryshev. Avangard took the lead on a Kalinin goal, going in unassisted. Omsk iced it at 5-3 when Shirokov finished his hat trick on an empty net goal, set up by Denis Parshin and Ilya Dervuk. The three stars were Shirokov, Kalinin, and Kopeikin, while Blatak gets an honorable mention. 

Nearby, Metallurg Novokuznetsk welcomes Barys Astana. Jan Laco and Ilya Sorokin are set to start in goal. Astana began in the first period with a Nikolai Antropov goal, via Konstantin Rudenko and Roman Starchenko. Barys added on with a Starchenko power play goal, powered by Antropov. Novokuznetsk got on the board in the second period on a Ryan Stoa goal, courtesy of Matt Lashoff and Cade Fairchild. Astana shot back with a Dustin Boyd goal, assisted by Brandon Bochenski. Barys extended the lead as Boyd scored his second of the game, a power play goal with a lone assist by Nigel Dawes. Astana padded the lead with a Bochenski shorthanded goal, set up by Boyd. Metallurg got one back on an Ansel Galimov goal, guided in by Alexander Makarov. The scoring went silent in the third period, so the final was 5-2. The three stars were Starchenko, Boyd, and Bochenski, while Antropov gets an honorable mention.

Out west a bit, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Jokerit Helsinki. Riku Helenius and Vladislav Fokin guard the cages. Chelyabinsk got going in the first period with a Stanislav Chistov goal, assisted by Kyle Wilson and Andrei Kostitsyn. Helsinki tied it on a second period Juhamatti Aaltonen goal, fueled by Ryan Gunderson and Niko Kapanen. Jokerit took the lead as Gunderson scored a power play goal, powered by Ville Lajunen. This held up for a 2-1 final, with Gunderson, Helenius (31 for 32 in saves), and Aaltonen being the three stars.

Up in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik brings in Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Ville Kolppanen are the backups making spot starts. Nizhnekamsk dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Maxin Rybin goal, with a lone helper from Mikhail Zhukov. Riga tied it on a Kaspars Saulietis goal, courtesy of Krisjanis Redlihs and Gunars Skvorcovs. Dinamo took the lead as Marcel Hossa scored, thanks to Charles Genoway and Redlihs on the power play. Neftekhimik tied it again with a Yegor Antropov goal, assisted by Maxim Berezin and Pavel Zdunov. Riga took the lead with an unassisted Lauris Darzins goal. This was good for a 3-2 win at the end of the game, with the three stars being Darzins, Hossa, and Sedlacek (35 for 37 in saves).

West again to Yaroslavl, where Lokomotiv hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Curtis Sanford are the masked men. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period with a power play goal by Danis Zaripov, powered by Sergei Mozyakin and Jan Kovar. Metallurg added on with another Zaripov goal, guided in by Mozyakin and Maxim Yakutsenya. Magnitogorsk extended the lead in the second period on a Sergei Tereshchenko goal, fueled by Danis Platonov and Kovar. Metallurg padded the lead in the third period with a Yaroslav Kosov power play goal, assisted by Rafael Batyrshin and Vladislav Kamenev. Yaroslavl got on the board with a Yegor Yakovlev goal, with a lone assist by Daniil Apalkov. This made it a 4-1 final, with the three stars being Zaripov, Mozyakin, and Kovar.

Down in Podolsk, Vityaz welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Harri Sateri are in the blue paint. Yekaterinburg started in the first period with an Igor Yemeleyev goal, assisted by Evgeny Lapenkov and Eduard Lewandowski. Podolsk tied it in the second period on an Vyacheslav Solodukhin goal, coming off of Anton Korolyov. Vityaz took the lead in the third period with a Robert Kousal goal, via Maxim Afinogenov and Nikita Vyglazov. Podolsk added on with a Roman Horak power play goal, powered by Dmitry Tsyganov and Mathias Porseland. Vityaz extended the lead as Korolyov scored, thanks to Solodukhin and Yury Koksharov. Evgeny Lobanov relieved Kovar after this quick outburst. Podolsk padded the lead with a Koksharov goal, guided in by Korolyov and Denis Grebeshkov. Vityaz finished it at 6-1 with a Nikita Shatsky goal, made possible by Roman Kudinov and Georgy Berdyukov. The three stars went to Korolyov, Solodukhin, and Koksharov.

Backtracking to Togliatti, where Lada hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Ilya Ezhov are between the pipes. St. Petersburg opened in the first period with an Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal, powered by Artemy Panarin. SKA added on with a Tony Martensson goal, guided in by Patrick Thoresen and Roman Cervenka. Togliatti got on the board in the second period with a Stanislav Bocharov goal, fueled by Dmitry Vorobyov and Zyuzyakin. St. Petersburg shot back with another Kovalchuk goal in the third period, with a lone assist by Jimmie Ericsson. Lada pulled back with a Martin Zatovic goal, assisted by Semyon Valuisky. SKA answered when Kovalchuk finished his hat trick, thanks to Vadim Shipachyov and Panarin on the power play. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars going to Kovalchuk, Panarin, and Martensson.

Finally, in Moscow again, Dynamo brings in Ak Bars Kazan. Emil Garipov and Alexander Lazushin are called on to start. Moscow led off in the first period with a power play goal by Dmitry Vishnevsky, powered by Filip Novak and Yury Babenko. Kazan tied it with an Oscar Moller goal, fueled by Justin Azevedo on the power play. Dynamo took the lead back in the second period as Konstantin Gorovikov scored, thanks to Maxim Pestushko and Kaspars Daugavins. Ak Bars tied it again as Fyodor Malykhin scored, with the help of Sergei Kostitsyn. Moscow pulled ahead again on a Denis Mosalyov goal, guided in by Nikolai Zherdev. This made it 3-2, which was a final, and the three stars went to Mosalyov, Gorovikov, and Vishnevsky.

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KHL September 12th, 2014

Just another single-game day, with Dinamo Minsk hosting Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren and Lars Haugen are set to start in goal. Minsk started in the first period with a Matt Ellison power play goal, powered by Charles Linglet. Dinamo added on in the second period as Ryan Vesce scored a power play goal, fueled by Ellison and Nick Bailen. Minsk extended the lead in the third period with a Paul Szczechura goal, guided in by Jonathan Cheechoo. Mytishchi got on the board as Andreas Engqvist scored, thanks to Vyacheslav Leshchenko. Atlant pulled closer with a Yaroslav Dyblenko goal, with a lone helper by Mikhail Glukhov. They failed to tie the game, losing 3-2, with the three stars being Ellison, Haugen (25 for 27 in saves), and Szczechura.

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KHL September 11th, 2014

Just one game today, as Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Lada Togliatti. Jeff Glass and Ville Kolppanen are the masked men. Nizhnekamsk struck first in the first period with a Maxim Rybin goal, assisted by Alexander Yevseyenkov. Neftekhimik added on as Yegor Milovzorov scored an unassisted goal. Nizhnekamsk extended the lead with another goal by Milovzorov, guided in by Dan Sexton. Togliatti got on the board in the second period as Yury Petrov scored, thanks to Alexander Chernikov. Lada pulled closer with an unassisted Semyon Valuisky goal on the power play. Neftekhimik shot back with a Tim Stapleton goal, made possible by Sexton and Milovzorov. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 4-2, and the three stars awarded to Milovzorov, Sexton, and Kolppanen (30 for 32 in saves).

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MLS Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

Three matches on for the midweek, with the first in...

Montreal, as the Impact host the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Evan Bush are called on to start in goal. Montreal began in the twenty-eighth minute with a Marco Di Vaio goal, assisted by Dilly Duka and Ignacio Piatti. Los Angeles' Dan Gargan took a yellow card in the thirty-seventh minute for a foul. In the forty-third minute, Piatti added on for the Impact, with the help of Felipe Martins and Duka. The Galaxy took another foul in the forty-fourth minute for dissent by Landon Donovan. Piatti was booked on a yellow card in the fifty-third minute for a foul. Los Angeles got on the board in the fifty-ninth minute as Gyasi Zardes scored, thanks to Juninho. The Galaxy pulled level in the sixty-fourth minute as Alan Gordon scored, with the help of Robbie Keane and Donovan. Montreal took another yellow card for a Martins foul in the eightieth minute. The Impact saw the referee visit Calum Mallace in the eighty-seventh minute to give him a yellow card for a foul as well. The score stood at 2-2, with the man of the match being Piatti.

Down in New York, the Red Bulls welcome DC United. Bill Hamid and Luis Robles are in the six yard boxes. DC went down to ten men when Fabian Espindola was given a red card in the thirty-second minute for a serious foul. New York took a pair of yellow cards in the thirty-ninth minute for Armando making no impact on timing, and for Roy Miller's unsporting behavior. The Red Bulls escaped with a 1-0 win after a ninetieth minute goal by Lloyd Sam, via Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave. The man of the match was Sam for his timely goal.

Finally, out west, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring in the San Jose Earthquakes. Jon Busch and David Ousted are the reliable goalies. Vancouver struck first in the thirty-ninth minute as Pedro Morales converted a penalty kick. San Jose's Jordan Stewart was given a yellow card in the forty-sixth minute for a foul. The Whitecaps added on in the fifty-sixth minute with a Kendall Watson goal, via Morales. Vancouver's Sebastian Fernandez was given a yellow card in the fifty-ninth minute for persistent infringement. The score held at 2-0, with the man of the match being Morales.

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KHL September 10th, 2014

Nine games on today as the KHL allows for some travel before kicking the schedule back into its highest gear. First up...

Avangard Omsk hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Sergei Borisov and Konstantin Barulin are in the blue paint. Omsk opened in the first period with a power play goal by Anton Kuryanov, powered by Alexander Popov and Tom Wandell. Avangard added on with an Alexander Perezhogin goal, assisted by Sergei Kalinin. Omsk extended the lead on a Vladimir Sobotka power play goal, guided in by Denis Parshin. Avangard padded the lead in the second period as Roman Berdnikov scored, thanks to Kirill Semyonov. Khabarovsk got on the board when Sergei Teryayev scored, via Mikhail Fisenko. The scoring was silenced in the third period, so Avangard won 4-1. Barulin (15 for 16 in saves), Perezhogin, and Sobotka were named the three stars.

Over to Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Dekanich and Vasily Koshechkin guard the cages. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Alexei Bereglazov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg added on with a Danis Zaripov power play goal, powered by Chris Lee and Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk extended the lead as Maxim Yakutsenya scored in the second period, thanks to Tim Brent. Metallurg padded the lead in the third period with a Viktor Antipin goal, via Zaripov and Kovar. Magnitogorsk kept going with a Vladislav Kamenev power play goal, fueled by Rafael Batyrshin and Yaroslav Kosov. Metallurg iced it at 6-0 with a shorthanded Yakutsenya goal, set up by Brent and Evgeny Biryukov. The three stars belonged to Yakutsenya, Mozyakin, and Zaripov, while Koshechkin (31 save shutout), Kovar, and Brent got the honorable mentions.

Up in Ufa, Salavat Yulaev brings in Admiral Vladivostok. Ivan Nalimov and Vitaly Koval draw the starts in goal. Vladivostok was first to score in the first period on an Alexei Ugarov goal, fueled by Denis Osipov. Admiral added on with a power play goal by Logan Pyett, powered by Osipov and Niclas Bergfors. Ufa got on the board with an Ivan Vishnevsky power play goal, coming off of Alexei Kaigorodov and Evgeny Skachkov. Vladivostok shot back with an Andrei Sigaryov goal, courtesy of Osipov, who got a sock trick, and Bergfors. Salavat Yulaev got one back in the second period on a Kirill Koltsov power play goal, made possible by Vishnevsky and Kaigorodov. Ufa tied it with an Alexander Stepanov goal, via Antti Pihlstrom and Alexei Glukhov. Admiral took the lead back on another Ugarov goal, with assists by Enver Lisin and Jan Kolar. Salavat Yulaev tied it again on a power play goal by Koltsov, his second of the game helped along by Vishnevsky and Kaigorodov, the latter getting a sock trick. Ufa took the lead in the third period on a Teemu Hartikainen goal, passed from Dmitry Makarov and Alexander Kutuzov on the power play. Salavat Yulaev went on to win 6-4 on a Pihlstrom goal, pushed through by Kaigorodov and Skachkov. The three stars were Koltsov, Kaigorodov, and Vishnevsky, while Ugarov, Osipov, Bergfors, Skachkov, and Pihlstrom were given honorable mentions.

South to Kazakhstan, as Barys Astana hosts Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Jan Laco are between the pipes. Podolsk led off with a first period Yury Koksharov goal, fueled by Ivan Vereshchagin. Vityaz added on in the second period on a Mario Kempe goal, going in unassisted. This was all they needed to win 2-0, with the three stars being Sateri (37 save shutout), Koksharov, and Kempe.

Back in Russia, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren is mismatched with Jakub Kovar in goal. Yekaterinburg began in the first period with an Anton Lazarev power play goal, powered by Tobias Viklund. Mytishchi tied it with a Yaroslav Dyblenko goal, via Alexander Kadeikin. Atlant took the lead in the second period on a Roman Rukavishnikov goal, assisted by Artyom Chernov and Sergei Shmelyov. Avtomobilist tied it in the third period with a Dmitry Megalinsky goal, coming off of Nikita Komarov on the power play. Yekaterinburg pulled ahead with an Evgeny Lapenkov goal, passed from Eduard Lewandowski and Andrei Antonov. Mytishchi retied it with a power play goal by Matthew Gilroy, set up by Andreas Engqvist. It took until the shootout for the game to be decided, which favored Atlant 4-3 after a lone tally by Igor Radulov. The three stars were given to Gilroy, Radulov, and Lapenkov.

West to Cherepovets, where Severstal brings in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Stepan Goryachevskikh and Jakub Stepanek are the masked men. Khanty-Mansiysk started in the first period on a Ben Maxwell goal, with a lone assist by Toni Rajala. Cherepovets tied it in the second period with a Pavel Chernov goal, made possible by Evgeny Mons on the power play. Severstal took the lead as Chernov scored again, thanks to Mons and Dmitry Kagarlitsky. Cherepovets added on with a power play goal by Pavel Lukin, powered by Kagarlitsky and Andrei Shefer. Yugra got one back with a Nikita Filatov goal, guided in by Denis Gorbunov and Pavel Medvedev. Severstal shot back with a Marek Kvapil goal, coming off of Pavel Buchnevich and Alexander Urbom. This held up for a 4-2 win, with the three stars being Chernov, Mons, and Kagarlitsky.

Into Moscow, where CSKA hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vladislav Fokin and Stanislav Galimov are in the creases. Moscow opened in the first period with a Jan Mursak goal, assisted by Nikolai Prokhorkin. CSKA added on in the third period with a power play goal by Chad Billins, powered by Mursak. The final stood from here at 2-0, with the three stars being Galimov (22 save shutout), Mursak, and Billins.

Backtracking to Kazan, where Ak Bars welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Johan Backlund and Anders Nilsson receive the starting nods. Bratislava started in the first period with a Ladislav Nagy power play goal, with a lone assist by Vaclav Nedorost. Slovan added on with a Matt Murley goal, via Jonathan Sigalet. Kazan got on the board with a Ziyat Paigan goal, fueled by Sergei Kostitsyn and Igor Mirnov. Ak Bars tied it on an Evgeny Medvedev goal, made possible by Kirill Petrov and Justin Azevedo. Bratislava got the lead back with a third period Michal Vondrka goal, assisted by Ziga Jeglic. Kazan retied it on a Janne Pesonen goal, passed from Paigin. Ak Bars took the lead with an unassisted Mikhail Varnakov goal. The final was 4-3, with the three stars handed to Paigin, Varnakov, and Pesonen.

Finally, Dinamo Riga brings in the Sochi Leopards. Tomas Popperle and Jakub Sedlacek protect the nets. Sochi got going in the second period on a Mikhail Anisin goal, assisted by Alexander Shcherbina. Riga tied it in the third period on a Martins Cipulis goal, fueled by Miks Indrasis. The Leopards took the lead back with an Andre Petersson goal, coming off of Cory Emmerton. They held on for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Popperle (30 for 31 in saves), Petersson, and Anisin.

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KHL September 9th, 2014

Just one game for today, with Metallurg Novokuznetsk hosting Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Ilya Sorokin protect the nets. Novosibirsk began in the first period with a Dmitry Kugryshev power play goal, powered by Igor Ozhiganov. Novokuznetsk tied it on an Ansel Galimov goal, via Ryan Stoa. Metallurg gained the lead with an Alexander Romanov goal, guided in by Nikolai Skladnichenko. Sibir tied it in the third period on a Maxim Ignatovich goal, going in unassisted. Novosibirsk won it in overtime as Kugryshev scored his second of the game to make it 3-2, with the help of Alexei Kopeikin. The three stars were Kugryshev, Sorokin (51 for 54 in saves), and Ignatovich.

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KHL September 8th, 2014

Today had thirteen games on after the day of remembrance for the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl air tragedy. First up...

Avangard Omsk hosts Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Konstantin Barulin are in goal. Podolsk began with a first period power play goal by Robert Kousal, pushed through by Yakov Seleznyov and Maxim Afinogenov. Omsk tied it on a power play goal by Sergei Kalinin, with a lone assist by Alexander Popov. Vityaz retook the lead with a Roman Horak goal, fueled by Dmitry Tsyganov and Mathias Porseland on the power play. Podolsk added on with another Horak power play goal, helped along by Denis Grebeshkov. Denis Kostin relieved Barulin at this time. Avangard took one back as Kalinin scored his second power play goal of the game, powered by Miroslav Blatak and Erik Gustafsson. Vityaz answered with a Nikita Shatsky goal, guided in by Kirill Tulupov. Omsk pulled closer as Gustafsson scored an unassisted power play goal in the second period. Podolsk shot back with a Tsyganov power play goal, going in unassisted. Avangard chipped back on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, coming off of Sergei Shirokov. Omsk tied it in the third period with a Denis Parshin goal with a lone helper by Shirokov. Avangard took the lead with a Shirokov goal, set up by Parshin. Omsk extended the lead on a power play goal by Andrei Ivanov, courtesy of Tom Wandell and Vladimir Pervushin. Avangard finished it with another Shirokov goal, with an assist provided by Sobotka on the power play. The final was 8-5, and the three stars were Shirokov, Kalinin, and Horak, while Gustafsson, Tsyganov, Parshin, and Sobotka got the honorable mentions in the slugfest.

Up in Ufa, Salavat Yulaev welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Sergei Borisov and Vladimir Sokhatsky are in the blue paint. Khabarovsk was first to score in the first period on a Rastislav Spirko power play goal, powered by Dmitry Tarasov and Sergei Teryayev. Amur added on with a Jesse Niinimaki goal, made possible by Michel Miklik and Marcel Hascak. Khabarovsk extended the lead in the second period on a Tommi Taimi goal, with a lone assist by Kirill Safronov. Ufa got on the board in the third period with a Dmitry Makarov goal, assisted by Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev pulled closer with a Kirill Koltsov goal, via Antti Pihlstrom and Evgeny Skachkov on the power play. Ufa tied it with an Alexander Kutuzov power play goal, helped along by Makarov and Hartikainen. Amur took the lead back with a Tarasov goal, fueled by Spirko and Safronov. Khabarovsk won as Tarasov scored his second of the game, an unassisted empty net goal for a 5-3 final score. The three stars were Tarasov, Makarov, and Spirko, while Safronov and Hartikainen are the honorable mentions.

Staying in the area, Metallurg Magnitogorsk brings in Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren and Vasily Koshechkin draw the starts. Magnitogorsk opened in the first period with a Danis Zaripov power play goal, with a lone assist by Chris Lee. Mytishchi tied it in the second period on an Artyom Voronin goal, assisted by Andrei Taratukhin and Nikita Soshnikov. Metallurg retook the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Yaroslav Kosov, powered by Rafael Batyrshin and Vladislav Kamenev. Magnitogorsk added on when Jan Kovar scored, thanks to Viktor Antipin and Zaripov. Metallurg iced it at 4-1 with a Sergei Mozyakin empty net goal, set up by Lee and Zaripov. The three stars were Zaripov, Koshechkin (21 for 22 in saves), and Lee.

Moving along to Yekaterinburg, as Avtomobilist hosts Slovan Bratislava. Johan Backlund and Jakub Kovar are the masked men. Bratislava got going in the second period with a Tomas Netik power play goal, powered by Libor Hudacek. Yekaterinburg tied it with a power play goal by Anton Lazarev, assisted by Tobias Viklund and Jakub Petruzalek. Slovan took the lead back on a third period goal by Milan Bartovic, guided in by Matt Murley and Rok Ticar. Bratislava added on with a Tomas Surovy empty net goal, set up by Netik and Hudacek. The three stars of the 3-1 game were Netik, Backlund (20 for 21 in saves), and Hudacek.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Ari Ahonen and Jan Laco are between the pipes. Astana started in the first period with a Konstantin Rudenko goal, made possible by Nikolai Antropov. Barys added on as Rudenko scored again, thanks to Roman Starchenko and Antropov. Astana extended the lead with a Dustin Boyd goal, via Brandon Bochenski and Nigel Dawes. Ivan Nalimov took over for Ahonen at this time. Barys padded the lead as Rudenko finished his hat trick in the third period with a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The final stood from here at 4-0, with Laco (30 save shutout), Rudenko, and Antropov being the three stars.

Northwest to Cherepovets, where Severstal brings in Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Jakub Stepanek receive the starting nods. Moscow struck first in the first period on a Mat Robinson goal, fueled by Alexei Tereshchenko and Konstantin Glazachev on the power play. Cherepovets tied it with a Marek Kvapil goal, via David Ullstrom. Dynamo retook the lead with a Kaspars Daugavins goal in the second period, assisted by Robinson and Maxim Pestushko. Severstal tied it again with a Dmitry Kagarlitsky goal, passed from Andrei Shefer and Alexander Shinin on the power play. Moscow retook the lead on a third period power play goal by Tereshchenko, powered by Denis Kokarev and Nikolai Zherdev. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Tereshchenko, Robinson, and Lazushin (24 for 26 in saves).

Speaking of Moscow, CSKA hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Stanislav Galimov are the veteran goalies. Moscow led off in the first period with a Jan Mursak goal, with a lone assist by Grigory Panin. CSKA added on as Mursak scored his second of the game, a power play goal powered by Nikolai Prokhorkin and Bogdan Kiselevich. Moscow extended the lead in the second period on an Igor Grigorenko goal, with the help of Stephane Da Costa. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period with a Ben Maxwell goal, via Toni Rajala and Kirill Putilov. CSKA shot back as Mursak finished his hat trick with a power play goal assisted by Chad Billins and Prokhorkin. Yugra pulled back on a Lukas Kaspar power play goal, guided in by Philip Larsen and Rajala. Khanty-Mansiysk chipped closer as Nikita Gusev scored a power play goal, thanks to Kaspar and Maxwell. They failed to tie it, losing 4-3. The three stars were Mursak, Kaspar, and Prokhorkin, while Maxwell and Rajala get the honorable mentions.

Over in Togliatti, Lada welcomes Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Jeff Glass tend the twines. Nizhnekamsk began in the first period with a Yegor Milovzorov goal, helped along by Dan Sexton. Neftekhimik added on with a Pavel Zdunov goal, passed from Maxim Berezin. Togliatti got on the board with a power play goal by Yury Petrov, with a lone assist by Alexander Chernikov. Lada tied it with a Semyon Valuisky goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Togliatti took the lead on a Chernikov goal, guided in by Stanislav Romanov. Nizhnekamsk tied it as Josh Hennessy scored, thanks to Pyotr Khokhryakov and Alexander Yevseyenkov. Lada won 4-3 in overtime with a Karol Sloboda goal, assisted by Chernikov. The three stars were Chernikov, Sloboda, and Valuisky.

Down to Kazan, as Ak Bars brings in Medvescak Zagreb. Barry Brust and Emil Garipov occupy the creases. Kazan struck first in the first period with an Alexander Burmistrov goal, fueled by Oscar Moller and Justin Azevedo. Ak Bars added on in the second period with a Dmitry Obukhov goal, passed from Artyom Lukoyanov and Yakov Rylov. Kazan extended the lead on an Ilya Nikulin goal, assisted by Igor Mirnov and Janne Pesonen. Ak Bars padded the lead on a third period goal by Alexander Svitov, thanks to Nikulin and Igor Mirnov. Zagreb got on the board with an Andrew Hutchinson power play goal, powered by Martin St. Pierre. Medvescak pulled closer with a shorthanded goal by Mike Glumac, set up by Sasa Martinovic. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars going to Nikulin, Garipov (18 for 20 in saves), and Mirnov.

Crossing into Finland, Jokerit Helsinki hosts the Sochi Leopards. Tomas Popperle and Riku Helenius guard the cages. Helsinki was first to score in the first period with a Linus Omark goal, via Steve Moses. Jokerit added on in the second period with a power play goal by Niko Kapanen, powered by Ryan Gunderson and Juhamatti Aaltonen. Helsinki extended the lead with a third period goal by Niklas Hagman, fueled by Omark and Kapanen. The final stood at 3-0, with the three stars awarded to Helenius (29 save shutout), Omark, and Kapanen.

Back in Russia, SKA St. Petersburg welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Dmitry Milchakov and Alexander Salak protect the nets. St. Petersburg led off in the first period with a Tony Martensson goal, assisted by Roman Cervenka and Patrick Thoresen. Minsk tied it with a power play goal by Artur Gavrus, powered by Alexei Kalyuzhny. SKA took the lead back on a second period goal by Dmitry Kalinin, fueled by Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov. Dinamo tied it again as Dmitry Meleshko scored, thanks to Alexander Kulakov. St. Petersburg pulled ahead again with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, courtesy of Dinar Khafizullin and Jimmie Ericsson. SKA added on in the third period on a shorthanded empty net goal by Evgeny Ketov, set up by Shipachyov. St. Petersburg iced it at 5-2 with another empty net goal, scored by Kovalchuk with an assist from Viktor Tikhonov. The three stars were handed to Kovalchuk, Shipachyov, and Salak (34 for 36 in saves).

East to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vladislav Fokin and Georgy Gelashvili are the average goalies. Chelyabinsk started in the first period on a power play goal by Nikita Khlystov, powered by Anton Glinkin. Nizhny Novgorod tied it with a Wojtek Wolski power play goal, with a lone helper by Pavel Valentenko. Traktor took the lead back with an Andrei Kostitsyn goal, guided in by Glinkin and Evgeny Katichev. Chelyabinsk added on with a Kostitsyn goal, via Deron Quint in the second period on the power play. Traktor extended the lead as Maxim Kondratyev scored, thanks to Konstantin Panov. Torpedo got one back on a Petteri Nokelainen goal, made possible by Anton Babchuk and Viktor Drugov. Nizhny Novgorod pulled closer with a Mikhail Grigoryev goal, coming off of Vyacheslav Kulyomin. Torpedo tied it in the third period on a Jarkko Immonen goal, pushed through by Wolski and Sakari Salminen. In the shootout, Immonen was first to score, but Kyle Wilson pulled Traktor level before Stanislav Chistov finished it off for Traktor in a 5-4 win. The three stars were Kostitsyn, Wolski, and Glinkin.

Finally, Dinamo Riga hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl to finish the day. Curtis Sanford and Edgars Masalskis are in the blue paint. Riga opened in the second period with a Juris Upitis goal, made possible by Oskars Cibulskis. Dinamo added on with a power play goal from Roberts Bukarts, powered by Georgijs Pujacs and Pyotr Schastlivy. Yaroslavl got on the board with a power play goal by Geoff Platt, assisted by Jiri Novotny and Jonas Holos. Lokomotiv tied it with a Martin Thornberg power play goal, guided in by Novotny and Platt. Yaroslavl took the lead as Platt scored again, thanks to Kirill Kapustin and Ilya Gorokhov. Lokomotiv extended the lead with a third period goal by Thornberg, made possible by Alexei Kruchinin. Yaroslavl padded the lead on a Daniil Apalkov goal, courtesy of Gorokhov and Yegor Averin. This held up for a 5-2 win, with the three stars given to Platt, Thornberg, and Novotny, while Gorokhov gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

MLS Weekend September 5-7, 2014

Friday has just one game of the nine this weekend, and it's in...

Los Angeles, as the Galaxy host the Colorado Rapids. Brian Rowe and Joe Nasco get the starts in goal. Nasco didn't last long, as he received a straight red card for a professional foul in the very first minute of the game. In corresponding moves, Dillon Serna was subbed out for goalie Clint Irwin, and Colorado had to play almost the entire game at ten men. Also resulting from the play was a penalty kick by Landon Donovan, putting Los Angeles on the board first. The Galaxy added on in the thirtieth minute with a Baggio Husidic goal, passed from Alan Gordon and Marcelo Sarvas. After the goal, Husidic got a garbage yellow card for excessive celebration. The celebration here was in honor of teammate A.J. DeLaGarza's recently deceased newborn child, Luca. There should have been a yellow card on the referee for insensitivity in this case. In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Gyasi Zardes extended the Los Angeles lead with a goal, set up by Donovan and Husidic. The Galaxy padded the lead as Donovan deposited another penalty kick goal in the forty-seventh minute. Los Angeles' Stefan Ishizaki took a yellow card for a fiftieth minute foul. The Rapids also had a yellow card, given to Marc Burch in the fifty-seventh minute for a foul, followed by a yellow card for Thomas Piermayr in the seventieth minute, also for a foul. The Galaxy kept going in the seventy-fifth minute with another Zardes goal, fueled by Ishizaki. Colorado was booked again with an eighty-fourth minute foul by Marlon Hairston that brought out another yellow card. Los Angeles iced it at 6-0 with Husidic's second of the game, via Donovan and Sarvas. The man of the match was Husidic for his brace and heartfelt tribute to Luca DeLaGarza.

On Saturday, the games begin in the afternoon in Toronto, as Toronto FC welcomes the Philadelphia Union. Zac MacMath and Joe Bendik are in the six-yard boxes. Philadelphia began in the eighth minute on a Conor Casey goal, with an assist by Sheanon Williams. Toronto took a yellow card in the twenty-eighth minute for a foul by Doneil Henry. The Union added on in the forty-fourth minute with an Andrew Wenger goal, helped along by Williams. This was it for the game, with Philadelphia winning 2-0. Williams was the man of the match for setting up both goals.

Down in the States, the New York Red Bulls bring in Sporting Kansas City. Andy Gruenebaum and Luis Robles are the goalies. New York struck first in the eleventh minute on a Bradley Wright-Phillips penalty kick conversion. The Red Bulls took a yellow card for unsporting behavior in the fourth minute of stoppage time by Ibrahim Sekagya. New York added on in the fifty-second minute with a Thierry Henry goal, guided in by Lloyd Sam. Kansas City got on the board with a Dominic Dwyer goal in the fifty-fourth minute, passed from Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi. Sporting saw Igor Juliao get booked for a foul in the fifty-seventh minute, giving him a yellow card. Kansas City took another yellow card in the sixty-second minute for a Zusi foul. Sporting was visited by the referee again in the sixty-eighth minute for a foul by Lawrence Olum. This was it for the game, with the final being 2-1. Henry's goal made him the man of the match.

South to Houston, as the Dynamo host the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Tyler Deric protect the nets. Houston led off in the thirtieth minute with an unassisted goal by Giles Barnes. Montreal tied it in the fortieth minute with a Dilly Duka goal, set up by Felipe Martins. The Impact took the lead in the fifty-fifth minute on an Ignacio Piatti goal, courtesy of Marco Di Vaio. The Dynamo retied it with a sixty-second minute Barnes goal, coming off of Omar Cummings. Houston took the lead in the sixty-fifth minute on a goal by Ricardo Clark, made possible by David Horst and Brad Davis. Montreal's Martins took a yellow card in the seventy-first minute for a foul. The final was 3-2, and Barnes was the man of the match for his brace.

Up in Canada again, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC welcome DC United. Bill Hamid and David Ousted are the solid goalies. DC's Bobby Boswell was given a yellow card for a foul in the eighteenth minute. This was the only action in the 0-0 draw, with the man of the match being Hamid for his three save clean sheet to earn a point for United.

Closing out Saturday, Real Salt Lake brings in FC Dallas. Raul Fernandez and Nick Rimando are the keepers. Salt Lake struck first in the thirty-first minute with a Robbie Findley goal, going in unassisted. Dallas was given a yellow card in the fifty-fourth minute for a Zach Loyd foul. Dallas tied the game on a sixty-second minute goal by Michel. Real took the lead in the seventy-seventh minute on an Alvaro Saborio goal, via Javier Morales. Salt Lake's Tony Beltran was given a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. The final was 2-1, and the man of the match was Saborio for his decisive goal.

For starters on Sunday, we have the Columbus Crew hosting Chivas USA. Dan Kennedy and Steve Clark will protect the nets. Chivas was first to be visited by the referee in the fortieth minute for an Andrew Jean-Baptiste foul, giving him a yellow card. Columbus struck first with a fifty-second minute Justin Meram goal, via Waylon Francis. The Crew added on as Meram scored an unassisted goal in the fifty-ninth minute. Columbus took a yellow card for a sixty-ninth minute foul by Eric Gehrig. The Crew extended their lead in the eightieth minute on a Bernardo Anor goal, made possible by Hector Jimenez. This made it 3-0, the final, and Meram was the man of the match.

Out west, the Portland Timbers welcome the San Jose Earthquakes. Jon Busch and Donovan Ricketts are the keepers. San Jose, despite an early flurry in front of their net, struck first in the twenty-first minute with a Chris Wondolowski goal, going in unassisted. The Earthquakes added on with a Cordell Cato goal in the forty-eighth minute, passed from Wondolowski. Portland got on the board with a fifty-fourth minute goal by Alvas Powell, set up by Diego Valeri. The Timbers took a yellow card for dissent by Will Johnson in the fifty-seventh minute. Portland pulled even in the seventy-fourth minute as Liam Ridgewell scored, with a helper from Valeri. San Jose took a yellow card for a seventy-sixth minute Shaun Francis foul, followed by another yellow card going to Shea Salinas in the eighty-first minute for time wasting. The Earthquakes pulled ahead in the eighty-fifth minute as Wondolowski scored his second of the game, with the help of ol' lazy bones, Salinas. The Timbers equalized in the eighty-sixth minute on a Kalif Alhassan goal, assisted by Powell and Valeri. Portland's Powell was given a yellow card in the eighty-eighth minute for a foul. San Jose had another pair of yellow cards in stoppage time, going to Victor Bernardez for a foul in the first added minute, and to Wondolowski for a foul a minute later. After the late flurry of activity, the final stood at 3-3, and the man of the match was Busch with his ten out of thirteen save performance. Without him, the Earthquakes would have lost handily.

Finally, the New England Revolution bring in the Chicago Fire. Sean Johnson and Bobby Shuttleworth are the gloved men. Chicago struck first in the twenty-eighth minute with a Sanna Nyassi goal, assisted by Quincy Amarikwa. The Fire took two yellow cards for fouls, with Lovel Palmer getting one in the thirty-sixth minute and Razvan Cocis getting the other in the thirty-ninth minute. New England tied it in the forty-first minute on a Diego Fagundez goal, courtesy of Lee Nguyen and Jose Goncalves. Chicago got a yellow card in the fifty-eighth minute for a Bakary Soumare foul. The Revolution took the lead in the sixtieth minute on a goal by Charles Davies, helped along by Jermaine Jones. In the seventy-fourth minute, New England was given a yellow card for an argument by Barnes. The Revolution were booked twice in the seventy-eighth minute, with yellow cards going to Scott Caldwell for a foul and Jones for dissent. This was it for the game, with the final being 2-1, and the man of the match was Davies for the winning goal.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.