Monday NHL recap

There were a total of six games this past Monday, most of which being overly high scoring, so this should be a rather lengthy post. In baseball news, Cliff Lee signed a surprising deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, making them quite the potent team, considering their top four starting pitchers. Back to hockey, as we start with a game at...

The Joe Louis Arena, where the Detroit Red Wings hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jimmy Howard got the start for the Red Wings, while Jonathan Quick was sent to guard the Kings cage. Los Angeles broke the scoring open with Wayne Simmonds, who tallied his fifth of the season in the first period, assisted by Matt Greene and Alexei Ponikarovsky. Oscar Moller extended this lead in the second period, with his first of the year helped along by Kyle Clifford and Drew Doughty. Anze Kopitar made it 4-0 with two rather quick goals in the early third period, his 12th and 13th of the season, with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams assisting the first, and Doughty picking up the helper for the second. Jack Johnson made it 5-0 with his second of the year, a power play goal from Doughty and Brown, and this ended up being the final. Jonathan Quick was the first star with a fabulous 51(!) save shutout, followed by Doughty, who recorded the infamous sock trick, and Jack Johnson got the third star for his goal.

Moving north of the border for the Ottawa Senators, who welcomed the visiting Atlanta Thrashers to Scotiabank Place. Ondrej Pavelec got the duties for the Thrashers, while Brian Elliott tended the Senators twine. Jim Slater struck first, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead with his fifth of the year, helped by Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn. Bryan Little extended the lead with his eighth of the season, made possible by Thorburn and Dustin Byfuglien. Over a period later, Byfuglien added his own, the eleventh on the campaign for him, from Rich Peverley and Nik Antropov. Daniel Alfredsson and Ottawa answered under a minute later, with his ninth of the year going unassisted. Chris Neil cut the Thrasher lead farther with his second of the year, assisted by Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Kelly in the third period. Jason Spezza then evened the game on a penalty shot, good for his eighth goal of the season. This was made possible by Zach Bogosian's holding penalty. The 3-3 tie lasted into overtime, where Bryan Little potted his second of the night and ninth of the season, which went unassisted and gave Atlanta a 4-3 win over the Senators. Little earned the first star for his two big goals, followed by Byfuglien, who had a goal and an assist. Nick Foligno earned the third star in his team's losing effort for reasons escaping my knowledge.

Traveling back stateside, into Nashville where the Predators hosted the lowly New York Islanders. Anders Lindback was taking care of the net for the Predators, while Dwayne Roloson was the poor sap dealt with guarding the Islanders net. Sergei Kostitsyn opened the scoring for Nashville, with his fourth of the year being a power play goal, courtesy of Cody Franson and Martin Erat. Patric Hornqvist extended the Nashville lead with his seventh of the season, from Shane O'Brien. Jerred Smithson added on with his third of the season, helped along by Kostitsyn and Ryan Suter. Hornqvist added another goal in the third period, his second of the night and eighth of the year, assisted by Franson. Topping it off was Nick Spaling, scoring his first of the year on the power play, via Shea Weber and Steve Sullivan. The Predators finished up 5-0 over New York, with Anders Lindback's 28 save shutout being first star worthy, followed by Hornqvist's two goals, and Kostitsyn's goal and assist.

Going into the Rocky Mountains, where the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Chicago Blackhawks. Craig Anderson received the starting honors for Colorado, while Marty Turco got the netminding job for Chicago. Brandon Yip started things off quickly for the Avalanche, scoring his seventh of the season, assisted by Kevin Porter and Paul Stastny. Troy Brouwer answered with his own seventh of the season, this one coming on the power play with Tomas Kopecky and Jonathan Toews picking up the helpers. Stastny retook the lead for Colorado with his 13th of the season, helped by Yip. The Blackhawks responded again, after some time, with a Jack Skille goal, his fourth of the year being assisted by Toews and Viktor Stalberg. Colorado once again retook the lead, only twenty-three seconds later thanks to the third of the season by Cody McLeod, and assists from Philippe Dupuis and Ryan O'Reilly. Bryan Bickell re-tied it for the Blackhawks late in the first period, with his seventh of the year coming from Brouwer and Jake Dowell. Matt Duchene continued the call and respond pattern in the second period, scoring his tenth early, from Greg Mauldin, good enough to yank the Chicago starter Marty Turco out, who was replaced by Corey Crawford. Jeremy Morin took his time getting it tied at 4 for Chicago, scoring his second of the year late in the second period, unassisted. Brouwer produced the first Blackhawk lead in the game with his eighth of the year and second of the night, coming on the power play from Duncan "no teeth" Keith and Patrick Sharp. Tomas Fleischmann answered later with his sixth of the year from David Jones and Duchene, the latter of which added his second of the night and eleventh of the year a minute later, assisted by Fleischmann, giving the Avalanche a 6-5 lead. Ryan O'Reilly's third of the year put it away, with the empty net goal being helped by Fleischmann and Stastny. Duchene earned the first star with his two goals and one assist, followed by Brouwer, who had the same but in a loss, and lastly by Fleischmann, who had a goal and two assists. There was also one fight between Chicago's John Scott and Colorado's David Koci.

Getting out of the shooting gallery, and going to Calgary, where the Flames hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets. Miikka Kiprusoff was allowed to start for Calgary, while Steve Mason got the nod for the Blue Jackets. Jarome Iginla opened the scoring early with his 13th of the season, assisted by Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano. Brendan Morrison chased the Columbus starter Mason with his fifth of the year, from Niklas Hagman and Anton Babchuk. Mathieu Garon came on in relief. Antoine Vermette got Columbus on the board late in the second period with his ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal from Andrew Murray and Mike Commodore. Rick Nash tied it in the third period with his 17th of the season, from Kris Russell and Vermette on the power play. The 2-2 tie held up until Iginla broke it with his second of the night and 14th of the year in overtime. Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich picked up the helpers on the game winner. Iginla was given the first star for his two goals, followed by Nash, who had one goal in the loss, and Jay Bouwmeester got the third star for inconceivable reasons.

We stop in San Jose, where the Sharks hosted the Dallas Stars in a division rivalry. Andrew Raycroft tended the visiting net, and Antti Niemi was in between the San Jose pipes. Jamie Benn opened the scoring, putting the Stars on top first with his seventh of the year, assisted by Mike Rebeiro and Nicklas Grossman. Derek Joslin tied it with his first of the year for the Sharks, assisted by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Ryane Clowe gave Sane Jose the lead with his ninth of the year, helped by Benn Ferriero and Jason Demers. Dallas re-tied it with a power play goal from Rebeiro, with helpers from Stephane Robidas and Steve Ott. After the third period and overtime remained tied at 2, Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski exchanged shootout barbs before Brad Richards won it for the Stars, 3-2. Andrew Raycroft was the first star, going 31 for 33 in saves, followed by opposing and losing netminder Antti Niemi, who went 29 for 31 in saves. Rebeiro was the third star with a goal and an assist.

That's all there was to it on Monday. Tuesday's games, all two of them, will be recapped tomorrow. Also, apologies to Ryane Clowe, whose name I've been spelling wrong all this time. I'll make sure I get all those unnecessary e's in there. 

Fantasy Football All-Stars, week 14

This week had some blowouts, some close ones, and possibly foreshadowing of the playoffs soon upon us all. Here's the best players to own this week.

Quarterback: Matt Schaub and Michael Vick
Running Back: Darren McFadden and Michael Turner
Wide Receiver: DeSean Jackson and Andre Johnson
Tight End: Jason Witten and Bo Scaife
Kicker: Jay Feely and Jeff Reed

That's all for this weeks all-stars. Good luck to any and every person in the playoffs, unless you happen to play me, in which case, game on!

Monday Night Football 2-pack!

As the title would imply, we have two Monday Night games for your reading enjoyment. First off was the two-road team game, with the Minnesota Vikings "hosting" the New York Giants at Ford Field in Detroit. Ryan Longwell started the scoring for the Vikings with a 21 yard field goal. Brandon Jacobs answered in the second quarter with a 1 yard run for a touchdown, followed by a Lawrence Tynes extra point. Eli Manning found Kevin Boss for 6 yards late in the second quarter, good for a touchdown with Tynes supplying the extra point, making it 14-3 at halftime. Ahmad Bradshaw extended the lead to 21-3 with his 48 yard touchdown run, and Tynes added the extra point. This score would hold up to be the final, with New York improving to 9-4, also dropping Minnesota to 5-8.

The second game was in Houston, featuring the host Texans and the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Willis McGahee got Baltimore going first, with a 1 yard touchdown run, followed by Billy Cundiff's extra point. Joe Flacco connected on two touchdown passes to Derrick Mason in the second quarter, from 9 and 26 yards, and after Cundiff added both extra points, the Ravens had a 21-0 lead. Houston entered the scoring scene with a Matt Schaub touchdown to Andre Johnson, for 46 yards. Neil Rackers supplied the extra point. Baltimore was receiving at the start of the second half, and return man David Reed did his job, taking it back 103 yards to the end zone, with Cundiff adding the extra point for that touchdown. Rackers then supplied two field goals to make it 28-13, from 24 and 42 yards. Schaub kept the Texans scoring with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, and with Rackers' extra point, it was 28-20. Schaub found Johnson again later in the fourth quarter, for a touchdown of 5 yards, before he threw to Jacoby Jones on the two point conversion, to tie it up at 28, sending it to overtime. Josh Wilson gave Baltimore the 34-28 win with his 12 yard interception of Schaub, which improved the Ravens to 9-4, and dropped the Texans down to 5-8.

That's all we've got here. Check out Fantasy Football All-Stars week 14 tomorrow, along with a hockey recap. Honorable mention to Brett Favre's ironman streak of 297 straight games, and may that streak rest in peace.

Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, week 9

We'll get right into this one, no preface needed.

Center: Sidney Crosby, 3 goals, 2 assists, +6, 10 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 12 shots on goal
Left Wing: Ryan Clowe, 3 goals, 5 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 16 shots on goal
Right Wing: Corey Perry, 4 goals, 3 assists, +4, 6 penalty minutes, 4 power play points, 16 shots on goal
Defensemen: Keith Yandle, 1 goal, 3 assists, +1, 0 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 8 shots on goal
Goaltender: Anders Lindback, 2 wins, 1.66 goals against average, 91 saves, .948 save percentage, 1 shutout

Those are the best hockey players you'll see this week. Hope they helped you to a fantasy victory or boosted your rotisserie points. We'll catch this again next week.

Song of the Week III

This week we have a classic, disco-themed song from the Rolling Stones, Emotional Rescue. Done in 1979, this is one of their hits, off of the Jump Back hits album. It is noted that Keith Richards and Mick Jagger had somewhat different views on the direction of the band, thus the mix between Disco and Rock was formed. Like Miss You, this song personifies that blend of styles from both writers.

That's all for this week, and the next one will be out next week.

Sunday Night Football week 14

Tonight's game features the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to see NFC East division rivals from Dallas, at Cowboys stadium. (holds back unnecessary "Cowboys Suck" comment). Michael Vick got the Eagles on the board first, with a 1 yard touchdown run and ensuing David Akers extra point. Jon Kitna answered later with a 1 yard touchdown pass to Jason Witten, with David Buehlar tacking on the extra point. Vick found Todd Herremans in the second quarter for 2 yard and the touchdown, with Akers providing the extra point. Coming upon the end of the first half, Buehler nailed a 50 yard field goal, making it 14-10 Eagles at halftime. Buehler came out kicking with a 43 yard field goal early in the third quarter. Felix Jones gave the Cowboys the lead with a 3 yard touchdown run, and Buehler kicked an extra point home to make it 20-14 Dallas. David Akers added a couple field goals to tie it, from 39 yards in the third quarter, and then 50 yards in the fourth. Vick then found DeSean Jackson for a 91 yard touchdown, with Akers making it 27-20, before he added on a 28 yard field goal. Kitna responded by finding Witten for 22 yards, and Buehler added his extra point, but the Cowboys couldn't muster any more offense, and lost in a heartbreaking fashion, 30-27. The Eagles improved to 9-4, and the Cowboys dropped to 4-9.

NHL Sunday recap (same day)

Due to the three games already being completed, I'll get this post out now instead of later so I'm not accused of being lazy. We start in the Madison Square Garden...

Where the New York Rangers hosted the Washington Capitals. Henrik Lundqvist started for the Rangers, While Semyon Varlamov got the nod for the Capitals. Brandon Prust opened the scoring with his fourth of the year, assisted by Alexander Frolov and Brian Boyle. Artem Anisimov scored his eighth of the year early in the second period to extend the New York lead. It was unassisted, and followed relatively shortly by Marian Gaborik's ninth of the season, with the helpers from Marc Staal and Michal Rozsival on the power play. Brandon Dubinsky kept the Rangers going with his 14th of the season, courtesy of Dan Girardi and Anisimov. Staal than added a shorthanded goal, his sixth mark of the season, assisted by Boyle and Prust. Ryan Callahan had a pair of goals in the third period, to make it 7-0. Dubinsky and Girardi assisted on the first one, and the second one required no help. There were also three fights, the first two of which in the second period, between Washington's Matt Hendricks and New York's Mike Sauer, followed by Alex Ovechkin and Dubinsky, and then the last one in the third between Matt Hendricks and Sean Avery. As for the three stars, Marc Staal was the first with a goal and an assist, followed by Henrik Lundqvist, who had a 31 save shutout, and Dubinsky, who had a Gordie Howe hat trick, with a goal, assist, and fight.

Going cross-country to Anaheim, where the Ducks hosted the Minnesota Wild. Jonas Hiller was in front of Ducks cage, while Niklas Backstrom was given netminding duties for Minnesota. Corey Perry struck early for the Ducks, scoring his 14th of the season nineteen seconds into the game, assisted by Bobby Ryan. Brent Burns answered with his ninth of the year for the Wild, and this one was helped by Martin Havlat and Mikko Koivu. Ryan Getzlaf got the lead back for Anaheim with his ninth of the season, assisted by Ryan and Perry. Getzlaf also scored in the second period, his tenth of the year and second of the night, coming from Perry and Lubomir Visnovsky on the power play. Marek Zidlicky answered with his fourth of the year, also a power play goal, assisted by Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. Perry netted his 15th of the year and second of the night on a penalty shot, resulting from a Martin Havlat hooking call. Bobby Ryan made it 5-2 Ducks with his 14th of the season, assisted by Toni Lydman and Visnovsky. Perry completed the hat trick in the third period, with his 16th of the year, assisted by Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. The Ducks would cruise to a 6-2 victory over Minnesota. Perry was the first star, with three goals and two assists, a fabulous five point night, followed by Getzlaf, who had two goals and an assist, and lastly Bobby Ryan, who had one goal and two assists.

Heading north to Canada, where the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo was in front of the Canuck net, and Devan Dubnyk got the start for Edmonton. Alexandre Burrows opened the scoring with his fifth of the year for Vancouver, assisted by the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. Henrik scored his own goal in the second period, also his fifth of the season, from Daniel and Ryan Kesler. Jordan Eberle scored his sixth of the year late to get the Oilers on the board, a power play goal from Dustin Penner and Kurtis Foster, but it was far too late, and Vancouver won 2-1. Henrik Sedin's goal and assist were the first star, followed by Daniel's two assists, and Devan Dubnyk's 30 for 32 save performance in the loss earned the third star, as Roberto Luongo only faced 12 shots the whole game.

That's all there is to it. Keep watch for the Sunday Night Football post soon to follow, as well as Fantasy Hockey All-Stars and Song of the Week III on Monday. Monday Night Football will feature two games as well, and will be completed at the conclusion of the last game.