Against my plans, I will cover these games, at least the early ones, live. We start with...
The Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Sergei Bobrovsky will see game action tonight. Philadelphia strikes first on Jeff Carter's 20th of the season, an unassisted goal. Neuvirth was pulled from the Washington net during the intermission, being replaced by Semyon Varlamov. The Flyers extended the lead to 2-0 on Claude Giroux's 18th of the year, courtesy of Carter and Kimmo Timmonen. Washington started a comeback with Mike Knuble notching his eleventh of the year, with help from Marcus Johansson. Alex Ovechkin tied the game at 2 with his 16th of the season, a goal assisted by Jason Chimera and Nicklas Backstrom. The tie lasted into overtime, but it was short-lived with Philadelphia winning on the second of the year by Andrej Meszaros, with Matt Carle getting credit for an assist. Carter, Giroux, and Bobrovsky (23 for 25 saves) are the three stars.
Next, we travel across Pennsylvania, with the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Detroit Red Wings. Picking up the starts are Joey MacDonald and Marc-Andre Fleury. Jordan Staal has Pittsburgh up 1-0 with his third of the season, made possible by Tyler Kennedy. The Penguins make it 2-0 on the sixth of the year by Chris Conner, who converted a penalty shot from a Kris Draper hook. Detroit got on the board late in the second period with a Johan Franzen goal, his 20th of the season, made possible by Patrick Eaves and Henrik Zetterberg. Thirty seconds later, Chris Kunitz restored the two goal lead for Pittsburgh with his 16th of the campaign, assisted by Pascal Dupuis and Evgeni Malkin. Matt Cooke netted his ninth of the year for the Penguins, putting them up 4-1 with the empty net goal from Kennedy and Brooks Orpik. This was the final, with Fleury (36 for 37 saves), Conner, and Kennedy earning the three stars.
Down the East Coast to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins. In between the pipes are Tim Thomas and Cam Ward. Boston jumps out to the early lead with the third of the season by Marc Savard, a power play tally with help from Johnny Boychuk and Michael Ryder. Carolina answers late in the period also on the power play with Jussi Jokinen, who netted his eleventh of the season, thanks to All-Star Game captain Eric Staal and Joe Corvo. The Bruins took the lead back with Brad Marchand potting his tenth of the season, with help from Zdeno Chara and Mark Recchi. The Hurricanes tied the game again with Chad LaRose scoring his ninth of the season, thanks to Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Skinner. Boston retook the lead with Milan Lucic scoring his 17th of the year, from Recchi and Steve Kampfer on the power play. The final was 3-2, Boston over Carolina, with Tim Thomas (43 for 45 saves), Recchi, and Ruutu earning the three stars.
Farther south, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Columbus Blue Jackets. The starting goalies will be Mathieu Garon and Dwayne Roloson. Columbus struck first with an R.J. Umberger goal, his 16th of the season, thanks to Antoine Vermette and the goalie Mathieu Garon. Tampa Bay evened the score with the 34th of the year by Steven Stamkos, helped along by Victor Hedman. The Lightning take a 2-1 lead on Stamkos' second of the night and 35th of the season, a power play goal coming from Martin St. Louis and Teddy Purcell. Derick Brassard supplied the goal to retie the game for the Blue Jackets, his eleventh of the year getting help from Rick Nash and Jakub Voracek. Ryan Malone gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 win in the shootout with his lone tally. Roloson (28 for 30 saves), Stamkos, and Hedman earned the three stars.
North of the border, the Ottawa Senators are hosting the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Brian Elliott will receive the starting duties. Corey Perry opened the scoring for Anaheim with his 24th of the year, from Bobby Ryan and Matt Beleskey. There was a fight in the late first period between notorious pugilists George Parros of Anaheim and Matt Carkner of Ottawa. Mike Fisher tied the game for Ottawa on his 13th of the season, from Milan Michalek and Erik Karlsson. Anaheim did eventually take home a 2-1 win in the shootout on the lone tally by Bobby Ryan. Winning goalie Hiller (39 for 40 saves), losing goalie Elliott (26 of 27 stops), and Fisher got the three stars.
Coming just a bit back stateside, the Buffalo Sabres will host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ryan Miller will be stopping pucks at the ends of the ice. Montreal got the first goal of the game on David Desharnais' second of the season, a power play goal from Roman Hamrlik and James Wisniewski. Buffalo evens the score with Tyler Ennis on the power play for his eleventh of the season, with the helpers provided by Thomas Vanek and Tim Connolly. Buffalo took the game 2-1 in overtime with the Sabres scoring on the ninth of the year by Jason Pominville, a power play goal made possible by Vanek and Ennis. The three stars go to Ennis, Miller (29 for 30 saves), and Nathan Gerbe (nothing special).
Out west we have the St. Louis Blues hosting the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jaroslav Halak are in the creases for their teams. St. Louis strikes first with Patrik Berglund netting his ninth of the year, a power play marker made possible by Matt D'Agostini and Alex Pietrangelo. Los Angeles tied it on the first of the season by Matt Greene, with Brad Richardson and Kyle Clifford picking up the helpers. The Blues retook the lead in the third period with Erik Johnson putting away his fifth of the year, courtesy of Alex Steen and Eric Brewer. The final was 2-1 Blues over Kings, with T.J. Oshie, D'Agostini, and Justin Williams getting the official, albeit sketchy three stars. As an opinionated blogger, I would give three stars status to Erik Johnson, Jaroslav Halak (26 for 27 saves), and Alex Steen.
The Phoenix Coyotes are also playing a home game, hosting the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Ilya Bryzgalov will be facing the rubber. Nashville drew first blood with J.P. Dumont scoring his seventh of the season, assisted by Chris Mueller and Matt Halischuk. Patric Hornqvist made it 2-0 Predators with his 14th of the season, from David Legwand. Radim Vrbata answered for Phoenix, his tenth of the year making it 2-1 with assists going to Shane Doan and Keith Yandle on the power play goal. Lee Stempniak tied the game at 2 for the Coyotes with his eleventh of the year, from Adrian Aucoin and Sami Lepisto. Nashville took a 302 lead when Dumont recorded his eighth of the year and second of the night with help from Joel Ward and Martin Erat. The Predators ran the lead to 4-2 with Dumont completing his hat trick with his ninth of the season, helped along by Halischuk and Mueller. Hornqvist made it 5-2 for Nashville with his second of the night and 15th of the season, an unassisted goal. This would be the final, with Dumont, Halischuk, and Hornqvist earning the three stars.
Into the Rocky Mountains, where the Colorado Avalanche host the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Craig Anderson are responsible for guarding the nets. Alexander Edler puts Vancouver up first with his sixth of the year, a power play goal coming from Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. John-Michael Liles tied the game for Colorado with his sixth of the season, also a power play goal, helped along by Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny. The Canucks took the lead back with a goal by Kesler, a power play marker going as his 25th of the year, from Christian Ehrhoff and Edler. The Avalanche responded, tying the game at 2 on a David Jones goal, his 15th of the year coming off of Hejduk and Liles. Vancouver took the lead back again, with Sergei Shirokov making it 3-2, thanks to Dan Hamhuis and Mikael Samuelsson. Colorado will not be outdone, however, and tied the game at 3 as Hejduk netted his 15th of the season, thanks to Stastny and Liles on the man advantage. The tie was preserved into overtime, where the Avalanche won 4-3 on Jones' second of the night and 16th of the season, courtesy of Tomas Fleischmann and Kevin Shattenkirk on the power play. Hejduk, Liles, and Anderson (40 for 43 saves) got the three stars.
Finally, the Edmonton Oilers tee off the last game against the Minnesota Wild (no pun to the annual Edmonton tradition of early April golfing). Anton Khudobin and Nikolai Khabibulin get the starting nods tonight. Minnesota opens the scoring with Matt Cullen putting away his tenth of the season, assisted by Eric Nystrom and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The Wild extend their lead to 2-0 with Brent Burns netting his 13th of the year, thanks to Kyle Brodziak and Martin Havlat. Bouchard made it 3-0 for Minnesota with his third of the season, from Nystrom and Burns. Making it 4-0 Wild was Andrew Brunette, who struck with his 12th of the year on the power play, assisted by Cullen and Mikko Koivu. Magnus Paajarvu put Edmonton on the board in the third period with his sixth of the year, from Andrew Cogliano and Taylor Chorney. The final had the Wild over the Oilers 4-1, with Khudobin (31 for 32 saves), Bouchard, and Liam Reddox (huh?) as the three stars.
That's all for Tuesday. Wednesday's hockey may not come out until Thursday due to health problems in the family, so I thank you all in advance for your patience. As for the three stars, I do not make these up, it's official from the rinks, but they don't always make statistical sense. Feel free to, if you watch the games instead of the box scores, to justify inclusion/exclusion in three stars in the comments section of any post.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Song of the Week III, belated
This week, we are featuring a classic rock hit from Don Henley, entitled All She Wants to Do Is Dance. This song, released in 1984 on the album Building the Perfect Beast, has a very quick pace and rhythmic beauty, along with lyrics about the popular belief that having fun is better than serious work. It is, like all songs I own, a great song, and with the catchy tune, Don Henley has a great number out here with a fabulous hit. This post will be run at its proper time next week, pending my memory.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Martin Luther King day hockey
Seeing as today is a holiday, the NHL has six games on, three in the matinee time slot. The first of these has...
The Boston Bruins hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Tim Thomas were sent out to block pucks. Boston opened with a Mark Stuart goal, his first of the season getting help from Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid. Chara added two in a row for the Bruins to make it 3-0 with his eighth and ninth of the year, assisted by McQuaid first and David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron on the latter power play marker. Justin Peters came in to replace Cam Ward after the first Chara goal. Boston continued to score in the second period, with Gregory Campbell putting away his sixth of the season thanks to Shawn Thornton and Blake Wheeler, thirteen seconds before Bergeron stashed his 15th of the campaign in the mesh to make it 5-0 Bruins. Bergeron's goal was unassisted. Michael Ryder added on his 14th of the season in the third period, making it 6-0 with the assistance of Dennis Seidenberg and Steve Kampfer. Chara completed his hat trick on the power play with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Krejci and Milan Lucic, bringing the score to the 7-0 final. Chara, Tim Thomas (31 save shutout), and McQuaid got the three stars.
The other in the pair of early games was the New York Islanders hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Kevin Poulin were the starters. New Jersey opened the scoring with Vladimir Zharkov notching his first of the season, thanks to Mattias Tedenby and Jason Arnott. Fifty-seven seconds later, the Devils owned a 2-0 lead because of a power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk, his 13th tally of the year, from Andy Greene and Travis Zajac. Tedenby made it 3-0 New Jersey in the second period with his fifth of the year, from Mark Fraser and Rod Pelley. New York got on the board with P.A. Parenteau potting his eleventh of the season, helped along by Blake Comeau and Radek Martinek. Fifty-four seconds later, the Islanders deficit was down to one goal with Michael Grabner scoring his eleventh of the campaign, courtesy of Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic. Pelley got the Devils going again, his third of the year making it 4-2 with help from Fraser and Arnott. Again, fifty-four seconds later, the full lead was restored at a 5-2 margin, with Dainius Zubrus notching his seventh of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Brian Rolston. This would be the final after a scoreless third period, with Tedenby, Pelley, and Parenteau grabbing the three stars.
Out west to conclude the first half of the day's games, with the Phoenix Coyotes hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov got the starting nods. San Jose struck first on a Patrick Marleau goal, his 18th of the season getting assisted on by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Pavelski. Phoenix tied it on a Derek Morris goal, his fourth of the year, with help from Keith Yandle and Eric Belanger. Dany Heatley made it 2-1 Sharks in the second period with his 18th of the season, thanks to Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture added a power play goal for his 20th tally of the year, putting San Jose up 3-1 with the help of Dan Boyle and Heatley. The Coyotes cut the score to 3-2 with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his first of the season going after touches by Lauri Korpikoski and Lee Stempniak. Thornton put the game away 4-2 for the Sharks with his empty net goal, good for his 13th of the year as an unassisted goal. Heatley, Niemi (34 for 36 saves), and Ray Whitney got the three stars.
Following that at a normal time was the Florida Panthers hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Ondrej Pavelec and Scott Clemmensen were in front of the cages. Florida got on the board first in the third period with a power play goal by Dennis Wideman, his sixth of the year assisted by Mike Santorelli and Stephen Weiss. Dmitry Kulikov made it 2-0 with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, helped along by Cory Stillman and Weiss. Bryan Little got Atlanta on the board with his 13th of the season, thanks to Nik Antropov and Rich Peverley. Forty-four seconds later, the Thrashers tied the game on a Chris Thorburn goal, his sixth of the year getting help from Evander Kane and Little. The tie at 2 lasted into a shootout, with Santorelli and Little exchanging goals before Alex Burmistrov won the game for Atlanta. Burmistrov, Little, and Weiss earned the three stars.
Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Calgary Flames for their last game on the road trip. Miikka Kiprusoff and Alex Auld got the starts. Lars Eller opened the scoring for Montreal with his third of the season, helped along by Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec. Cammalleri made it 2-0 in the same period with his 13th of the season, from Jeff Halpern and P.K. Subban. Andrei Kostitsyn made it 3-0 for Montreal with his 12th of the year in the second period, assisted on by Yannick Weber and Jaroslav Spacek. Halpern acked on his seventh of the year for the Canadiens, making it 4-0 with the helpers from Travis Moen and Spacek. This put Miikka Kiprusoff in the doghouse of Brent Sutter once more, with Henrik Karlsson coming on in relief. This ignited something for Calgary, with Rene Bourque notching his 15th of the season, courtesy of Olli Jokinen and Cory Sarich. Jarome Iginla cut the score to 4-2 for the Flames with his 19th of the season, made possible by Jay Bouwmeester. Calgary continued to roll in the third period with an Ales Kotalik goal, his third of the year coming off of Jokinen. Alex Tanguay tied the game at 4 with his eleventh of the year, assisted on by Iginla and Brendan Morrison. The tie lasted into overtime, where the Flames comeback hopes were squashed by Montreal's rookie defenseman Subban, who netted his fourth of the season thanks to Scott Gomez and Hal Gill to secure a 5-4 Canadiens victory. Subban, Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn picked up the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Kari Lethonen played in net. Los Angeles got the early lead on a Justin Williams goal, his 17th of the season coming from Anze Kopitar. Dallas tied the game at 1 with the 17th of the year by Loui Eriksson in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro. Jamie Langenbrunner gave the Stars a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season, a power play goal as well, with help from Richards and Jamie Benn. This would be the eventual final, with Langenbrunner, Richards, and Benn earning the three stars.
That's all. I'll try to put a post out tonight for Tuesday hockey, but no promises.
The Boston Bruins hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Tim Thomas were sent out to block pucks. Boston opened with a Mark Stuart goal, his first of the season getting help from Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid. Chara added two in a row for the Bruins to make it 3-0 with his eighth and ninth of the year, assisted by McQuaid first and David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron on the latter power play marker. Justin Peters came in to replace Cam Ward after the first Chara goal. Boston continued to score in the second period, with Gregory Campbell putting away his sixth of the season thanks to Shawn Thornton and Blake Wheeler, thirteen seconds before Bergeron stashed his 15th of the campaign in the mesh to make it 5-0 Bruins. Bergeron's goal was unassisted. Michael Ryder added on his 14th of the season in the third period, making it 6-0 with the assistance of Dennis Seidenberg and Steve Kampfer. Chara completed his hat trick on the power play with his tenth of the year, courtesy of Krejci and Milan Lucic, bringing the score to the 7-0 final. Chara, Tim Thomas (31 save shutout), and McQuaid got the three stars.
The other in the pair of early games was the New York Islanders hosting the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Kevin Poulin were the starters. New Jersey opened the scoring with Vladimir Zharkov notching his first of the season, thanks to Mattias Tedenby and Jason Arnott. Fifty-seven seconds later, the Devils owned a 2-0 lead because of a power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk, his 13th tally of the year, from Andy Greene and Travis Zajac. Tedenby made it 3-0 New Jersey in the second period with his fifth of the year, from Mark Fraser and Rod Pelley. New York got on the board with P.A. Parenteau potting his eleventh of the season, helped along by Blake Comeau and Radek Martinek. Fifty-four seconds later, the Islanders deficit was down to one goal with Michael Grabner scoring his eleventh of the campaign, courtesy of Josh Bailey and Travis Hamonic. Pelley got the Devils going again, his third of the year making it 4-2 with help from Fraser and Arnott. Again, fifty-four seconds later, the full lead was restored at a 5-2 margin, with Dainius Zubrus notching his seventh of the season, assisted by Patrik Elias and Brian Rolston. This would be the final after a scoreless third period, with Tedenby, Pelley, and Parenteau grabbing the three stars.
Out west to conclude the first half of the day's games, with the Phoenix Coyotes hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ilya Bryzgalov got the starting nods. San Jose struck first on a Patrick Marleau goal, his 18th of the season getting assisted on by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Pavelski. Phoenix tied it on a Derek Morris goal, his fourth of the year, with help from Keith Yandle and Eric Belanger. Dany Heatley made it 2-1 Sharks in the second period with his 18th of the season, thanks to Logan Couture and Joe Thornton. Couture added a power play goal for his 20th tally of the year, putting San Jose up 3-1 with the help of Dan Boyle and Heatley. The Coyotes cut the score to 3-2 with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his first of the season going after touches by Lauri Korpikoski and Lee Stempniak. Thornton put the game away 4-2 for the Sharks with his empty net goal, good for his 13th of the year as an unassisted goal. Heatley, Niemi (34 for 36 saves), and Ray Whitney got the three stars.
Following that at a normal time was the Florida Panthers hosting the Atlanta Thrashers. Ondrej Pavelec and Scott Clemmensen were in front of the cages. Florida got on the board first in the third period with a power play goal by Dennis Wideman, his sixth of the year assisted by Mike Santorelli and Stephen Weiss. Dmitry Kulikov made it 2-0 with his fifth of the season, also a power play goal, helped along by Cory Stillman and Weiss. Bryan Little got Atlanta on the board with his 13th of the season, thanks to Nik Antropov and Rich Peverley. Forty-four seconds later, the Thrashers tied the game on a Chris Thorburn goal, his sixth of the year getting help from Evander Kane and Little. The tie at 2 lasted into a shootout, with Santorelli and Little exchanging goals before Alex Burmistrov won the game for Atlanta. Burmistrov, Little, and Weiss earned the three stars.
Up to Montreal, where the Canadiens hosted the Calgary Flames for their last game on the road trip. Miikka Kiprusoff and Alex Auld got the starts. Lars Eller opened the scoring for Montreal with his third of the season, helped along by Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec. Cammalleri made it 2-0 in the same period with his 13th of the season, from Jeff Halpern and P.K. Subban. Andrei Kostitsyn made it 3-0 for Montreal with his 12th of the year in the second period, assisted on by Yannick Weber and Jaroslav Spacek. Halpern acked on his seventh of the year for the Canadiens, making it 4-0 with the helpers from Travis Moen and Spacek. This put Miikka Kiprusoff in the doghouse of Brent Sutter once more, with Henrik Karlsson coming on in relief. This ignited something for Calgary, with Rene Bourque notching his 15th of the season, courtesy of Olli Jokinen and Cory Sarich. Jarome Iginla cut the score to 4-2 for the Flames with his 19th of the season, made possible by Jay Bouwmeester. Calgary continued to roll in the third period with an Ales Kotalik goal, his third of the year coming off of Jokinen. Alex Tanguay tied the game at 4 with his eleventh of the year, assisted on by Iginla and Brendan Morrison. The tie lasted into overtime, where the Flames comeback hopes were squashed by Montreal's rookie defenseman Subban, who netted his fourth of the season thanks to Scott Gomez and Hal Gill to secure a 5-4 Canadiens victory. Subban, Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn picked up the three stars.
Lastly, the Dallas Stars hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Bernier and Kari Lethonen played in net. Los Angeles got the early lead on a Justin Williams goal, his 17th of the season coming from Anze Kopitar. Dallas tied the game at 1 with the 17th of the year by Loui Eriksson in the second period, a power play goal made possible by Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro. Jamie Langenbrunner gave the Stars a 2-1 lead with his fifth of the season, a power play goal as well, with help from Richards and Jamie Benn. This would be the eventual final, with Langenbrunner, Richards, and Benn earning the three stars.
That's all. I'll try to put a post out tonight for Tuesday hockey, but no promises.
Fantasy Hockey All-Stars, week 14
Another week of hockey. I renovated some of my teams, scouring the waiver wires to see what I could do to prepare for a playoff push. Here's whose looking good short term.
Center: Steven Stamkos, 2 goals, 2 assists, +1, 16 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Left Wing: Jussi Jokinen, 4 goals, 3 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 10 shots on goal
Right Wing: Danny Briere, 3 goals, 4 assists, -1, 2 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Defenseman: Dennis Seidenberg, 1 goal, 4 assists, +2, 0 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 16 shots on goal
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist, 1 win, 1.69 goals against average, 105 saves, .955 save percentage, 1 shutout
Utility special: Jeff Carter (C, RW) 3 goals, 1 assist, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 22 shots on goal
That's all for now. It was a weak week for stats, and fairly unpredictable.
Center: Steven Stamkos, 2 goals, 2 assists, +1, 16 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Left Wing: Jussi Jokinen, 4 goals, 3 assists, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 3 power play points, 10 shots on goal
Right Wing: Danny Briere, 3 goals, 4 assists, -1, 2 penalty minutes, 1 power play point, 13 shots on goal
Defenseman: Dennis Seidenberg, 1 goal, 4 assists, +2, 0 penalty minutes, 2 power play points, 16 shots on goal
Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist, 1 win, 1.69 goals against average, 105 saves, .955 save percentage, 1 shutout
Utility special: Jeff Carter (C, RW) 3 goals, 1 assist, +4, 0 penalty minutes, 0 power play points, 22 shots on goal
That's all for now. It was a weak week for stats, and fairly unpredictable.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday NHL games
There are five games on today, interspersed throughout the day so that a good 7 or 8 hours of the day will be covered by hockey. First off...
The Washington Capitals host the team from the Canadian capital, the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth are in goal. Mike Fisher strikes first for Ottawa with his 12th of the season, helped along by Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon. Washington answers in the third period with Brooks Laich notching his ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. John Carlson gives the Capitals the lead forty-five seconds later with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Jason Chimera made it 3-1 for Washington with his sixth of the season, from Dave Steckel and Karl Alzner. This would be the final, with Carlson, Neuvirth (22 for 23 saves), and Laich getting the three stars.
Next up is the Minnesota Wild hosting the Vancouver Canucks. In net are Cory Schneider and Anton Khudobin. Andrew Brunette opens the scoring in the second period with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal for Minnesota assisted on by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Antti Miettinen. Martin Havlat put the Wild up 2-0 with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. In the third period Matt Cullen strikes with his ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal from Kyle Brodziak and Nick Schultz to make it 3-0. John Madden sinks Vancouver to the final 4-0 favoring Minnesota with his sixth of the season, helped along by Chuck Kobasew and Cullen. Khudobin (32 save shutout), Cullen, and Havlat earned the three stars.
Following that, the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. In front of the nets are Brian Boucher and Martin Biron. Jeff Carter put Philadelphia on the board first with his 19th of the season, from Matt Carle and Ville Leino. Leino added his own goal for the Flyers, making it 2-0 with help from Andrej Meszaros and Carle. Mike Richards extended the Philadelphia lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, with help coming in the form of Claude Giroux. Wojtek Wolski put New York on the scoreboard in the third period, cutting the score to 3-1 with his eighth of the season, with Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan providing the helpers. Stepan trims the deficit for the Rangers down to a goal with his 13th of the season, from Zuccarello and Wolski. Leino, Stepan, and Carle got the three stars in the 3-2 Flyers win.
Heading into the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators in the second game of a home-and-home. Anders Lindback and Marty Turco get the honors in a battle of backups. Nashville struck first, with Martin Erat opening the scoring on his sixth of the season, a power play goal assisted by Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer. Chicago answered with Dave Bolland notching his eighth of the year, helped by Bryan Bickell. The Predators retook the lead on a J.P. Dumont goal, his fifth of the year happening with a man advantage, thanks to Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Bolland tied the gave back up for the Blackhawks with his second of the night and ninth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Kopecky. Nashville retook the lead on another Dumont goal, helped along by Chris Mueller as his sixth of the season and second in the game. Troy Brouwer scored twice in forty seconds to put Chicago back on top by a 4-3 score, his 12th and 13th of the year getting help from Duncan Keith and Kopecky on the former power play tally and Patrick Kane on the latter even strength marker. Bickell made it 5-3 for the Blackhawks with his 12th of the year, courtesy of Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook. Jonathan Toews extends the lead to 6-3 Chicago with his 17th of the year, an unassisted goal. This was the final, with Brouwer, Bolland, and Dumont earning the three stars.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Curtis McElhinney are in between the pipes. Luca Sbisa put Anaheim on the board first with his second of the year, assisted by Toni Lydman and Joffery Lupul on the power play. Teemu Selanne made it 2-0 Ducks with his 13th of the campaign, made possible by Lubomir Visnovsky and Jason Blake. Selanne added his second of the night and 14th of the year on a power play goal from Visnovsky and Cam Fowler. Edmonton gets on the board with Magnus Paajarvi scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Sam Gagner and Taylor Chorney. Twenty-six seconds later, the lead for Anaheim is down to 1 with the Oilers scoring on Gagner's eleventh of the season, assisted by Linus Omark. McElhinney had to leave the game after those two quickies, and was replaced by Jonas Hiller. The 3-2 margin favoring the Ducks over the Oilers was the final, with Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Gagner getting the three stars.
Posts that are supposed to be out tomorrow morning will be finished tomorrow morning. Please take time, to my American readers, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow.
The Washington Capitals host the team from the Canadian capital, the Ottawa Senators. Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth are in goal. Mike Fisher strikes first for Ottawa with his 12th of the season, helped along by Nick Foligno and Ryan Shannon. Washington answers in the third period with Brooks Laich notching his ninth of the season, an unassisted goal. John Carlson gives the Capitals the lead forty-five seconds later with his fifth of the year, a power play goal assisted by Nicklas Backstrom. Jason Chimera made it 3-1 for Washington with his sixth of the season, from Dave Steckel and Karl Alzner. This would be the final, with Carlson, Neuvirth (22 for 23 saves), and Laich getting the three stars.
Next up is the Minnesota Wild hosting the Vancouver Canucks. In net are Cory Schneider and Anton Khudobin. Andrew Brunette opens the scoring in the second period with his eleventh of the year, a power play goal for Minnesota assisted on by Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Antti Miettinen. Martin Havlat put the Wild up 2-0 with his eleventh of the season, an unassisted goal. In the third period Matt Cullen strikes with his ninth of the year, a shorthanded goal from Kyle Brodziak and Nick Schultz to make it 3-0. John Madden sinks Vancouver to the final 4-0 favoring Minnesota with his sixth of the season, helped along by Chuck Kobasew and Cullen. Khudobin (32 save shutout), Cullen, and Havlat earned the three stars.
Following that, the New York Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers. In front of the nets are Brian Boucher and Martin Biron. Jeff Carter put Philadelphia on the board first with his 19th of the season, from Matt Carle and Ville Leino. Leino added his own goal for the Flyers, making it 2-0 with help from Andrej Meszaros and Carle. Mike Richards extended the Philadelphia lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal by Mike Richards, with help coming in the form of Claude Giroux. Wojtek Wolski put New York on the scoreboard in the third period, cutting the score to 3-1 with his eighth of the season, with Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan providing the helpers. Stepan trims the deficit for the Rangers down to a goal with his 13th of the season, from Zuccarello and Wolski. Leino, Stepan, and Carle got the three stars in the 3-2 Flyers win.
Heading into the Windy City, where the Chicago Blackhawks host the Nashville Predators in the second game of a home-and-home. Anders Lindback and Marty Turco get the honors in a battle of backups. Nashville struck first, with Martin Erat opening the scoring on his sixth of the season, a power play goal assisted by Cody Franson and Alexander Sulzer. Chicago answered with Dave Bolland notching his eighth of the year, helped by Bryan Bickell. The Predators retook the lead on a J.P. Dumont goal, his fifth of the year happening with a man advantage, thanks to Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Bolland tied the gave back up for the Blackhawks with his second of the night and ninth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Kopecky. Nashville retook the lead on another Dumont goal, helped along by Chris Mueller as his sixth of the season and second in the game. Troy Brouwer scored twice in forty seconds to put Chicago back on top by a 4-3 score, his 12th and 13th of the year getting help from Duncan Keith and Kopecky on the former power play tally and Patrick Kane on the latter even strength marker. Bickell made it 5-3 for the Blackhawks with his 12th of the year, courtesy of Brian Campbell and Brent Seabrook. Jonathan Toews extends the lead to 6-3 Chicago with his 17th of the year, an unassisted goal. This was the final, with Brouwer, Bolland, and Dumont earning the three stars.
Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Edmonton Oilers. Nikolai Khabibulin and Curtis McElhinney are in between the pipes. Luca Sbisa put Anaheim on the board first with his second of the year, assisted by Toni Lydman and Joffery Lupul on the power play. Teemu Selanne made it 2-0 Ducks with his 13th of the campaign, made possible by Lubomir Visnovsky and Jason Blake. Selanne added his second of the night and 14th of the year on a power play goal from Visnovsky and Cam Fowler. Edmonton gets on the board with Magnus Paajarvi scoring his fifth of the year, thanks to Sam Gagner and Taylor Chorney. Twenty-six seconds later, the lead for Anaheim is down to 1 with the Oilers scoring on Gagner's eleventh of the season, assisted by Linus Omark. McElhinney had to leave the game after those two quickies, and was replaced by Jonas Hiller. The 3-2 margin favoring the Ducks over the Oilers was the final, with Selanne, Saku Koivu, and Gagner getting the three stars.
Posts that are supposed to be out tomorrow morning will be finished tomorrow morning. Please take time, to my American readers, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. tomorrow.
Sandwich showdown III
This weekend, we have an Italian BMT pitted against a toasted Roast Beef. The BMT got Italian herbs and cheese, for national unity of course, and the Roast Beef received wheat bread. The flavors were both powerful and unique, with the three meats in the BMT blending nicely together, but very level to standalone hearty flavor found in the Roast Beef, which will take the slightest of edges in this showdown. Thanks for reading and happy eating.
NFL Divisional Weekend
Another four games of football were played, determining who will face off for the rights to play in Super Bowl XLV. It starts with the AFC Divisional...
Between the host Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh was the first team to visit the end zone on a Rashard Mendenhall run of 1 yard for a touchdown, followed by a Shaun Suisham extra point. Baltimore answered back with a Ray Rice 14 yard touchdown run, after which Billy Cundiff tied the game with the extra point. Ben Roethlisberger then was pressured and lost control of the ball, and after a spell, Cory Redding of the Ravens took it to the house, and Cundiff made it 14-7. Baltimore extended the lead in the second quarter as Joe Flacco connected with Todd Heap for 4 yards, allowing another Cundiff extra point to produce the halftime score of 21-7 Baltimore. Roethlisberger tied the game with touchdown passes of 9 and 8 yards to Heath Miller and Hines Ward, and the tying point coming from Suisham's foot. Suisham and Cundiff exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, with Suisham good from 35 yards and Cundiff from 24 yards away. With the score tied at 24 with under 2 minutes in the game, Mendenhall runs a 2 yard touchdown in, and Suisham supplies the extra point to make it 31-24 Steelers. The Ravens failed to recover, and were eliminated by that score from the playoffs, with Pittsburgh waiting to see if they will host the New York Jets or travel to New England next weekend.
Hopping to the NFC Divisional game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta dented the scoreboard first with a Michael Turner touchdown run of 12 yards, and Matt Bryant provided the extra point. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, followed by a Mason Crosby extra point. However, the ensuing kickoff was fateful, as Eric Weems returned the ball 102 yards for the Falcons, and Bryant put them up 14-7 with the extra point. John Kuhn got the Packers back together and ran a touchdown in for 1 yard, allowing a tying extra point by Crosby. Rodgers gave Green Bay the lead with a 20 yard touchdown connection with James Jones, followed by yet another Crosby extra point. Hoping to take momentum into the locker room, Matt Ryan threw one up for Atlanta, and Tramon Williams picked it off and ran it in 70 yards to give the Packers some push, putting them up 28-14 at half with Crosby making his extra point. Rodgers took to the ground to extend the lead for Green Bay, running 7 yards to crack the goal line, with Crosby adding another extra point. Rodgers found Kuhn for 7 yards as well, and after a Crosby extra point, it was all but certain the the Packers had strong control over the game at 42-14. Ryan passed to Roddy White for a 6 yard touchdown as a last whimper for the Falcons, with Bryant's extra point making the score 42-21. Crosby put the Falcons out of their misery after two more field goals, from 43 and 32 yards to bring the final to 48-21, with Green Bay either traveling to Chicago or Seattle depending on who wins the match today.
Into day 2 of the divisional weekend, with the Chicago Bears hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Jay Cutler put Chicago out front early when connecting with Greg Olsen for 58 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Robbie Gould extra point. Chester Taylor extended the Bears lead with a 1 yard touchdown run, with Gould adding another extra point. Cutler took matters in his own hands for the third touchdown, running in 6 yards for the score, allowing another Gould extra point. The score going into halftime was 21-0, and the Bears extended the lead once more on the legs of Cutler, with his second touchdown rush, this time of 9 yards, and Gould was true on the extra point to make it 28-0. Seattle decided it would be good to actually score some points and Olindo Mare blasted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights. Matt Hasselbeck continued the scoring for the Seahawks, finding Mike Williams in the end zone for a 2 yard touchdown, with Mare making the extra point. Cutler's pass to Kellen Davis for 39 yards was good enough to be a dagger for Seattle's comeback hopes, with that touchdown and the subsequent extra point making it 35-10. Hasselbeck added two more touchdown passes, of 3 and 9 yards to Williams and Brandon Stokley, and after Mare's two extra points, the score stood at its eventual final of 35-24 Bears over Seahawks. Chicago advanced to the NFC Championship, staying at home to host their fierce rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Seattle, after a surprising season and playoff run will return home.
Lastly, the most hyped and trash-talked match between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Shayne Graham opened the scoring by booting a 34 yard field goal in for New England. Mark Sanchez and New York answered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes, one of 7 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson and the other for Braylon "Banana Feet... err... Hands" Edwards for 15 yards. Footsmith Nick Folk came on for both extra points. The Patriots came back in the third quarter as Tom Brady connected with Alge Crumpler for 2 yards and a touchdown, and the two point conversion by the quick-footed Sammy Morris was successful. Sanchez answered back for the Jets with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes for 7 yards and a touchdown, allowing Folk to nail another extra point in. Graham came back out for another field goal, this time of 35 yards, putting New England down only 21-14. Shonn Greene however turned New York's fortunes around and put them up by a more comfortable lead by running with flying feet 16 yards to find the end zone, with Folk kicking in another extra point. Brady attempted to get the Patriots back into the game, allowing Deion Branch to catch a 13 yard touchdown pass and plant his feet for the score, before Graham knocked in the extra point. The onside kick was no good, and the Jets held on to win by a toe, or a touchdown (whatever Rex Ryan thinks) by the 28-21 score. The Patriots started to book tee times, while Rex Ryan and the Jets could go home and kick their feet up on the foot stools. Final count on bad foot puns aimed at Rex Ryan: 8, so I lose to Wes Welker.
Next week will feature two games to determine who plays in the Super Bowl. I, as a fan, no longer care that much, but because you readers do, I'll grudgingly cover the games.
Between the host Pittsburgh Steelers and visiting Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh was the first team to visit the end zone on a Rashard Mendenhall run of 1 yard for a touchdown, followed by a Shaun Suisham extra point. Baltimore answered back with a Ray Rice 14 yard touchdown run, after which Billy Cundiff tied the game with the extra point. Ben Roethlisberger then was pressured and lost control of the ball, and after a spell, Cory Redding of the Ravens took it to the house, and Cundiff made it 14-7. Baltimore extended the lead in the second quarter as Joe Flacco connected with Todd Heap for 4 yards, allowing another Cundiff extra point to produce the halftime score of 21-7 Baltimore. Roethlisberger tied the game with touchdown passes of 9 and 8 yards to Heath Miller and Hines Ward, and the tying point coming from Suisham's foot. Suisham and Cundiff exchanged field goals in the fourth quarter, with Suisham good from 35 yards and Cundiff from 24 yards away. With the score tied at 24 with under 2 minutes in the game, Mendenhall runs a 2 yard touchdown in, and Suisham supplies the extra point to make it 31-24 Steelers. The Ravens failed to recover, and were eliminated by that score from the playoffs, with Pittsburgh waiting to see if they will host the New York Jets or travel to New England next weekend.
Hopping to the NFC Divisional game between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta dented the scoreboard first with a Michael Turner touchdown run of 12 yards, and Matt Bryant provided the extra point. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay answered in the second quarter with a 6 yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, followed by a Mason Crosby extra point. However, the ensuing kickoff was fateful, as Eric Weems returned the ball 102 yards for the Falcons, and Bryant put them up 14-7 with the extra point. John Kuhn got the Packers back together and ran a touchdown in for 1 yard, allowing a tying extra point by Crosby. Rodgers gave Green Bay the lead with a 20 yard touchdown connection with James Jones, followed by yet another Crosby extra point. Hoping to take momentum into the locker room, Matt Ryan threw one up for Atlanta, and Tramon Williams picked it off and ran it in 70 yards to give the Packers some push, putting them up 28-14 at half with Crosby making his extra point. Rodgers took to the ground to extend the lead for Green Bay, running 7 yards to crack the goal line, with Crosby adding another extra point. Rodgers found Kuhn for 7 yards as well, and after a Crosby extra point, it was all but certain the the Packers had strong control over the game at 42-14. Ryan passed to Roddy White for a 6 yard touchdown as a last whimper for the Falcons, with Bryant's extra point making the score 42-21. Crosby put the Falcons out of their misery after two more field goals, from 43 and 32 yards to bring the final to 48-21, with Green Bay either traveling to Chicago or Seattle depending on who wins the match today.
Into day 2 of the divisional weekend, with the Chicago Bears hosting the Seattle Seahawks. Jay Cutler put Chicago out front early when connecting with Greg Olsen for 58 yards and a touchdown, followed by a Robbie Gould extra point. Chester Taylor extended the Bears lead with a 1 yard touchdown run, with Gould adding another extra point. Cutler took matters in his own hands for the third touchdown, running in 6 yards for the score, allowing another Gould extra point. The score going into halftime was 21-0, and the Bears extended the lead once more on the legs of Cutler, with his second touchdown rush, this time of 9 yards, and Gould was true on the extra point to make it 28-0. Seattle decided it would be good to actually score some points and Olindo Mare blasted a 30 yard field goal through the uprights. Matt Hasselbeck continued the scoring for the Seahawks, finding Mike Williams in the end zone for a 2 yard touchdown, with Mare making the extra point. Cutler's pass to Kellen Davis for 39 yards was good enough to be a dagger for Seattle's comeback hopes, with that touchdown and the subsequent extra point making it 35-10. Hasselbeck added two more touchdown passes, of 3 and 9 yards to Williams and Brandon Stokley, and after Mare's two extra points, the score stood at its eventual final of 35-24 Bears over Seahawks. Chicago advanced to the NFC Championship, staying at home to host their fierce rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Seattle, after a surprising season and playoff run will return home.
Lastly, the most hyped and trash-talked match between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. Shayne Graham opened the scoring by booting a 34 yard field goal in for New England. Mark Sanchez and New York answered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes, one of 7 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson and the other for Braylon "Banana Feet... err... Hands" Edwards for 15 yards. Footsmith Nick Folk came on for both extra points. The Patriots came back in the third quarter as Tom Brady connected with Alge Crumpler for 2 yards and a touchdown, and the two point conversion by the quick-footed Sammy Morris was successful. Sanchez answered back for the Jets with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes for 7 yards and a touchdown, allowing Folk to nail another extra point in. Graham came back out for another field goal, this time of 35 yards, putting New England down only 21-14. Shonn Greene however turned New York's fortunes around and put them up by a more comfortable lead by running with flying feet 16 yards to find the end zone, with Folk kicking in another extra point. Brady attempted to get the Patriots back into the game, allowing Deion Branch to catch a 13 yard touchdown pass and plant his feet for the score, before Graham knocked in the extra point. The onside kick was no good, and the Jets held on to win by a toe, or a touchdown (whatever Rex Ryan thinks) by the 28-21 score. The Patriots started to book tee times, while Rex Ryan and the Jets could go home and kick their feet up on the foot stools. Final count on bad foot puns aimed at Rex Ryan: 8, so I lose to Wes Welker.
Next week will feature two games to determine who plays in the Super Bowl. I, as a fan, no longer care that much, but because you readers do, I'll grudgingly cover the games.
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