NWSL 2017: Week 2

We're onto the second week of the season, and we begin with...

The Chicago Red Stars hosting FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Alyssa Naeher play goal. Chicago opened in the forty-first minute with a Julie Johnston Ertz goal, assisted by Sofia Huerta. This stood for a 1-0 win, with Ertz the woman of the match for her consistent play as an attacking midfielder.

The Lifetime game of the week is the Orlando Pride welcoming the Washington Spirit. Stephanie Labbe and Ashlyn Harris protect the nets. Orlando's Laura Alleway took a yellow card for a fifty-ninth minute foul. Washington got going in the sixtieth minute on a Line Sigvardsen-Jensen goal. Kassey Kallman and Tori Huster of the Spirit each had yellow cards in the sixty-fifth and seventy-fifth minutes, for a dissent and a foul, respectively. The Pride tied it on a Danica Evans goal, passed from Chioma Ubogagu in the eighty-sixth minute. This made it 1-1, the final, with Sigvardsen-Jensen earning woman of the match honors for her goal.

Later on, the North Carolina Courage host the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Sabrina D'Angelo are the keepers. North Carolina's Yuri Kawamura took a yellow card for a foul in the twenty-seventh minute. Samantha Mewis of the Courage had a yellow card for her seventy-sixth minute foul. North Carolina dented the scoreboard in the eighty-first minute on a Debinha goal, assisted by Jessica McDonald. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the woman of the match being Debinha, who threatened all game before scoring.

Saturday ends with the Seattle Reign FC bringing in the Houston Dash. Jane Campbell and Haley Kopmeyer guard the woodwork. Seattle started in the eighteenth minute on a Jess Fishlock goal, passed from Christine Nairn. The Reign added on in the twenty-seventh minute with a Megan Rapinoe goal, courtesy of Fishlock. Seattle extended the lead with a Kristen McNabb goal in the thirty-first minute. The Reign padded the lead as Beverly Yanez scored in the fifty-fifth minute. Seattle continued with a seventy-fourth minute goal by Katie Johnson. The Reign's Rachel Corsie received a yellow card for a foul in the eighty-third minute. Houston got on the board with a Poliana goal in the eighty-fourth minute. Seattle won 5-1, with Fishlock as the woman of the match for her play both offensively and defensively.

Finally, on Sunday, the Boston Breakers host Sky Blue FC. Kailen Sheridan and Abby Smith are the goalies. Boston struck first in the thirty-seventh minute with a Natasha Dowie goal, set up by Rose Lavelle. The Breakers' Angela Salem had a yellow card for an eighty-sixth minute foul. Boston held on to win 1-0, with the woman of the match being Smith for her nine-save clean sheet in the win.

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Metropolitan Division Playoffs: 1) Washington Capitals VS. 4) Toronto Maple Leafs

It's playoff time in 2017, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup begins. This series features the Metropolitan Division champion Washington Capitals against the wild card Toronto Maple Leafs.

Game 1: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Toronto led off in the first period with a Mitchell Marner goal, assisted by James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. The Maple Leafs added on with a Jake Gardiner goal, going in unassisted. Washington got on the board with a Justin Williams power play goal, powered by T.J. Oshie and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Capitals tied it on another Williams goal in the second period, courtesy of Matt Niskanen and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington won 3-2 in overtime with a Tom Wilson goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were Williams, Wilson, and Holtby (35 for 37 in saves). The Capitals lead the series 1-0.

Game 2: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Toronto began in the first period with a James van Riemsdyk goal, helped along by Jake Gardiner and Tyler Bozak. Washington tied it in the second period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, powered by T.J. Oshie and Marcus Johansson. The Capitals took the lead on a John Carlson power play goal, with assists provided by Justin Williams and Andre Burakovsky. The Maple Leafs retied it on a Kasperi Kapanen goal, guided in by Matt Martin and Brian Boyle. Toronto took the lead with a Morgan Rielly power play goal, fueled by Mitchell Marner. Washington tied it again with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, assisted by Dmitry Orlov in the third period. The Maple Leafs won in double overtime with a Kapanen goal, his second of the game, made possible by Boyle and Martin. The three stars were Kapanen, Boyle, and Martin in the 4-3 game. The series heads north tied at 1.

Game 3: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs. Washington started in the first period with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Nate Schmidt and T.J. Oshie. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his second of the playoffs, made possible by Backstrom and Oshie. Toronto got on the board with an Auston Matthews goal, with a lone assist by Morgan Rielly. Washington replied in the second period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, passed from Marcus Johansson and Justin Williams. The Maple Leafs countered with a Nazem Kadri goal, helped along by Leo Komarov. Toronto tied it on a William Nylander goal, guided in by Matthews and Zach Hyman. The Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime with a Tyler Bozak power play goal, powered by Kadri and Rielly. The three stars belonged to Matthews, Kadri, and Rielly, while Backstrom and Oshie get the honorable mentions.

Game 4: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs. Washington opened in the first period with a T.J. Oshie goal, assisted by Nicklas Backstrom and Nate Schmidt. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Kevin Shattenkirk. Toronto tied it on a Zach Hyman goal, via Jake Gardiner and William Nylander. Washington answered with a Tom Wilson goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Lars Eller and Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals extended the lead as Wilson scored his second of the game and third of the postseason, coming off of Andre Burakovsky and Brooks Orpik. The Maple Leafs got closer with a James van Riemsdyk power play goal in the second period, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Morgan Rielly and Mitchell Marner. Toronto got closer in the third period with an Auston Matthews goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Matt Hunwick and Connor Brown. Washington shot back on an Oshie goal, his second of the game, with a lone helper by Backstrom. The Maple Leafs pulled one back with a Tyler Bozak goal, his second of the playoffs, passed from Marner and Nylander. This only made it 5-4, the final, with the three stars being Wilson, Oshie, and Backstrom, while Marner and Nylander get the honorable mentions. The series heads back stateside tied at 2.

Game 5: Verizon Center, Washington, DC. In goal: Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs and Braden Holtby for the Capitals. Washington struck first in the first period with a T.J. Oshie power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Nicklas Backstrom and Kevin Shattenkirk. Toronto tied it in the second period with an Auston Matthews goal, his third of the playoffs, via William Nylander and Zach Hyman. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime with a Justin Williams goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson. The three stars went to Williams, Oshie, and Holtby (24 for 25 in saves). The Capitals leave home again with a 3-2 series lead. 

Game 6: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario. In goal: Braden Holtby for the Capitals and Frederik Andersen for the Maple Leafs. Toronto got going in the third period with an Auston Matthews goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Morgan Rielly and Zach Hyman. Washington tied it on a Marcus Johansson goal, assisted by Lars Eller and Brooks Orpik. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime with a Johansson goal, his second of the game, made possible by Justin Williams and John Carlson. The three stars were Johansson, Holtby (37 for 38 in saves), and Andersen (34 for 36 in saves). The Capitals win the series 4-2, setting the Second Round as they are the last team to advance.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0, and keep an eye out for the next round, beginning Wednesday.

MLS 2017: Week 8

Full slate of games on this weekend, beginning with one on Friday in...

Canada, as Toronto FC hosts the Chicago Fire. Jorge Bava and Alexander Bono are the inexperienced goalies. Chicago's Dax McCarty took a yellow card for his fifteenth minute dissent. Johan Kappelhof of the Fire had a yellow card for a foul in the twenty-fourth minute. Toronto began in the twenty-eighth minute on a Sebastian Giovinco goal, courtesy of Victor Vazquez. Toronto added on with a thirty-second minute goal by Eriq Zavaleta, passed from Justin Morrow. Toronto extended the lead as Giovinco scored again in the eighty-second minute. Jonathan Osorio of Toronto had a yellow card for not retreating in the eighty-fifth minute. Chicago got on the board with an eighty-eighth minute David Accam goal, assisted by Luis Solignac. This only made it 3-1, the final, with the man of the match being Giovinco for his brace.

On Saturday, the first of seven games has the Philadelphia Union welcoming the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Andre Blake guard the woodwork. Philadelphia opened in the fifth minute on a Roland Alberg goal, via C.J. Sapong. The Union added on in the twenty-third minute with a Sapong goal, passed from Chris Pontius and Haris Medunjanin. Philadelphia extended the lead in the thirty-ninth minute with an Alberg penalty kick goal. Montreal got on the board in the forty-first minute with an Ignacio Piatti goal, assisted by Marco Donadel. Raymon Gaddis of the Union took a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. Alberg of Philadelphia received a yellow card for a fifty-sixth minute foul. The Impact's Piatti took a yellow card for his sixty-fifth minute foul. Montreal got closer with an Anthony Jackson-Hamel goal in the sixty-ninth minute, set up by Ambroise Oyongo. The Union's Alejandro Bedoya took a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-first minute. The Impact tied it on another Jackson-Hamel goal in the eighty-seventh minute. The game ended in a 3-3 draw, with the man of the match being Jackson-Hamel for his equalizing brace.

Down in Houston, the Dynamo bring in the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Joe Willis man the nets. Houston led off in the ninth minute with an Erick Torres penalty kick goal. In the thirty-second minute, Willis took a yellow card for time wasting, and Albert Elis, his Dynamo teammate, took a yellow card for a thirty-fourth minute foul. Florian Jungwirth of San Jose had a yellow card for a thirty-fifth minute foul. Shaun Francis of the Earthquakes took a yellow card for a forty-sixth minute foul. The Dynamo added on with a seventy-second minute goal by Elis, set up by Eric Alexander. Houston's Romell Quioto had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The game ended at 2-0, with Elis the man of the match.

Northwest to Portland, where the Timbers host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Jeff Attinella are the goalies. Portland started in the eighteenth minute with a Darlington Nagbe goal, assisted by David Guzman. The Timbers added on with a fortieth minute goal by Darren Mattocks, coming off of Diego Valeri and Nagbe. Andrew Jacobson of Vancouver had a yellow card for a forty-second minute foul. The Whitecaps got on the board in the fifty-ninth minute with a Fredy Montero goal. Vancouver's Jordan Harvey had a yellow card for a sixty-fourth minute foul. Portland saw a yellow card for Liam Ridgewell in the sixty-eighth minute for his foul. Sheanon Williams of the Whitecaps received a yellow card for an eighty-fifth minute foul. In stoppage time, Jack Barmby of the Timbers took a yellow card for a foul. The game ended 2-1, with Nagbe the man of the match for his role in the scoring.

Back east, the New England Revolution welcome DC United. Bill Hamid and Cody Cropper are the keepers. New England struck first in the fifth minute with a Lee Nguyen goal, assisted by Kei Kamara and Scott Caldwell. DC tied it on a Jared Jeffrey goal in the twenty-sixth minute. DC's Sebastien Le Toux had a yellow card for a twenty-seventh minute foul. DC took the lead with a Le Toux goal in the twenty-eighth minute, via Lloyd Sam. Antonio Mlinar Delamea had a yellow card for the Revolution in the thirty-ninth minute for a foul. New England tied it in the forty-eighth minute on a Sean Franklin own goal. Xavier Kouassi of the Revolution had a yellow card for an eighty-ninth minute foul. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with the man of the match being Le Toux.

In New Jersey, the New York Red Bulls bring in the Columbus Crew SC. Zack Steffen and Luis Robles are in the six-yard boxes. New York was first to score with an Alex Muyl goal in the eleventh minute, via Kemar Lawrence and Sacha Kljestan. The Red Bulls added on with a Daniel Royer penalty kick goal in the thirty-eighth minute. Robles of New York had a yellow card for time wasting in the sixty-third minute. Royer of the Red Bulls took a yellow card for a seventy-second minute foul. Ethan Finlay of Columbus had a yellow card for an eighty-third minute foul. The game ended at 2-0, with the man of the match being Muyl for his early decider.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas hosts Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Jesse Gonzalez protect the nets. Dallas got going in the seventy-seventh minute with a Maynor Figueroa goal, assisted by Michael Barrios and Hernan Grana. This made it 1-0, the final, with the man of the match being Figueroa.

Saturday ends with Real Salt Lake welcoming Atlanta United FC. Alec Kann and Nick Rimando draw the starts in goal. Atlanta opened in the ninth minute with a Hector Villalba goal. Kyle Beckerman of Salt Lake had a twenty-first minute yellow card for a foul. Carlos Carmona of Atlanta took a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute foul. Atlanta added on with a Yamil Asad goal in the forty-sixth minute, via Miguel Almiron. Real got on the board with an Albert Rusnak goal in the sixty-ninth minute, made possible by Luke Mulholland. Atlanta saw yellow cards for Greg Garza's seventy-seventh minute foul, and time wasting by Almiron in the eighty-fourth minute and Kann in stoppage time. Atlanta iced it at 3-1 with a Brandon Vazquez goal, passed from Julian Gressel. The man of the match was Asad for his winning tally.

On Sunday, New York City FC bring in Orlando City SC. Joe Bendik and Sean Johnson are in the six-yard boxes. New York City had a yellow card for a Maximiliano Moralez foul in the second minute. Orlando City dented the scoreboard in the thirty-first minute with a Cyle Larin goal, via Scott Sutter and Carlos Rivas. Andrea Pirlo of New York City took a yellow card for a forty-fifth minute foul. Orlando City added on with a Larin goal in the fifty-first minute, assisted by Donny Toia. David Villa of New York City had a yellow card for dissent in the fifty-fourth minute. Orlando City's Cristian Higuita received a yellow card for a fifty-seventh minute foul. Ethan White of New York City received a yellow card for a fifty-ninth minute foul. Tommy Redding of Orlando City earned a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-second minute. New York City got on the board with a Villa goal in the seventy-fourth minute, set up by Moralez. Orlando City's Antonio Nocerino took a yellow card for time wasting in the eighty-second minute, as did teammate Larin for a foul in stoppage time. The final was 2-1, with the man of the match being Larin for the brace.

Out in California, the Los Angeles Galaxy host the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Brian Rowe are the gloved men. Cristian Roldan of Seattle took a yellow card for his twenty-eighth minute foul. The Sounders drew first blood with a Clint Dempsey goal in the twenty-ninth minute, made possible by Nicolas Lodeiro and Joevin Jones. Seattle added on with an Ashley Cole own goal in the thirty-fifth minute. Los Angeles' Romain Alessandrini took a yellow card for a forty-first minute foul. The Sounders extended the lead as Jordan Morris scored in the forty-fourth minute, with the help of Dempsey and Jordy Delem. Tony Alfaro of Seattle had a yellow card for time wasting in the eighty-fourth minute. The Sounders won 3-0, and Dempsey was the man of the match for his goal and assist.

Finally, Minnesota United FC hosts the Colorado Rapids. Zac MacMath and Bobby Shuttleworth are in goal. Dominique Badji of Colorado had a yellow card for an eighteenth minute foul. Kevin Molino of Minnesota took a yellow card for persistent infringement in the thirty-third minute. Minnesota scored first with a Miguel Ibarra goal in the seventy-second minute, assisted by Johan Venegas. Mekeil Williams of the Rapids had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The game ended 1-0, with Ibarra named man of the match.

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Atlantic Division Playoffs: 2) Ottawa Senators VS. 3) Boston Bruins

It's playoff time in 2017, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup begins. This series features Atlantic Division rivals, the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.

Game 1: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Tuukka Rask of the Bruins and Craig Anderson of the Senators. Ottawa got going in the second period with a Bobby Ryan goal, via Erik Karlsson. Boston tied it on a Frank Vatrano goal in the third period, helped along by Riley Nash and Adam McQuaid. The Bruins took the lead with a Brad Marchand goal, made possible by Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars awarded to Rask (26 for 27 in saves), Marchand, and Vatrano. The Bruins lead the series 1-0.

Game 2: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Tuukka Rask of the Bruins and Craig Anderson of the Senators. Boston dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Drew Stafford goal, via David Backes and Zdeno Chara. Ottawa tied it on a Clarke MacArthur power play goal, powered by Bobby Ryan and Derick Brassard. The Bruins retook the lead with a Tim Schaller shorthanded goal, set up by Dominic Moore. Boston added on with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, with assists provided by David Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner. The Senators got one back with a Chris Wideman goal in the third period, made possible by Dion Phaneuf. Ottawa tied it on a Brassard goal, coming off of Erik Karlsson and Phaneuf. The Senators won 4-3 in overtime with a Phaneuf goal, passed from Mark Stone. The three stars were Phaneuf, Brassard, and Wideman. The series is tied at 1 as it heads stateside.

Game 3: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. Ottawa led off in the first period with a Mike Hoffman goal, via Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith. The Senators added on with a Derick Brassard goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Bobby Ryan and Viktor Stalberg. Ottawa extended the lead as Hoffman scored a power play goal in the second period, his second of the game, powered by Chris Wideman and Brassard. Boston got on the board with a Noel Acciari goal, assisted by John-Michael Liles and Riley Nash. The Bruins got closer with a David Backes goal, fueled by Liles and Tommy Cross. Boston tied it as David Pastrnak scored a power play goal, thanks to Charlie McAvoy and Ryan Spooner. The Senators won 4-3 in overtime with a Ryan power paly goal, his second of the playoffs, with assists provided by Kyle Turris and Karlsson. The three stars went to Hoffman, Ryan, and Karlsson, while Liles gets an honorable mention. The Senators now hold a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. Ottawa drew first blood in the third period on a Bobby Ryan goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Erik Karlsson and Derick Brassard. This proved to stand for 1-0 win for the Senators, with the three stars being Anderson (22 save shutout), Ryan, and Rask (26 for 27 in saves). The Senators head home with a 3-1 series lead in hand.

Game 5: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. In goal: Tuukka Rask of the Bruins and Craig Anderson of the Senators. Ottawa began in the first period with a Mark Stone goal, passed from Mike Hoffman and Derick Brassard. The Senators added on in the second period with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, via Viktor Stalberg and Alexandre Burrows. Boston got on the board with a David Pastrnak goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins tied it on a Sean Kuraly goal, assisted by David Backes and Joe Morrow. Boston won in double overtime by a 3-2 score on Kuraly's second of the game, helped along by Backes and Charlie McAvoy. The three stars were Kuraly, Rask (41 for 43 in saves), and Backes. The Senators still have a 3-2 series lead, but they are on the road in the next game. 

Game 6: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Craig Anderson for the Senators and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. Boston struck first in the first period with a Drew Stafford power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. Ottawa tied it in the second period on a Bobby Ryan power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Derick Brassard and Erik Karlsson. The Senators took the lead on a Kyle Turris goal, with a lone assist by Ryan Dzingel. The Bruins tied it in the third period with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Marchand and Colin Miller. Ottawa won 3-2 in overtime with a Clarke MacArthur power play goal, his second of the playoffs, made possible by Ryan and Brassard. The three stars were Ryan, Brassard, and Marchand. The Senators win the series 4-2, advancing to face the Rangers for the Atlantic Division title.