Thursday Night Game week 13

This week, the Seattle Seahawks host the Philadelphia Eagles. Seattle led off with a 15 yard touchdown rush for Marshawn Lynch, and Steven Hauschka made the extra point. The Seahawks added on with a 40 yard rush for a touchdown by Lynch in the second quarter, and Hauschka again handled the extra point. Philadelphia got on the board with a 1 yard LeSean McCoy touchdown rush, and Alex Henery was there on the extra point. Seattle made it 17-7 before the half with Hauschka kicking a field goal of 49 yards. The Seahawks kept going in the third quarter with a Tavaris Jackson touchdown pass to Golden Tate, an 11 yard play, capped off with a Hauschka PAT. The Eagles got a few back when Vince Young tossed a 2 yard touchdown pass to McCoy, and Henery made the extra point, all in the fourth quarter. Seattle replied with David Hawthorne intercepting Young and returning it 77 yards for a touchdown, allowing another extra point for Hauschka. This made it 31-14, the final, and the Seahawks go to 5-7 while Philadelphia falls to 4-8.

NHL Day 56 2011-2012

Only five games tonight. The first is a big rivalry game, as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Boston Bruins. Tim Thomas and Jonas Gustavsson will start. Toronto led off with a Mikhail Grabovski power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Clarke MacArthur and Carl Gunnarsson. Boston answered with the ninth of the year from Milan Lucic, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Zdeno Chara on the power play. The Bruins added on in the second period with David Krejci netting his fourth of the season, with the help of Nathan Horton and Dennis Seidenberg. The Maple Leafs retied it with the twelfth of the year by Joffrey Lupul, courtesy of Phil Kessel and Luke Schenn. Boston took the lead back with Chara notching his fifth of the season, coming off of Krejci and Horton. The Bruins added on in the third period with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his third of the year, with assists provided by Joe Corvo and Gregory Campbell. Toronto got one back as the second of the season by Matt Frattin found twine, guided in by Joey Crabb and Schenn. Boston extended the lead as Lucic struck again with his second of the game and tenth of the campaign, with Krejci getting the lone assist. The final was 6-3 Bruins on an empty net Brad Marchand goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Rich Peverley. Krejci, Lucic, and Schenn were the three stars, and honorable mentions were Horton and Chara.

Southwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dwayne Roloson and Jimmy Howard man the nets. Detroit opened with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his seventh of the season, thanks to Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen. The Red Wings continued with Jonathan Ericsson scoring via Valtteri Filppula. Tampa Bay got on the board in the second period with a Martin St. Louis goal, his seventh of the year, assisted by Teddy Purcell and Marc-Andre Bergeron on the power play. The Lightning tied it late in the second with the sixteenth of the season for Steven Stamkos, fueled by Matt Gilroy and Vincent Lecavalier. Detroit went back ahead with the fourth of the year by Tomas Holmstrom, a power play goal made possible by Nicklas Lidstrom and Datsyuk. The Red Wings got some space with the third of the campaign for Darren Helm, pushed through by Jakub Kindl and Ericsson. The final was 4-2, and the three stars went to Datsyuk, St. Louis, and Helm, while Ericsson gets honorable mention.

Back up to Canada, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Nikolai Khabibulin play in goal. Edmonton got on the board with the eleventh of the season for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with Andy Sutton and Jordan Eberle picking up the assists. The Oilers added on as Eberle scored on the power play in the second period, his ninth of the year powered by Shawn Horcoff and Nugent-Hopkins. Minnesota got on the board with a Devin Setoguchi goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley. The Wild tied it with a power play goal by Kyle Brodziak, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Nick Johnson and Marco Scandella. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Eberle, Sam Gagner, and Horcoff were toppled by Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Koivu, Heatley, and Brodziak. Nugent-Hopkins, Brodziak, and Eberle were the three stars in the Minnesota victory, while Heatley and Koivu get honorable mention.

Following the course of the Rockies to Colorado, where the Avalanche host the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Semyon Varlamov tend the twines. Colorado opened with the eighth of the season by Milan Hejduk, assisted by Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche added on with a T.J. Galiardi goal, his second of the year going down unassisted. Colorado struck again with Jan Hejda potting his third of the season, via Matt Duchene and Ryan Wilson. New Jersey got on the board with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, his fifth of the year, guided in by Adam Henrique and Zach Parise. The Avalanche replied in the third period with the third of the season by O'Reilly, and Hejduk had the lone helper. Colorado rolled on with a shorthanded Jay McClement goal, his fourth of the year, with passes coming from Kyle Quincey and Daniel Winnik. The Avalanche wrapped it up with the second of the campaign by Stefan Elliott, and he was helped out by Quincey and O'Reilly, good for a 6-1 win. The three stars went to Hejduk, O'Reilly, and Hejda, while Quincey earns honorable mention.

Lastly, the Anaheim Ducks host the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Jonas Hiller will have the goalie masks on. Montreal struck first with Andrei Kostitsyn netting his sixth of the season, off of Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta. Anaheim tied it with Ryan Getzlaf recording his fifth of the year, thanks to Corey Perry. The Ducks got the lead on a Devante Smith-Pelly goal, a power play goal powered by Bobby Ryan as his second of the season. Anaheim extended the lead with a third period Perry power play goal as his eleventh of the year, pushed to the pine of Perry by Francois Beauchemin and Getzlaf (alliteration is a great thing). The Ducks finished 4-1 on an empty net goal by Niklas Hagman, guided in by Perry and Getzlaf. Perry, Getzlaf, and Smith-Pelly were the three stars.

NHL Day 55 2011-2012

There will be eight games played tonight, and we begin with an intrastate game over in...

New York, as the Buffalo Sabres host the New York Islanders. Taking their places in front of the goalmouths were Al Montoya and Jhonas Enroth. New York was first to score on a Matt Moulson power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Mark Streit and P.A. Parenteau. Buffalo tied it in the third period with Joche Hecht notching his second of the year, with the help of Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek. The Islanders took the lead back with Brian Rolston scoring his third of the season, thanks to David Ullstrom and Josh Bailey. This would hold for a 2-1 final, and the three stars went to Montoya (30 for 31 in saves), Rolston, and Hecht.

Down to Washington, where the Capitals welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Tomas Vokoun answer the call to start. Washington led off with a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Alex Ovechkin and the goalie Vokoun. St. Louis replied with T.J. Oshie scoring his seventh of the year, assisted by Alex Steen and David Backes. The Blues took the lead in the second period with the sixth of the season by Matt D'Agostini, with helpers provided by Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart. This made it 2-1, the eventual final, and the three stars were D'Agostini, Backes, and Backstrom.

Farther south, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Florida Panthers. Jose Theodore and Cam Ward got the starting nods. The scoring began with Florida in the second period on a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Brian Campbell and Stephen Weiss on the power play. Carolina quickly replied with a Jeff Skinner goal, his tenth of the year, thanks to Eric Staal and Joni Pitkanen. The Panthers took the lead in the third period with the fourth and fifth of the campaign by Shawn Matthias, assisted by Tomas Kopecky on the first and no one on the last empty net goal. This was good for a 3-1 final, and the three stars went to Matthias, Theodore (26 for 27 in saves), and Skinner.

Back up to New York, as the Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist will tend the twines. Pittsburgh drew first blood with James Neal potting his fourteenth of the season on the power play, powered by Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin. New York answered in the second period with a power play goal by Ryan Callahan, his ninth of the year, made possible by Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. The Rangers added on with John Mitchell scoring via Carl Hagelin and Brian Boyle. New York extended the lead with Richards putting his ninth of the season in the net, and he was helped by Ruslan Fedotenko and Callahan. The Rangers kept rolling with the eleventh of the campaign by Gaborik, a power play goal set up by Michael Del Zotto and Richards. The Penguins cut it to 4-2 after Evgeni Malkin scored his ninth of the year, from Neal and Steve Sullivan. Pittsburgh pulled closer with the seventh of the season by Pascal Dupuis, guided in by Crosby and Deryk Engelland. New York managed to hold on for a 4-3 win, and the three stars were awarded to Gaborik, Richards, and Malkin, while Neal, Crosby, and Callahan had worthy efforts.

Northwest to Winnipeg, where the Jets host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Ondrej Pavelec put on the goalie masks. Ottawa was first to score, with a Milan Michalek goal, his thirteenth of the season, assisted by Daniel Alfresson and Nick Foligno. Winnipeg tied it with a Blake Wheeler goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Bryan Little and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets grabbed the lead with the fifth of the season from Alex Burmistrov, with the help of Tanner Glass and Eric Fehr. The Senators quickly retied it on Zack Smith's fifth of the year, set up by Erik Condra. Ottawa regained the lead with another Michalek goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, via Chris Phillips and Condra. Winnipeg took the lead back with two Evander Kane goals, his eleventh and twelfth of the year, and the assists went out to Zach Bogosian on the first, and Mark Flood and Little on the second, power play goal. The Senators tied it up again with Jason Spezza netting his ninth of the season, guided in by Erik Karlsson and Phillips. Ottawa took the lead yet again in the back and forth game with the second on the night by Smith, pushed through by Sergei Gonchar and Kaspars Daugavins on the power play. The Senators made it 6-4, a final, with a Foligno empty net goal, his seventh of the year, finding twine with assistance from Jesse Winchester and Colin Greening.

Down in the states, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Phoenix Coyotes. The goalies are Mike Smith and Corey Crawford. Phoenix opened with Daymond Langkow registering his fourth of the season, with the help of Ray Whitney and Shane Doan. The Coyotes added on in the second period with a Doan goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Langkow and Mikkel Boedker. Phoenix extended the lead in the third period with Radim Vrbata notching his twelfth of the season, coming off of Whitney. Whitney made it 4-0 Coyotes with his eighth of the year, assisted by Martin Hanzal and Vrbata. Crawford was pulled in favor of Ray Emery at this time. Chicago got on the board late with the eleventh of the campaign by Patrick Sharp, making it 4-1 with the help of Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. The three stars go to Vrbata, Langkow, and Doan, while Whitney earns honorable mention.

Back into Canada and a bit west to Calgary, with the Flames set to host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Miikka Kiprusoff play between the pipes. Derek Smith got Calgary going, and his goal was helped in by T.J. Brodie and Jarome Iginla. This goal held up as the only one in the game, for a Flames victory, and Kiprusoff (26 save shutout), Rinne (28 for 29 in saves), and Smith got the three stars.

Lastly, the Vancouver Canucks will host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis Sanford and Cory Schneider will stop the puck tonight. Vancouver led off with the seventh of the season by Daniel Sedin, assisted by Alexander Edler and Sami Salo. The Canucks added on with the fourth of the year by David Booth, coming off of Chris Higgins and Dan Hamhuis. Columbus got on the board with a shorthanded Samuel Pahlsson goal from Fedor Tyutin and Antoine Vermette. Vancouver replied with a Ryan Kesler goal, his fifth of the season, via Alexandre Burrows and Daniel. The Canucks wrapped it up at 4-1 with Burrows recording an empty net goal, his eighth of the year, made possible by Kesler and Kevin Bieksa. The three stars were Schneider (47 for 48 in saves), Kesler, and Ryan Johansen, although Daniel and Burrows also played well.

Fantasy Football All-Stars week 12

Quarterback: Drew Brees
Running Back: Beanie Wells and Roy Helu
Wide Receiver: Victor Cruz and Wes Welker
Tight End: Jimmy Graham
Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski
Team Defense: Baltimore
Defensive Player: Connor Barwin

NHL Day 54 2011-2012

Another four games being played tonight. We begin in...

Minnesota, with the Wild hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mathieu Garon and Niklas Backstrom get the starting nods. Tampa Bay struck first in the second period with the fifteenth of the season by Steven Stamkos, an unassisted goal. Minnesota replied with Cal Clutterbuck netting a shorthanded goal, and Mikko Koivu aided him in getting the seventh of his year. The Wild gained the lead with Pierre-Marc Bouchard potting his third of the season, thanks to Nick Johnson. Minnesota won 3-1 with Koivu scoring an empty net goal, his fourth of the year from Jared Spurgeon and Clutterbuck. Backstrom (32 for 33 in saves), Clutterbuck, and Mike Lundin were the three stars, although Koivu was reasonably good.

Westward to Colorado, where the Avalanche host the Dallas Stars. Andrew Raycroft and Semyon Varlamov will play goal. Dallas got on the board with Eric Nystrom depositing his eighth of the season, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Stephane Robidas. The Stars added on in the third period with Michael Ryder scoring his eighth of the campaign, with help from Loui Eriksson and Philip Larsen. Colorado got on the board with a Kevin Porter goal, via David Jones and Ryan Wilson. Ryder made it 3-1 Dallas with his second of the game and ninth of the year, courtesy of Eriksson and Adam Pardy, an empty net goal. This was a final and the three stars were Raycroft (35 for 36 in saves), Varlamov (32 for 34 in saves), and Ryder.

Up to Edmonton, as the Oilers host the Nashville Predators. Anders Lindback and Nikolai Khabibulin put on the goalie masks. Edmonton scored first on a Jordan Eberle goal, his eighth of the season, made possible by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Nashville tied it in the second period with the fourth of the year by Shea Weber, a power play goal powered by Ryan Suter and the goalie Lindback. The Predators got the lead in the third period with a Nick Spaling goal, his third of the season, with help from Jordin Tootoo and Craig Smith. This made it 2-1, the eventual final, and the three stars were Suter, Khabibulin (29 for 31 in saves), and Tootoo.

Lastly, the Battle of California continues with the Los Angeles Kings hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jonathan Quick tend the twines. Los Angeles was first to score with an Ethan Moreau goal, going down unassisted. The Kings added on in the second period with the eleventh of the season by Mike Richards, helped along by Simon Gagne and Willie Mitchell. There would be no more scoring, resulting in a 2-0 win for Los Angeles. The three stars were Quick (33 save shutout), Mitchell, and Moreau.

Monday Night Football week 12

This week we are down in the Big Easy, where the New Orleans Saints host the New York Giants. New Orleans opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 4 yard Drew Brees touchdown pass to Lance Moore, and a John Kasay extra point. New York got on the board with Lawrence Tynes kicking a 42 yard field goal. The Saints extended the lead when Brees found Jimmy Graham with a 5 yard touchdown pass, and Kasay added the extra point. New Orleans made it 21-3 before the half with Brees finding Moore again on a 10 yard touchdown pass, and Kasay had the PAT. The Giants got a few back with Brandon Jacobs rushing 8 yards for a touchdown, and Tynes added on the extra point. The Saints remained strong with an 8 yard rush of their own, as Brees ran it in the end zone himself, and Kasay supplied another extra point. Shortly after, Brees found Graham again with a 29 yard touchdown pass, pushing New Orleans to a 35-10 lead after the Kasay extra point. New York got a few back when Eli Manning tossed a 72 yard touchdown to Victor Cruz, and Tynes did make the extra point. The Saints rolled on with Pierre Thomas rushing in a 12 yard touchdown, and Kasay adding on the extra point. The Giants kept getting late point as Manning found Cruz for a 4 yard touchdown connection, and Tynes iced it with another extra point. New Orleans finished it at 49-24 with Mark Ingram rushing 35 yards for a touchdown, and Kasay made the final extra point. The Saints are now 8-3 and the Giants are 6-5.

Fantasy Hockey All-Stars week 7

1. Sidney Crosby: 2 G, 6 A, +7, 8 PIM, 2 PPP, 15 SOG
2. Cory Schneider: 3 W, 0.67 GAA, 89 SV, .978 SV%, 2 SO
3. Evgeni Malkin: 3 G, 5 A, +2, 2 PIM, 3 PPP, 18 SOG
4. Steven Stamkos: 3 G, 2 A, +3, 8 PIM, 2 PPP, 11 SOG
5. Brian Elliott: 3 W, 0.98 GAA, 78 SV, .963 SV%, 1 SO

Feel free to tell me if you like the top 5 format or the by position format better in the comments.