KHL September 20th, 2014

Three games on for today, beginning in...

Mytishchi, where Atlant hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Atte Engren man the nets. Cherepovets opened with a Pavel Lukin goal, set up by Andrei Shefer and Dmitry Kagarlitsky. Severstal added on with a Nikolai Kazakovtsev goal, assisted by Sergei Monakhov. Cherepovets extended the lead as Pavel Buchnevich scored, thanks to Gennady Stolyarov. Mytishchi got on the board with an unassisted Andreas Engqvist power play goal in the second period. Atlant pulled closer with a Mikhail Glukhov penalty shot goal, with the opportunity coming from an Alexander Urbom slash on a breakaway. Severstal shot back as Lukin scored a power play goal, powered by Kagarlitsky and Pavel Chernov. Cherepovets iced it at 5-2 as Buchnevich converted a penalty shot after he was hooked by Vladimir Malevich. The three stars went to Lukin, Buchnevich, and Kagarlitsky.

Out in Belarus, Dinamo Minsk welcomes Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Dmitry Milchakov receive the starting nods. Minsk started in the first period with a Jonathan Cheechoo power play goal, powered by Paul Szczechura and Alexei Kalyuzhny. Dinamo added on with a Nick Bailen goal in the second period, via Szczechura and Kalyuzhny on the power play. Minsk extended the lead with a Bailen goal, with a lone assist by Dmitry Meleshko. This made it 3-0, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Bailen, Milchakov (31 save shutout), and Szczechura, while Kalyuzhny gets an honorable mention.

Finally, Slovan Bratislava brings in CSKA Moscow. Stanislav Galimov and Johan Backlund are in the blue paint. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Jan Mursak goal, assisted by Nikolai Prokhorkin and Evgeny Artyukhin. CSKA added on with an Andrei Stas goal, passed from Denis Denisov and Mursak in the second period. Bratislava got on the board in the third period with an unassisted goal by Michal Vondrka. Moscow replied with an Alexander Radulov goal, coming off of Igor Grigorenko. CSKA finished it at 4-1 with a Grigorenko goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Mursak, Galimov (24 for 25 in saves), and Grigorenko.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 19th, 2014

Seven games on to lead into a very calm weekend for hockey. We begin with...

Sibir Novosibirsk hosting Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vladimir Sokhatsky and Mikko Koskinen protect the nets. Ufa got going in the second period with a Dmitry Makarov goal, passed from Teemu Hartikainen. Novosibirsk tied it with a Viktor Bobrov goal, fueled by Artyom Voroshilo and Igor Ozhiganov. Sibir took the lead on a Patrik Hersley goal, via Dmitry Monya and Andreas Thuresson. Novosibirsk added on in the third period as Vladimir Butuzov scored, thanks to Voroshilo and Bobrov. This was good for a 3-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Koskinen (20 for 21 in saves), Bobrov, and Voroshilo.

Westward to Khanty-Mansiysk, as Yugra welcomes Dinamo Riga. Edgars Masalskis and Mikhail Biryukov draw the starts. Khanty-Mansiysk was first to score in the first period on an Artyom Bulyansky goal, assisted by Igor Magogin. Yugra added on with an Andrei Chibisov goal, with a lone helper by Vitaly Sitnikov. Jakub Sedlacek replaced Masalskis at this time. Riga got on the board with a Kristaps Sotnieks goal, guided in by Milan Jurcina and Miks Indrasis. Dinamo tied it in the second period on an Andrei Dzerins goal, coming off of Indrasis and Roberts Bukarts. Khanty-Mansiysk took the lead back in the third period with a power play goal by Alexei Pepelyaev, powered by Andrei Sergeyev and Sitnikov. Yugra extended their lead with a Lukas Kaspar goal, made possible by Sergeyev and Pepelyaev. Khanty-Mansiysk padded the lead as Kaspar scored a power play goal, thanks to Toni Rajala and Denis Sokolov. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars going to Kaspar, Pepelyaev, and Sergeyev, while Sitnikov and Indrasis get the honorable mentions.

Moving along to Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik brings in SKA St. Petersburg. Evgeny Ivannikov and Ville Kolppanen are the backups making spot starts. Nizhnekamsk began in the first period with an Alexander Ryazantsev goal, fueled by Dan Sexton and Yegor Milovzorov. St. Petersburg tied it on an Alexei Ponikarovsky goal, assisted by Dinar Khafizullin and Ilya Kovalchuk. SKA took the lead with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, passed from Artemy Panarin and Vadim Shipachyov. St. Petersburg added on in the third period with a Shipachyov goal, made possible by Patrick Thoresen and Dadonov. SKA extended the lead on a power play goal by Kovalchuk, powered by Panarin and Shipachyov. St. Petersburg finished it at 5-1 with a Roman Cervenka goal, guided in by Dmitry Kalinin and Kovalchuk. The three stars were awarded to Kovalchuk, Shipachyov, and Dadonov, while Panarin gets an honorable mention.

Down in Sochi, the Leopards host Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin faces a lesser foe in Andrei Gavrilov in goal. Sochi led off with a power play goal by Mikhail Anisin, powered by Ilya Krikunov. Magnitogorsk tied it in the second period as Oskar Osala scored, thanks to Francis Pare and Yaroslav Khabarov. Metallurg took the lead in the third period on a Vladislav Kamenev goal, with a lone assist by Evgeny Grigorenko. The final was 2-1, and the three stars were handed to Koshechkin (25 for 26 in saves), Kamenev, and Osala.

Back north, Lada Togliatti brings in Jokerit Helsinki. Henrik Karlsson and Ilya Ezhov are in the blue paint. Helsinki struck first in the first period on a Linus Omark goal, courtesy of Steve Moses. Jokerit added on in the second period with an Oskari Korpikari goal, assisted by Juhamatti Aaltonen. Togliatti avoided the shutout with two second left in regulation on a Denis Golubev goal, passed from Yury Petrov. The final stood at 2-1, with the three stars given to Karlsson (20 for 21 in saves), Korpikari, and Omark.

Into Moscow, where Dynamo welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Alexander Lazushin guard the cages. Yekaterinburg opened in the first period with a power play goal by Anatoly Golyshev, coming off of Anton Krysanov. Moscow tied it with a Janne Jalasvaara goal, fueled by Maxim Pestushko and Konstantin Gorovikov. Dynamo took the lead with a Maxim Solovyov power play goal, powered by Jalasvaara and Pestushko. Avtomobilist tied it in the second period on a Gilbert Brule goal, passed from Anton Lazarev and Nikita Tryamkin. Moscow took the lead back on an unassisted goal by Kaspars Daugavins. Dynamo won 4-2 when Daugavins scored an empty net goal, set up by Pestushko, which earned him a sock trick. The three stars went to Pestushko, Jalasvaara, and Daugavins.

Finally, in Podolsk, Vityaz hosts Ak Bars Kazan. Anders Nilsson and Harri Sateri are given the starting nods. Podolsk started with a first period power play goal by Alexei Grishin, powered by Dmitry Tsyganov and Roman Horak. Vityaz added on in the second period with a Dmitry Shitikov goal, with a lone assist by Nikita Vyglazov. Kazan got on the board in the third period with a Dmitry Obukhov goal, passed from Vladimir Denisov and Artyom Lukoyanov. Ak Bars tied it on a Janne Pesonen goal, courtesy of Mikhail Varnakov and Oscar Moller on the power play. Kazan completed the remarkable comeback with an overtime goal by Moller to win 3-2, set up by Evgeny Medvedev and Alexander Burmistrov on the power play. The three stars went to Moller, Pesonen, and Obukhov.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 18th, 2014

Five games on today, beginning in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Avangard Omsk for the second day in a row. Denis Kostin and Sergei Borisov draw the starts again. Khabarovsk got going in the second period with an Alexander Yunkov power play goal, powered by Tommi Taimi and Kirill Safronov. Omsk tied it in the third period on a power play goal by Sergei Shirokov, assisted by Alexander Popov. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Amur got goals from Marcel Hascak and Dmitry Lugin to top a lone tally from Avangard's Vladimir Sobotka. The three stars of the 2-1 Amur victory were Borisov (50 for 51 in saves), Lugin, and Kostin (27 for 28 in saves).

Down in Vladivostok, we have another back-to-back rematch game, as Admiral welcomes Barys Astana. Jan Laco and Ari Ahonen man the creases this time. Astana began in the first period with a Nigel Dawes goal, passed from Dustin Boyd. Vladivostok tied it on an Enver Lisin power play goal in the second period, assisted by Ilya Zubov and Logan Pyett. Admiral took the lead as Richard Gynge scored, thanks to Niclas Bergfors. Vladivostok added on in the third period with an Alexander Goroshansky goal, courtesy of Bergfors and Gynge. Admiral extended the lead with another Gynge goal, fueled by Goroshansky. Barys got one back as Dawes and Boyd connected for another goal, potted by Dawes. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars being Gygne, Dawes, and Goroshansky, while Bergfors and Boyd gets the honorable mentions.

Westward to Mytishchi, where Atlant hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Atte Engren are the masked men. Mytishchi led off in the first period with an Andreas Engqvist goal, passed from Artyom Chernov. Atlant added on as Engqvist scored again in the second period, thanks to Yaroslav Dyblenko and Vladimir Malevich. Mytishchi extended the lead with a third period power play goal by Oleg Yashin, powered by Roman Rukavishnikov and Matthew Gilroy. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board with a Wojtek Wolski goal, courtesy of Viktor Drugov and Juuso Hietanen. The final was 3-1, and the three stars were Engqvist, Engren (16 for 17 in saves), and Yashin.

Out in Belarus, Dinamo Minsk brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Lars Haugen are between the pipes. Minsk dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Paul Szczechura power play goal, powered by Alexei Kalyuzhny and Jonathan Cheechoo. Dinamo added on with a Charles Linglet power play goal, passed from Cheechoo and Nick Bailen. Cherepovets got on the board with a Pavel Chernov goal, coming off of Dmitry Kagarlitsky and Evgeny Mons. Minsk shot back with a Matt Ellison power play goal, assisted by Cheechoo, who got a sock trick, and Linglet. Severstal pulled closer in the third period with a Gennady Stolyarov goal, guided in by Pavel Buchnevich and Pavel Lukin. Cherepovets tied it on an Alexander Urbom power play goal, set up by Buchnevich and Stolyarov. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Marek Kvapil's lone tally lifted Severstal to a 4-3 win. Stolyarov, Buchnevich, and Linglet were given the three stars, while Cheechoo was an honorable mention.

Finally, in Croaita, Medvescak Zagreb hosts CSKA Moscow. Stanislav Galimov and Barry Brust are in the blue paint. Moscow started in the first period with a Nikolai Prokhorkin power play goal, powered by Bogdan Kiselevich and Jan Mursak. Zagreb tied it on a Pascal Pelletier goal, courtesy of Martin St. Pierre and Brandon Segal on the power play. CSKA took the lead back with a Stephane Da Costa goal, assisted by Nikita Zaitsev and Denis Denisov on the power play. Medvescak tied it again in the second period with a Patrick Bjorkstrand goal, coming off of Mathieu Carle. Moscow pulled ahead again in the third period on a Mursak goal, with a lone assist by Kiselevich. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars belonging to Mursak, Kiselevich, and Da Costa.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 17th, 2014

Nine games to go with today, beginning in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Avangard Omsk. Denis Kostin and Sergei Borisov are between the pipes. Omsk began with a first period goal by Sergei Shirokov on the power play, powered by Vladimir Sobotka and Denis Parshin. Avangard added on in the second period with an unassisted goal by Evgeny Mozer. Omsk extended the lead as Shirokov scored, thanks to Sobotka. Avangard padded the lead on a Nikolai Lemtyugov goal, passed from Vladimir Pervushin and Kirill Lyamin. This was all the scoring for the game, with the final being 4-0. The three stars belonged to Shirokov, Kostin (25 save shutout), and Sobotka.

Down in Vladivostok, Admiral welcomes Barys Astana. Jan Laco and Ivan Nalimov draw the starts. Vladivostok was first to score in the first period with a Richard Gynge goal, courtesy of Alexander Goroshansky. Astana tied it on a Nigel Dawes goal, coming off of Dustin Boyd and Roman Savchenko. Admiral took the lead back as Gynge scored again, thanks to Goroshansky and Mikhail Naumenkov. Barys tied it again in the second period with a shorthanded and unassisted Mikhail Rakhmanov goal. Vladivostok pulled ahead again with a Goroshansky goal, with a lone assist by Gynge. This held up to the end for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Gynge, Goroshansky, and Rakhmanov.

Westward to Novokuznetsk, as Metallurg brings in Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vladimir Sokhatsky and Ilya Sorokin are the young goalies. Ufa dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Antti Pihlstrom power play goal, powered by Ivan Vishnevsky and Alexei Kaigorodov. Novokuznetsk tied it with an Alexei Kosourov goal, guided in by Cade Fairchild and Vitaly Zotov. Metallurg took the lead with an Ansel Galimov goal, via James O'Brien on the power play. Salavat Yulaev tied it in the third period as Kirill Koltsov scored, with the help of Evgeny Skachkov and Pihlstrom. Novokuznetsk retook the lead on a Galimov goal, coming off of Alexander Komaristy. This was the game-winner, with the final being 3-2, and the three stars went to Galimov, Pihlstrom, and Kosourov.

Further west to Chelyabinsk, where Traktor hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Vladislav Fokin are in the blue paint. Riga struck first in the first period on a Martins Cipulis goal, guided in by Linus Videll and Lauris Darzins. Chelyabinsk tied it in the second period with a Deron Quint goal, assisted by Anton Glinkin. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Glinkin and Marcel Hossa matched each others' goals, and then Kyle Wilson won it for Traktor with his tally in the tenth round. The final was 2-1, and the three stars were Fokin (22 for 23 in saves), Glinkin, and Sedlacek (32 for 33 in saves).

Up in Khanty-Mansiysk, Yugra welcomes SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Mikhail Biryukov are the veteran goalies. St. Petersburg opened in the first period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, courtesy of Dmitry Yudin. SKA added on with an Artemy Panarin penalty shot goal. The opportunity came after an Alexei Pepelyaev slash on a breakaway. St. Petersburg extended the lead with a Patrick Thoresen goal, fueled by Tony Martensson. Stepan Goryachevskikh relieved Biryukov at this time. SKA padded the lead as Kovalchuk scored again, thanks to Jimmie Eriksson. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the second period with an Ivan Yatsenko goal, guided in by Sergei Lesnukhin. Yugra pulled closer with a Toni Rajala power play goal, powered by Ben Maxwell and Lukas Kaspar. Khanty-Mansiysk chipped closer in the third period on a Vitaly Sitnikov power play goal, assisted by Pepelyaev and Andrei Sergeyev. They couldn't get the equalizer, losing 4-3, with the three stars going to Kovalchuk, Thoresen, and Panarin.

Over in Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv brings in Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Curtis Sanford tend the twines. Yaroslavl got going in the third period with a Yegor Yakovlev goal, passed from Jiri Novotny and Martin Thornberg. Lokomotiv iced it at 2-0 with an empty net power play goal by Yegor Averin, set up by Sergei Plotnikov. The three stars were handed to Sanford (26 save shutout), Yakovlev, and Kovar (33 for 34 in saves).

Backtracking to Nizhnekamsk, where Neftekhimik hosts Jokerit Helsinki. Riku Helenius and Alexander Sudnitsin protect the nets. Helsinki led off in the first period on a Niklas Hagman goal, assisted by Ryan Gunderson and Niko Kapanen. Jokerit added on as Hagman scored again, with a lone assist by Daine Todd. Nizhnekamsk got on the board with a Dan Sexton power play goal, powered by Teemu Eronen and Yegor Milovzorov. Helsinki shot back with another Hagman goal to complete his hat trick, helped along by Todd and Gunderson. Ville Kolppanen relieved Sudnitsin at this time. Jokerit extended their lead with a Todd goal, fueled by Gunderson, who got a sock trick. Neftekhimik pulled back in the second period with a Maxim Berezin goal, guided in by Igor Polygalov and Pavel Zdunov. Nizhnekamsk pulled closer with a Gleb Klimenko goal, coming off of Eronen and Alexander Ryazantsev. Neftekhimik tied it on a Sexton power play goal, pushed through by Tim Stapleton. Helsinki took the lead back on a Steve Moses power play goal, made possible by Gunderson. Jokerit padded their lead on a third period goal by Juhamatti Aaltonen, courtesy of Hagman and Gunderson on the power play. Nizhnekamsk clawed back with a Polygalov goal, with the help of Pyotr Khokhryakov and Maxim Trunyov. Helsinki finished it at 7-5 with an empty net goal by Jere Sallinen, set up by Moses. The three stars were Hagman, Gunderson, and Sexton, while Todd, Eronen, Polygalov, and Moses get the honorable mentions.

Into Moscow, where Dynamo welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Alexander Lazushin guard the cages. The goalies were perfect for sixty-five minutes of game time. It took goals by Danis Zaripov and Chris Lee for Metallurg to take the game 1-0 in the shootout. The three stars were Koshechkin (27 save shutout), Lazushin (27 save "shutout"), and Zaripov.

Finally, down in Sochi, the Leopards bring in Ak Bars Kazan. Emil Garipov and Tomas Popperle are the masked men. Kazan started in the first period with a Fyodor Malykhin goal, assisted by Konstantin Korneyev. Ak Bars added on with an Ilya Nikulin power play goal, powered by Justin Azevedo and Sergei Kostitsyn. Kazan extended the lead with an Azevedo power play goal, fueled by Vladimir Denisov and Kostitsyn. Andrei Gavrilov relieved Popperle at this time. Ak Bars padded the lead on a Korneyev power play goal, guided in by Kostitsyn, who got a sock trick, and Igor Mirnov. Kazan struck again in the third period with a Shaun Heshka goal, coming off of Kostisyn and Mirnov. This made it 5-0, the final, and the three stars were awarded to Kostitsyn, Garipov (30 save shutout), and Azevedo, while Korneyev and Mirnov get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 16th, 2014

Three games today, beginning in...

Mytishchi, as Atlant hosts CSKA Moscow. Stanislav Galimov and Atte Engren are in goal. Moscow got going in the second period with a Stephane Da Costa goal, fueled by Alexander Radulov. CSKA added on with an Evgeny Artyukhin goal, via Nikita Zaitsev and Nikolai Prokhorkin. Moscow extended the lead with a Zaitsev power play goal, powered by Radulov. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 3-0. The three stars went to Galimov (21 save shutout), Zaitsev, and Radulov.

Out in Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava welcomes Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Jaroslav Janus are the masked men. Cherepovets began in the first period with an Evgeny Mons goal, assisted by Pavel Chernov and Dmitry Kagarlitsky. Severstal added on with an unassisted Pavel Buchnevich goal. Cherepovets extended the lead in the second period as Buchnevich scored again, thanks to Gennady Stolyarov and Adam Almqvist. This held up for a 3-0 win, with the three stars going to Buchnevich, Stepanek (34 save shutout), and Mons.

Finally, in Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Barry Brust protect the nets. Nizhny Novgorod led off in the first period with a shorthanded goal by Vyacheslav Kulyomin, set up by Anton Babchuk and Dmitry Kazionov. Zagreb tied it on a Pascal Pelletier goal, assisted by Martin St. Pierre and Mark Flood. Torpedo took the lead back with a Sergei Bernatsky goal, passed from Vladimir Galuzin and Petteri Nokelainen. Nizhny Novgorod added on in the third period with a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev goal, courtesy of Babchuk and Wojtek Wolski on the power play. Torpedo iced it at 4-1 with a Wolski empty net goal, with a lone helper by Jarkko Immonen. The three stars were given to Kasutin (26 for 27 in saves), Babchuk, and Wolski.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Premier League Week 4

After a week off, the highest level of British soccer is back in action. We begin with...

Arsenal hosting Manchester City. Joe Hart and Wojciech Szczesny are in the six-yard boxes. Manchester City took two yellow cards early, for a twenty-second minute foul by Frank Lampard and a twenty-fourth minute offense by Pablo Zabaleta. Manchester City was first to score in the twenty-eighth minute with a Sergio Aguero goal, fueled by a Jesus Navas cross on a fast break. Manchester City saw the referee again in the fiftieth minute, giving a yellow card to Fernandinho for his foul. Arsenal took the next two yellow cards, going to Mathieu Flamini in the fifty-eighth minute and Nacho Monreal in the sixty-second minute for fouls. Arsenal pulled level in the sixty-third minute on a Jack Wilshere goal, guided in by Aaron Ramsey. Manchester City took another yellow card in the sixty-fourth minute for Aguero's offense. Arsenal took the lead in the seventy-fourth minute on an Alexis Sanchez goal, coming off of a Wilshere header pass. Sanchez was shown a yellow card for excessive celebration after the goal. Manchester City retied it in the eighty-third minute on a Martin Demichelis goal, assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov on a cross after a corner kick. The score stayed at 2-2 until the end, resulting in a draw.

Next up, Chelsea welcomes Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Thibaut Courtois are the keepers. Swansea City received a gift in the eleventh minute when John Terry put the ball in his own net for an own goal. Swansea City took a pair of yellow cards as well, going to Jordi Amat in the twenty-sixth minute and Jonjo Shelvey in the thirty-second minute for fouls. Chelsea tied the game with a forty-fifth minute header goal by Diego Costa, made possible by a Cesc Fabregas cross after a corner kick. Swansea City took another booking for a fifty-first minute yellow card-worthy foul by Neil Taylor. Chelsea took the lead in the fifty-sixth minute on another Costa goal, again set up by Fabregas. Chelsea added on as Costa completed his hat trick in the sixty-seventh minute with a goal from close range, passed from Ramires. Chelsea extended the lead on an eighty-first minute Loic Remy goal, courtesy of Oscar. Swansea City got one back in the eighty-sixth minute as Shelvey scored, thanks to Wilfried Bony. Chelsea rode it out to the end for a 4-2 win.

Following that, Crystal Palace brings in Burnley. Tom Heaton and Julian Speroni protect the nets. Burnley was first to get a yellow card for a Danny Ings dive in the fourth minute. The next yellow card went to Burnley's Marvin Sordell in the fifty-third minute for a foul. In the fifty-sixth minute, Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace was given a yellow card. Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak took the next yellow card for a foul in the eighty-fourth minute. Burnley had the last yellow card of the game for a George Boyd foul in stoppage time. No scoring occurred, leaving the game to end in a scoreless draw.

Moving along to Southampton hosting Newcastle United. Tim Krul and Fraser Forster are the gloved men. Southampton struck first in the sixth minute on a Graziano Pelle goal, made possible by Ryan Bertrand with the cross. Southampton added on in the nineteenth minute as Pelle scored again, thanks to Dusan Tadic. In the forty-fifth minute, Newcastle United's Jack Colback took a yellow card for a foul. Southampton extended their lead in the fifty-fourth minute on a Jack Cork goal, going in unassisted. In the fifty-seventh minute, Cheick Tiote of Newcastle United picked up a yellow card for his foul. Southampton padded their lead in the ninetieth minute on a Morgan Schneiderlin goal, with an assist provided by James Ward-Prowse. The final stood at 4-0 in the end.

Continuing to Stoke City, where they welcome Leicester City. Ben Hamer and Asmir Begovic guard the woodwork. In the twenty-ninth minute, Stoke City took a yellow card for a foul by Peter Crouch. Stoke City had the next yellow card as well for a forty-ninth minute foul by Erik Pieters. Stoke City was booked again with a yellow card in the sixty-fourth minute for a Glenn Whelan offense. Eight seconds later, Leicester City was on the board with a Leonardo Ulloa goal, passed from Paul Konchesky on a cross. This was the only goal in the game, giving Leicester City a 1-0 win.

After that, Sunderland brought in Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Vito Mannone are guarding the nets. Tottenham Hotspur opened in the second minute with a Nacer Chadli goal. Sunderland tied it in the fourth minute on an Adam Johnson goal, via Sebastian Larsson. Tottenham Hotspur took the lead back in the forty-eighth minute on a Christian Eriksen goal from close range. Tottenham Hotspur was visited by the referee, causing Eric Dier's foul to draw a yellow card in the sixty-first minute. Sunderland got a gift in the eighty-second minute as Harry Kane put the ball in his own net for an own goal to tie the score. Sunderland took a pair of yellow cards later on, going to Patrick van Aanholt in the eighty-fifth minute for a foul and Santiago Vergini in the eighty-eighth minute. The score stayed level at 2, so the game ended in a draw.

Following that, West Bromwich Albion hosted Everton. Tim Howard and Ben Foster are given the starting nods in goal. Everton started in the second minute with a Romelu Lukaku goal. In the twenty-sixth minute, Craig Gardner of West Brom was given a yellow card. Everton got a yellow card for a foul by James McCarthy in the fifty-third minute. Everton added on in the sixty-sixth minute as Kevin Mirallas scored, thanks to Leighton Baines. In the eighty-first minute, Everton's Steven Naismith was given a yellow card for a foul. West Brom's Andre Wisdom took a yellow card for his foul in the ninetieth minute. The final favored Everton 2-0.

Closing out Saturday, Liverpool welcomes Aston Villa. Brad Guzan and Simon Mignolet are the goalies. Aston Villa led off in the ninth minute with a Gabriel Agbonlahor goal from close range. Liverpool took a yellow card in the twelfth minute for an Adam Lallana foul. In the sixty-third minute, Adam Hutton of Aston Villa picked up a yellow card for a foul. In the seventy-sixth minute, Liverpool's Alberto Moreno was booked on a yellow card for his foul. Aston Villa went on to a 1-0 win.

The lone game on Sunday saw Manchester United bring in the Queens Park Rangers. Robert Green and David de Gea are the keepers. Manchester United got going in the twenty-fourth minute with an Angel Di Maria goal on a free kick. Manchester United saw a yellow card given to Robin van Persie for his foul in the thirty-third minute. Manchester United added on with an Ander Herrera goal in the thirty-sixth minute, assisted by Wayne Rooney. Rooney extended the Manchester United lead in the forty-fourth minute with his goal, set up by Herrera. Manchester United padded the lead in the fifty-eighth minute on a Juan Mata goal, made possible by Di Maria. This was good for a 4-0 win. 

Finally, on Monday, Hull City hosts West Ham United. Adrian and Allan McGregor are in goal. Hull City opened with a thirty-ninth minute Abel Hernandez goal, fueled by Ahmed Elmohamady with the cross. West Ham tied it in the fiftieth minute with an Enner Valencia strike from distance, set up by Stewart Downing. Hull City took a yellow card in the fifty-fourth minute for a foul by Tom Huddlestone. Hull City had the next yellow card in the sixtieth minute on a foul by Andrew Robertson. Hull City took the lead back in the sixty-fourth minute as Mohamed Diame scored. West Ham got a gift in the sixty-seventh minute as Curtis Davies put the ball in his own net for an own goal to tie the game again. Each team got a yellow card in stoppage time for fouls, with Hull City's going to Jake Livermore and West Ham's to Winston Reid. The game stayed level at 2 in the end.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 15th, 2014

Nine games on a slightly heavy slate today, beginning with a rematch of yesterday's first game as...

Amur Khabarovsk hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vladimir Sokhatsky and Sergei Borisov again draw the starts. Ufa began in the first period with an Antti Pihlstrom power play goal, powered by Kirill Koltsov and Alexei Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev added on in the second period with an Ivan Vishnevsky power play goal, with a lone assist by Koltsov. Khabarovsk got on the board with a power play goal by Jesse Niinimaki, guided in by Dmitry Tarasov and Tommi Taimi. Ufa shot back with another Pihlstrom goal, via Koltsov, who got a sock trick. Amur replied in the third period on a Sergei Peretyagin goal, assisted by Denis Yezhov and Mikhail Fisenko. They couldn't get the equalizer, losing 3-2, with the three stars being Pihlstrom, Koltsov, and Sokhatsky (36 for 38 in saves).

Westward to Novosibirsk, as Sibir welcomes Barys Astana. Jan Laco and Mikko Koskinen are the masked men. Astana led off with a first period Dustin Boyd power play goal, powered by Brandon Bochenski. Novosibirsk tied it on an Andreas Thuresson power play goal, fueled by Dmitry Monya and Jonas Enlund. Sibir took the lead as Thuresson scored another power play goal in the third period, coming off of Enlund and Vyacheslav Belov. Novosibirsk added on as Thuresson potted an unassisted empty net goal to complete his hat trick. Sibir iced it at 4-1 with another empty net goal, this time scored by Dmitry Kugryshev, going in unassisted. The three stars were Thuresson, Koskinen (26 for 27 in saves), and Enlund.

Nearby, Metallurg Novokuznetsk brings in Avangard Omsk. Konstantin Barulin and Ilya Sorokin are in the blue paint. Omsk got going in the second period with a Denis Parshin goal, going in unassisted. Novokuznetsk tied it in the third period with a Ryan Stoa goal, via Vitaly Zotov. Metallurg won 2-1 in overtime with an Alexei Kosourov power play goal, with a lone helper by Stoa. The three stars were Stoa, Sorokin (39 for 40 in saves), and Kosourov.

Further west, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Valdislav Fokin protect the nets. St. Petersburg opened in the first period with a Patrick Thoresen power play goal, powered by Roman Cervenka. SKA added on with a power play goal by Cervenka, guided in by Tony Martensson and Maxim Chudinov. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Dmitry Kalinin scored, thanks to Evgeny Dadonov. SKA padded the lead with a Martensson goal, made possible by Cervenka. Fokin was pulled at this time, and Vasily Demchenko replaced him. Chelyabinsk got on the board in the second period with a Martin Ruzicka goal, assisted by Jan Bulis and Konstantin Panov. St. Petersburg shot back with an Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal, with a lone assist by Andrei Kuteikin. SKA got another when Alexander Kucheryavenko scored, with the help of Igor Makarov and Dinar Khafizullin. Traktor chipped back with a Vyacheslav Osnovin goal, passed from Mikhail Mokin and Deron Quint. The scoring was not there for the third period, so the final was 6-2. The three stars went to Cervenka, Martensson, and Salak (41 for 43 in saves).

Back to Khanty-Mansiysk, as Yugra welcomes Jokerit Helsinki. Henrik Karlsson and Mikhail Biryukov are between the pipes. Khanty-Mansiysk dented the scoreboard in the second period with an Artyom Bulyansky goal, made possible by Toni Rajala on the power play. Helsinki tied it with a Niklas Hagman goal, fueled by Juhamatti Aaltonen and Daine Todd. Jokerit won 2-1 in overtime with a Ville Lajunen goal, assisted by Tomi Maki and Kurtis McLean. The three stars were given to Karlsson (21 for 22 in saves), Lajunen, and Biryukov (33 for 35 in saves).

Over to Yaroslavl, as Lokomotiv brings in Ak Bars Kazan. Anders Nilsson and Vitaly Kolesnik are the backups making spot starts. Kazan started with a first period power play goal by Igor Mirnov, powered by Evgeny Medvedev and Artyom Lukoyanov. Yaroslavl tied it on a power play goal by Geoff Platt, passed from Jiri Novotny and Sergei Konkov. Ak Bars took the lead back as Justin Azevedo scored, thanks to Vladimir Denisov and Yakov Rylov. Lokomotiv tied it with a Vladislav Kartayev goal, fueled by Emil Galimov and Alexei Kruchinin. The game went to a shootout, where Oscar Moller scored twice for Kazan to top one Yegor Averin goal for Yaroslavl, giving Ak Bars a 3-2 win. The three stars were Moller, Azevedo, and Mirnov.

Moving along to Togliatti, where Lada hosts Dinamo Riga. Edgars Masalskis and Ilya Ezhov guard the cages. Riga struck first with an unassisted power play goal by Marcel Hossa. Togliatti tied it on a Maxim Zyuzyakin goal, passed from Vitaly Shulakov and Dmitry Stulov on the power play. Lada took the lead with a Semyon Valuisky goal, coming off of Martin Zatovic. Dinamo tied it in the third period with a Georgijs Pujacs goal, courtesy of Pyotr Schastlivy. Togliatti won 3-2 when Valuisky scored another power play goal in overtime, powered by Peter Podhradsky. The three stars went to Valuisky, Zyuzyakin, and Ezhov (34 for 36 in saves).

Down in Sochi, the Leopards welcome Avotmobilist Yekaterinburg. Evgeny Lobanov and Tomas Popperle receive the starting nods. Sochi was first to score in the first period with an Alexei Krutov goal, via Ilya Krikunov. The Leopards added on with a Pavel Koledov goal, with a lone assist by Krikunov. Jakub Kovar relieved Lobanov at this time. Yekaterinburg got on the board with an Alexander Bumagin goal, assisted by Sami Lepisto and Anton Lazarev. Avtomobilist tied it with an Andrei Antonov goal, guided in by Filipp Metlyuk and Jakub Petruzalek. Sochi took the lead back with a power play goal by Krikunov in the second period, powered by Andrei Plekhanov and Clay Wilson. The Leopards extended the lead with another power play goal from Timofei Shishkanov, courtesy of Rafael Akhmetov and Yegor Morozov. Yekaterinburg shot back with a third period Alexei Yefimov goal, set up by Eduard Lewandowski and Anatoly Golyshev. Sochi answered with a Max Warn goal, helped along by Alexander Shcherbina and Nikita Shchitov. The Leopards wrapped it up at 6-3 with a Mikhail Anisin goal, pushed through by Andre Petersson and Cory Emmerton. The three stars were handed to Krikunov, Shishkanov, and Warn.

Finally, Vityaz Podolsk brings in Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Harri Sateri tend the twines. Magnitogorsk led off with a first period goal by Evgeny Timkin, assisted by Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg added on in the second period with a Mozyakin power play goal, powered by Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Magnitogorsk extended the lead in the third period on a Rafael Batyrshin goal, courtesy of Denis Platonov. Metallurg padded the lead with a Vladislav Kamenev goal, guided in by Batyrshin and Yaroslav Kosov. Podolsk got on the board with a Roman Horak goal, made possible by Georgy Berdyukov and Mario Kempe. The final was 4-1, and Mozyakin, Batyrshin, and Koshechkin (15 for 16 in saves) were awarded the three stars.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

MLS Weekend, September 12-14, 2014

Nine games scattered throughout the weekend, beginning in...

Seattle on Friday, as the Sounders FC host Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Stefan Frei are the keepers. Seattle took the first yellow card in the twenty-fifth minute for a Lamar Neagle foul. Salt Lake opened in the thirtieth minute on a Javier Morales goal, made possible by Luke Mulholland. The Sounders tied it on a thirty-eighth minute goal by Neagle, set up by DeAndre Yedlin. Seattle took the lead with an Obafemi Martins goal in the forty-third minute, fueled by Clint Dempsey. Real retied it in the fiftieth minute on a Joao Plata goal, courtesy of Morales. In the sixty-eighth minute, Salt Lake went down a man as Nat Borchers committed a professional foul that saw him ejected on a straight red card. Real was booked again in the seventy-first minute for a Chris Wingert off the ball foul. The Sounders took the lead in stoppage time with an Andy Rose goal, with a helper from Yedlin. They took the match 3-2, with the man of the match being Yedlin for his two assists.

The other Friday game was Chivas USA welcoming Sporting Kansas City. Andy Gruenebaum and Dan Kennedy man the nets. Chivas took the first yellow card in the twelfth minute for a Marvin Chavez foul. Kansas City got on the board in the fortieth minute with a Dominic Dwyer goal, made possible by Graham Zusi. Two minutes into first half stoppage time, Benny Feilhaber scored an unassisted goal to add on to the Sporting lead. Kansas City extended the lead in the fifty-second minute as Zusi scored, thanks to Igor Juliao. Sporting took a pair of yellow cards in the sixty-seventh minute, for fouls by Lawrence Olum and Mikey Lopez. Kansas City iced it at 4-0 with a Claudio Bieler goal in the eighty-seventh minute, going in unassisted. The man of the match was Zusi for his goal and assist.

Beginning on Saturday, the Philadelphia Union bring in the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Zac MacMath are in goal. Philadelphia took a thirtieth minute yellow card for a Danny Cruz foul. New York opened in the thirty-seventh minute on a Peguy Luyindula penalty kick goal. The Red Bulls added on in the fortieth minute with a Thierry Henry goal, passed from Chris Duvall. The Union got on the board when Pedro Ribeiro scored an unassisted goal in the forty-first minute. New York took three straight yellow cards in the second half. The first went to Tim Cahill for persistent infringement in the sixty-second minute. The next went to Robles for time wasting in the sixty-ninth minute. The last went to Roben Bover Iziquierdo in the eighty-first minute for a foul. Philadelphia pulled level with a Sebastien Le Toux penalty kick conversion in stoppage time. This produced the 2-2 final. The man of the match was Ribeiro for keeping the Union in the game after two quick goals against.

Over in New England, the Revolution host the Montreal Impact. Troy Perkins and Bobby Shuttleworth received the starting nods in goal. Montreal began in the thirteenth minute on a Calum Mallace goal, set up by Jack McInerney and Mamadou Danso. New England's Andrew Farrell was booked on a yellow card for a seventeenth minute foul. The Revolution tied the game in the twenty-third minute on a Kelyn Rowe goal, going in unassisted. New England pulled ahead in the twenty-fifth minute on a Lee Nguyen goal, courtesy of Charlie Davies and Jermaine Jones. The teams exchanged yellow cards early in the second half, as Krzysztof Krol of the Impact and Teal Bunbury of the Revolution each got one around the forty-eighth minute. Montreal went down a man in the sixty-second minute as Krol picked up his second yellow card of the game and was ejected for his second bad foul. The Impact saw another yellow card handed to Wandrille Lefevre in the sixty-fifth minute for his foul. The deficit in goals and manpower was too much for Montreal, and they lost 2-1. The man of the match was Perkins for stopping eight of the ten shots directed on goal.

Down in Texas, the Houston Dynamo welcome the Columbus Crew. Steve Clark and Tyler Deric protect the nets. Houston got a gift in the twelfth minute to open the scoring, as Aaron Schoenfeld put the ball in his own net for an own goal. Making his night worse, Schoenfeld gave Columbus their first yellow card in the thirty-fourth minute for his foul. The Dynamo added on with a thirty-eighth minute Giles Barnes goal, set up by Omar Cummings. Houston's Oscar Garcia was booked on a yellow card for his foul in first half stoppage time. In the forty-eighth minute, the Crew got on the board with a Wil Trapp goal, via Waylon Francis. Columbus tied it in the fifty-fourth minute as Ethan Finlay scored, thanks to Francis. The Dynamo took another yellow card for Barnes' foul in the sixty-fourth minute. The Crew were booked again as well in the sixty-ninth minute as Bernardo Anor committed a yellow card-worthy foul. Houston took the next yellow card for Kofi Sarkodie's eighty-sixth minute foul. Columbus saw the last yellow card go to Francis in the ninetieth minute for his foul. The match stayed tied at 2, and the man of the match was Francis for setting up both Crew goals.

Staying in the state, FC Dallas brings in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Raul Fernandez will block the shots. Dallas began in the twentieth minute with a Blas Perez goal, courtesy of Je-Vaughn Watson. Vancouver took a yellow card for a twenty-ninth minute foul by Kendall Watson. The Whitecaps took another yellow card in first half stoppage time, for a foul by Russell Teibert. Vancouver tied the game in the sixty-seventh minute with an Erik Hurtado goal, assisted by Mauro Rosales. Dallas pulled ahead again in the seventy-eighth minute on another Perez goal, via Tesho Akindele. The Whitecaps saw Jordan Harvey get booked for his eighty-ninth minute foul. The final favored Dallas 2-1, and Perez was the man of the match for his brace.

Up in Chicago, the Fire host Toronto FC. Joe Bendik and Sean Johnson are the gloved men. Chicago got going with an eleventh minute goal by Lovel Palmer, assisted by Sanna Nyassi. The Fire took a yellow card in the forty-first minute for dissent from Nyassi. Toronto matched that yellow card in the forty-seventh minute on a foul by Nick Hagglund. Toronto took another yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul by Justin Morrow. Toronto tied the game in the eighty-ninth minute on a Dwayne De Rosario goal, fueled by Gilberto and Hagglund. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match being Bendik for his six saves on seven shots to allow Toronto the chance to get a point.

Closing out Saturday, the Colorado Rapids welcome the Portland Timbers. Donovan Ricketts and John Berner draw the starts in goal. Portland started in the forty-third minute with a Diego Valeri goal, assisted by Fanendo Adi and Diego Chara. Colorado tied it in the forty-eighth minute as Dillon Powers converted a penalty kick for a goal. The Rapids pulled ahead in the sixty-sixth minute with a Deshorn Brown goal, set up by Marc Burch and Powers. The teams exchanged yellow cards after this, with Valeri getting one for a foul for the Timbers in the sixty-seventh minute and Kamani Hill getting one for encroachment in the seventy-third minute for Colorado. Portland tied the game on a Gaston Fernandez goal in the seventy-sixth minute, thanks to Maximiliano Urruti and Valeri. The Rapids took another yellow card in stoppage time for a Nick LaBrocca foul. The game ended in a 2-2 final, with the man of the match being Valeri for his goal and assist.

Finally, the San Jose Earthquakes close out the season's Cali Clasico by bringing in the Los Angeles Galaxy. Brian Rowe and Jon Busch will protect the nets. Los Angeles took a yellow card for Omar Gonzalez displaying unsporting behavior in the twenty-fifth minute. Gonzalez made up for his transgression by scoring in the twenty-eighth minute, with the help of Stefan Ishizaki. San Jose's Jason Hernandez was shown a yellow card in the thirty-seventh minute. The yellow cards started flying rapidly after the hour mark, with Robbie Rogers getting one for Los Angeles in the sixtieth minute, followed by two yellows to the Earthquakes for a sixty-third minute foul by Atiba Harris and unsporting behavior by Steven Lenhart in the sixty-fourth minute. San Jose tied the game with a Chris Wondolowski goal in the sixty-sixth minute, set up by Jordan Stewart. Over the course of ten minutes, four more yellows were given out. Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi and Sam Cronin got them for the Earthquakes, for not retreating in the sixty-ninth minute and a foul in the seventy-fourth minute. The Galaxy's contributions to discipline were in the seventy-fifth minute by Juninho and in the seventy-ninth minute by Robbie Keane, both for arguments. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the man of the match being Busch for turning aside seven of eight shots and preserving the point for San Jose.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL September 14th, 2014

Four games on today, beginning in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vladimir Sokhatsky and Sergei Borisov are in goal. Ufa got going in the second period on a Denis Tolpeko goal, assisted by Dmitry Makarov and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on in the third period on an Alexei Glukhov goal, passed from Ilkka Heikkinen and Anton Slepyshev. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Sokhatsky (36 save shutout), Tolpeko, and Glukhov.

Way to the west, Dinamo Minsk welcomes CSKA Moscow. Kevin Lalande and Lars Haugen draw the starts. Minsk began in the first period on a Charles Linglet goal, made possible by Ryan Vesce and Matt Ellison. Dinamo added on with an Artur Gavrus goal, coming off of Jonathan Cheechoo and Nick Bailen. Minsk extended the lead as Vesce scored a power play goal in the second period, powered by Linglet and Cheechoo. Moscow got on the board on a Vladimir Zharkov goal, with a lone assist by Maxim Mamin. CSKA pulled closer in the third period with a Stephane Da Costa goal, guided in by Alexei Bondarev and Grigory Panin. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2, with the three stars being Vesce, Linglet, and Cheechoo.

Moving along to Bratislava, where Slovan hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Jaroslav Janus are the veteran goalies. Bratislava led off in the first period with a Milan Bartovic goal, courtesy of Ivan Baranka and Michal Sersen. Nizhny Novgorod tied it with a Sakari Salminen power play goal, with a lone helper by Jarkko Immonen. Torpedo took the lead on an Immonen goal, fueled by Sergei Bernatsky and Alexei Potapov. Slovan tied it again in the second period with a Ladislav Nagy power play goal, powered by Sersen. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Dmitry Kazionov of Nizhny Novgorod and Tomas Netik of Bratislava cancelled each other out before Immonen scored to lift Torpedo to a 3-2 win. The three stars Immonen, Sersen, and Kasutin (33 for 35 in saves).

Finally, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Barry Brust are in the blue paint. Zagreb dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Martin St. Pierre goal, via Andrew Hutchinson. Medvescak added on with a Nathan Perkovich goal, with a lone assist by Hutchinson. Zagreb extended the lead with a power play goal in the second period by Mark Katic, powered by Brandon Segal and Jason Krog. Medvescak padded the lead with a Pascal Pelletier unassisted goal. Cherepovets got on the board with an Anatoly Nikontsev penalty shot goal he received after being slashed by Shaone Morrisonn. Zagreb shot back in the third period on an Andrew Murray goal, coming off of Mike Glumac and Patrick Bjorkstrand. Severstal answered with an Evgeny Mons goal, going in unassisted. This was as close as it got, with the final being 5-2. The three stars went to Brust (32 for 34 in saves), Katic, and Hutchinson.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.