Wednesday, May 13, 2015

NHL Metropolitan Division Final: New York Rangers VS. Washington Capitals Game 7

It's do or die time in the last second round series, with the New York Rangers hosting the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Washington struck first in the first period on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fifth of the postseason, assisted by Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstrom. New York tied it in the second period on a Kevin Hayes power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers won 2-1 in overtime with a Derek Stepan goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Dan Girardi and Keith Yandle. The three stars went to Stepan, Lundqvist (35 for 36 in saves), and Holtby (37 for 39 in saves). The Rangers advance on a 4-3 series win, and they will meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.

Just a note that the Conference Final series will be in the classic, one-post-per-series format. Keep an eye out for that, and follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

DC United VS. Orlando City SC

As the title indicates, there's one midweek soccer game. The goalies are Donovan Ricketts and Bill Hamid. Orlando City struck first in the eleventh minute with a Cyle Larin goal, assisted by Aurelien Collin. Orlando City took yellow cards for Luke Boden's foul in the sixtieth minute and Eric Avila not retreating in the sixty-third minute. DC tied it on a seventieth minute goal by Kofi Opare, coming off of Taylor Kemp. United took the lead in the seventy-ninth minute on a Chris Rolfe goal, via Jairo Arrietea and Davy Arnaud. In stoppage time, DC's Kemp had a yellow card for a foul. DC held on for a 2-1 win, with the man of the match being Rolfe.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

NHL Atlantic Division Final: Montreal Canadiens VS. Tampa Bay Lightning Game 6

In this game, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ben Bishop are the goalies. Tampa Bay began in the first period on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his fifth of the postseason, with a lone assist by Ondrej Palat. The Lightning added on in the second period as Steven Stamkos scored his third of the playoffs, thanks to Alex Killorn and Matthew Carle. Tampa Bay extended the lead with a Palat power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Kucherov and Anton Stralman. Montreal got on the board in the third period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his fifth of the playoffs, fueled by Brendan Gallagher. The Lightning finished it at 4-1 with a Kucherov empty net goal, his second of the game and sixth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Kucherov, Palat, and Stamkos. The Lightning advance to the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of tomorrow's game with a 4-2 series win of their own.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Premier League Week 36

Another full weekend of games as things wind down. In the news, Burnley has been relegated for next season. We begin with...

Everton hosting Sunderland. Costel Pantilimon and Tim Howard are the goalies. In the forty-second minute, Wes Brown of Sunderland received a yellow card. Sunderland began in the fifty-third minute with a Danny Graham goal, passed from Jordi Gomez. Sunderland took yellow cards for a Gomez foul in the sixty-fifth minute and a Jermain Defoe foul in the sixty-sixth minute. In the seventy-third minute, Everton's Seamus Coleman took a yellow card for his foul. Sunderland added on with a Defoe goal at close range in the eighty-fifth minute. In the eighty-eighth minute, Luke Garbutt of Everton took a yellow card for his foul. Sunderland took the game 2-0.

Down to Aston Villa welcoming West Ham United. Adrian and Shay Given make the starts in goal. Aston Villa was first to score on a Tom Cleverley goal in the thirty-first minute, set up by a cross from Jack Grealish. Charles N'Zogbia of Aston Villa received a yellow card in first half stoppage time for a foul. West Ham United had a yellow card given to Alexandre Song in the seventy-second minute for his foul. The final favored Aston Villa 1-0.

Next up, Hull City brings in Burnley. Tom Heaton and Steve Harper are in the six-yard boxes. Burnley opened with a sixty-second minute goal by Danny Ings. Hull City took a booking on Nikica Jelavic's yellow card in the sixty-seventh minute. In the seventy-ninth minute, Ings received a yellow card for a foul. Burnley held on to win 1-0, but results around the league sealed their relegation fate.

Moving along to Leicester City hosting Southampton. Paulo Gazzaniga and Kasper Schmeichel are set to start in goal. Leicester City struck first in the seventh minute with a Riyad Mahrez goal, assisted by Leonardo Ulloa on a headed pass. In the nineteenth minute, Mahrez added on for Leicester City, with the help of Jamie Vardy. Leicester City's Marcin Wasilewski took a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-first minute. Leicester City held on for a 2-0 win.

In the north, Newcastle United welcome West Bromwich Albion. Boaz Myhill and Tim Krul protect the nets. In the thirty-first minute, Jonas Gutierrez of Newcastle United took a yellow card for a foul. West Brom led off in the thirty-second minute with a Victor Anichebe header goal, passed from Craig Gardner's cross after a set piece. In the forty-first minute, Newcastle United tied it on an Ayoze Perez goal, made possible by Ryan Taylor's cross after a set piece. In the fifty-second minute, West Brom saw a yellwo card given to Craig Dawson for a foul. Newcastle United had a yellow card given to Taylor in the seventy-ninth minute for a foul. West Brom took two more bookings, both yellow cards for James Morrison in the eighty-second minute and Claudio Yacob in the eighty-sixth minute, adn both for fouls. The final stood at 1-1.

Continuing to Stoke City bringing in Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Jack Butland are the keepers. In the sixteenth minute, Vlad Chiriches of Tottenham Hotspur took a yellow card for a foul. Stoke City got going in the twenty-first minute with a close range header by Charlie Adam. Stoke City added on with a thirty-second minute goal by Steven N'Zonzi. In the fifty-first minute, Chiriches of Tottenham Hotspur took a second yellow card for another foul and put his team at ten men. In the eighty-sixth minute, Stoke City added on with a Mame Biram Diouf goal, courtesy of Marko Arnautovic on a cross. Stoke City cruised to a 3-0 win.

Finishing up Saturday, Crystal Palace hosts Manchester United. David de Gea and Julian Speroni are the gloved men. Manchester United started in the nineteenth minute on a penalty kick goal by Juan Mata. In the fifty-fifth minute, Ander Herrera of Manchester United took a yellow card for his foul. Crystal Palace tied it with a fifty-seventh minute goal by Jason Puncheon from a free kick. Marouane Fellaini gave Manchester United the lead again in the seventy-eighth minute with a header goal at close range, set up by Ashley Young's cross. Manchester United took a 2-1 victory.

On Sunday, Manchester City welcomes the Queens Park Rangers. Robert Green and Joe Hart are the keepers. Manchester City dented the scoreboard in the fourth minute on a Sergio Aguero goal. In the thirty-second minute, Manchester City added on with an Aleksandar Kolarov goal from a free kick. Manchester City extended the lead in the fiftieth minute with an Aguero goal coming off of a fast break. QPR took a yellow card for Joey Barton's sixty-second minute foul. Manchester City padded the lead as Aguero converted a penalty kick in the sixty-fifth minute. Manchester City kept going as James Milner scored in the seventieth minute, with the help of Aguero after a corner kick. Manchester City iced it at 6-0 with a David Silva goal at close range in the eighty-seventh minute, set up by Wilfried Bony's through ball.

The other Sunday game sees Chelsea bring in Liverpool. Simon Mignolet and Thibaut Courtois are the gloved men. Chelsea had a yellow card given to Cesc Fabregas in the second minute. In the fifth minute, Chelsea began with a John Terry header goal, passed from Fabregas on cross after a corner kick. Liverpool took three straight yellow cards, going to Adam Lallana in the twentieth minute, Martin Skrtel in the twenty-sixth minute, and Rickie Lambert in the twenty-ninth minute, all for fouls. Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic took a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. Liverpool tied it on a Steven Gerrard header goal in the forty-fourth minute, via Jordan Henderson's cross after a set piece. Chelsea had two more yellow cards, going to John Obi Mikel in the fifty-eighth minute and Filipe Luis in the eighty-second minute, both for fouls. The score held at 1-1.

Finally, on Monday, Arsenal hosts Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and David Ospina make the starts in goal. Swansea City took a yellow card for Jonjo Shelvey's foul in the thirty-eighth minute. Swansea City got going late on a Bafetimbi Gomis header goal in the eighty-fifth minute, passed from Jefferson Montero on a cross. This stood up for a 1-0 win.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

NHL Division Finals Day 11

Two games today, beginning with...

The Washington Capitals welcoming the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby are the goalies. New York opened in the first period on a Chris Kreider goal, his fourth of the postseason, fueled by Jesper Fast and Kevin Klein. The Rangers added on with a power play goal by Kreider, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, powered by Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan. Washington got on the board in the second period with a Jason Chimera goal, his third of the postseason, guided in by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Joel Ward. New York shot back in the third period on a Rick Nash goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Martin St. Louis and Brassard. The Rangers extended the lead as Dan Boyle scored his second of the postseason, thanks to James Sheppard and J.T. Miller. The Capitals got one back on a Kuznetsov goal, his fifth of the playoffs, assisted by Karl Alzner and Ward. Washington pulled closer with a Ward goal, his third of the postseason, helped along by Chimera and John Carlson. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars handed to Kreider, Ward, and Brassard, while Kuznetsov and Chimera get the honorable mentions. The series is tied at 3 and game 7 is at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Out west, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Frederik Andersen man the nets. Calgary started in the first period on a Jiri Hudler power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Dennis Wideman and Kris Russell. Anaheim tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Ryan Kesler, his fourth of the playoffs, via Jakob Silfverberg and Cam Fowler. The Flames retook the lead on a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his fourth of the postseason, coming off of Hudler and Wideman. The Ducks tied it with a Matt Beleskey power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, courtesy of Francois Beauchemin and Silfverberg. Anaheim won 3-2 in overtime on a Corey Perry goal, his seventh of the postseason, made possible by Patrick Maroon and Fowler. The three stars went to Silfverberg, Hudler, and Fowler, while Wideman gets an honorable mention. The Ducks will play the Chicago Blackhawks for the Western Conference title after defeating the Flames 4-1 in the series.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Major League Soccer Week 10

All teams in action over the next three days, with two games on Friday to get us going. We begin in...

Florida, as Orlando City SC hosts the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth and Donovan Ricketts are the veteran goalies. New England opened in the nineteenth minute with a Charlie Davies goal, via Scott Caldwell. Orlando City's Brek Shea took a yellow card for a thirty-first minute foul. The Revolution saw a yellow card for a London Woodberry foul in the thirty-eighth minute. In first half stoppage time, Rafael Ramos of Orlando City took a yellow card for a foul. New England's Jermaine Jones was booked on a yellow card for his fifty-third minute foul. Orlando City took another yellow card in the sixty-fifth minute for a foul by Kaka. The Revolution added on in the seventy-first minute on a Kelyn Rowe goal. In the seventy-fifth minute, Orlando City got on the board with a Cyle Larin goal, passed from Ramos. Carlos Rivas of Orlando City had a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-sixth minute. New England saw a yellow card go to Caldwell for time wasting in the eighty-fourth minute. He didn't waste enough, as Orlando City tied the game in the ninetieth minute with an Aurelien Collin goal, set up by Luke Boden. This made it 2-2, the final, with the man of the match being Collin for his equalizer.

Out west, Friday's other game has the Colorado Rapids welcoming the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Clint Irwin man the nets. San Jose started in the nineteenth minute on a Chris Wondolowski goal, passed from Sanna Nyassi. Colorado took a yellow card for a foul by Drew Moor in the twenty-sixth minute. In the fifty-second minute, the Rapids' Sam Cronin took a yellow card for his foul. The Earthquakes saw Bingham get booked for time wasting a minute into stoppage time, but much like the last game, he didn't waste enough time. Colorado tied it two minutes later on a James Riley goal. This made it 1-1, the final, with the man of the match honors bestowed upon Riley for his late goal to salvage a point.

Saturday has six games, the first of which with the Chicago Fire bringing in Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Sean Johnson are in the six-yard boxes. Salt Lake led off in the thirteenth minute with an Alvaro Saborio goal, passed from Jordan Allen. Real's Luke Mulholland took a yellow card for his twenty-seventh minute foul. Chicago took a yellow card for a foul by Guly in the thirty-second minute. Salt Lake's Allen was booked in the fiftieth minute on a yellow card for a foul. Real added on with a Mulholland goal in the fifty-sixth minute, assisted by Devon Sandoval and Allen. The Fire's Matt Polster received a yellow card for his seventieth minute foul. Chicago got on the board in the eighty-eighth minute with a penalty kick goal by Jeff Larentowicz. Real still took the game 2-1, and Allen was the man of the match with a pair of assists on the goals he did great work to create.

Up in Montreal, the Impact host the Portland Timbers. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Evan Bush receive the starting nods. Portland began in the sixty-fourth minute with a Nat Borchers goal. The Timbers added on in the seventieth minute with a Diego Valeri goal, passed from Rodney Wallace. Montreal got on the board with a seventy-first minute goal by Dominic Oduro. The Impact took a yellow card for Ignacio Piatti's dissent in the seventy-eighth minute. The final stood at 2-1 for Portland, and Valeri's winner was good enough for the man of the match award.

Back stateside, DC United welcome Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Bill Hamid are set to start in goal. Kansas City took a yellow card for a Roger Espinoza foul in the ninth minute. DC took a yellow card in the forty-first minute for a Davy Arnaud foul. United began in the forty-second minute on a Jairo Arrieta goal, passed from Chris Pontius and Perry Kitchen. Sporting tied it on a forty-fifth minute goal by Dominic Dwyer, set up by Espinoza. In the eighty-first minute, Kansas City's backup keeper Luis Marin received a yellow card while on the bench for interfering with the ball on the sideline. The final stayed at 1-1, and Hamid was the man of the match for four saves on five shots to preserve a draw against a bold road team.

Way out west, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC bring in the Philadelphia Union. Brian Sylvestre is mismatched with David Ousted in goal. Vancouver struck first in the thirty-second minute with a Pedro Morales goal, fueled by Cristian Techera. The Whitecaps added on with an Octavio Rivero goal in the forty-fourth minute. Philadelphia went down to ten men in the seventy-eighth minute with a straight red card going to Richie Marquez for his foul. Vancouver's Techera got a yellow card in the eightieth minute for encroachment. The Whitecaps extended the lead on a Darren Mattocks goal in the eighty-first minute, coming off of Morales. The final stood at 3-0, and the man of the match was Morales.

Back east, the Columbus Crew SC host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Steve Clark are the gloved men. Columbus was first to score in the tenth minute with a Kei Kamara goal, passed from Waylon Francis. Seattle tied it on a Clint Dempsey goal in the twenty-fourth minute, courtesy of Marco Pappa. The Crew's Emanuel Pogatetz had a yellow card for his forty-fourth minute foul. Columbus took the lead back in the forty-ninth minute on a Federico Higuain goal, assisted by Ethan Finlay. The Crew added on with a fifty-eighth minute Kamara goal, made possible by Hector Jimenez and Justin Meram. The Sounders got one back in the seventy-fifth minute on a Dempsey goal. In the seventy-fifth minute, Seattle's Gonzalo Pineda and Columbus' Kamara received yellow cards for an argument. In stoppage time, the Crew's Aaron Schoenfeld took a yellow card for a foul. The final held at 3-2 Columbus, and Kamara was the man of the match with his brace and game-winner.

Closing out Saturday, FC Dallas welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jaime Penedo and Dan Kennedy are between the posts. Dallas took a yellow card for a thirty-third minute Moises Hernandez foul. Los Angeles saw a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul by Dan Gargan. The Galaxy got going in the fifty-ninth minute on a Gyasi Zardes goal, passed from Stefan Ishizaki. Los Angeles' Ishizaki was booked in the sixty-fifth minute for a foul. Dallas tied it in the seventy-seventh minute on a Blas Perez goal, set up by Mauro Diaz. Dallas took the lead in the eighty-sixth minute as Tesho Akindele scored, thanks to Diaz. This made it 2-1, the final, and Diaz's two assists made him the man of the match.

On Sunday, Toronto FC brings in the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric and Chris Konopka are the goalies. Toronto's Benoit Cheyrou took a yellow card for his twelfth minute foul. Houston got going in the forty-fourth minute with an Oscar Garcia goal. The Dynamo added on in the fifty-third on a Willd Bruin goal, set up by Giles Barnes. Toronto got on the board in the seventy-seventh minute on a Jozy Altidore goal, passed from Jonathan Osorio. In stoppage time, Houston's Leonel Miranda took a yellow card for time wasting. The Dynamo won 2-1, and Bruin was the man of the match for his winner.

Finally, the first ever New York derby occurred with the New York Red Bulls hosting New York City FC. Josh Saunders and Luis Robles draw the starts in goal. The Red Bulls began in the fourth minute on a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, via Lloyd Sam. The Red Bulls went down to ten men when Matt Miazga took yellow cards in the eighteenth and thirty-sixth minute, earning himself an ejection. The Red Bulls added on with a Wright-Phillips goal in the fifty-second minute, passed from Sacha Kljestan and Sam. In the fifty-ninth minute, the Red Bulls' Kemar Lawrence received a yellow card for a foul. NYCFC got on the board in the seventy-sixth minute with a Patrick Mullins goal, coming off of RJ Allen and Kwadwo Poku. NYCFC took three straight yellow cards late, given to Allen in the eighty-second minute, Poku in the eighty-seventh minute, and Mehdi Ballouchy in the eighty-eighth minute, all for fouls. The Red Bulls took a yellow card on a Kljestan foul in the ninetieth minute. The final stood at 2-1, and the man of the match was Wright-Phillips with a brace.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.