NFL Week 2 2013

Fourteen games today, none of which I was able to cover in progress. We begin in...

Green Bay, as the Packers host the Washington Redskins. Green Bay opened with a first quarter Mason Crosby field goal of 28 yards. The Packers added on as Aaron Rodgers passed 35 yards to Randall Cobb for a touchdown, and Crosby was there with the extra point. Green Bay extended the lead in the second quarter with a 14 yard touchdown pass by Rodgers to Jordy Nelson, and Crosby again handled the extra point. The Packers padded the lead with Rodgers finding Jermichael Finley for three yards and a touchdown, and Crosby booted the extra point. Green Bay kept going in the third quarter on a Rodgers touchdown pass of 15 yards to Nelson, and Crosby was true with the PAT. Washington finally got on the board as Robert Griffin III tossed a 6 yard touchdown to Pierre Garcon, and John Potter made the extra point. The Packers answered with James Starks running in a 32 yard touchdown, and Crosby knocked home the extra point. The Redskins replied in the fourth quarter as Griffin found Jordan Reed for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Potter drove in the extra point. Washington got closer with Griffin connecting with Santana Moss for 9 yards and a touchdown, but the two-point attempt from Griffin to Reed failed. This made it 38-20 Packers, who improve to 1-1 while dropping the Redskins to 0-2.

East to Baltimore, where the Ravens welcome the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland was first to score in the first quarter when Billy Cundiff kicked a 21 yard field goal. The Browns added on as Cundiff nailed a 51 yard field goal in the second quarter. Baltimore tied the game in the third quarter as Bernard Pierce ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and took the lead as Justin Tucker made the extra point. The Ravens added on in the fourth quarter with a Joe Flacco touchdown pass of 5 yards to Marlon Brown, and Tucker was there with the extra point. The Ravens held on for a 14-6 win, improving to 1-1 while dropping the Browns to 0-2.

To the south, the Atlanta Falcons bring in the St. Louis Rams. Atlanta struck first with a first quarter Matt Ryan touchdown pass to Steven Jackson for 8 yards, and Matt Bryant nailed the extra point. The Falcons added on with a touchdown pass from Ryan to Julio Jones for 81 yards, and Bryant kicked in the extra point. Atlanta struck again in the second quarter when Osi Umenyiora returned an interception of Sam Bradford for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Bryant was there again for the extra point. St. Louis got on the board with a Greg Zuerlein field goal from 29 yards away. The Falcons replied as Bryant made a 38 yard field goal. The Rams shot back in the third quarter as Bradford found Tavon Austin for 6 yards and a touchdown, and Zuerlein handled the PAT. St. Louis pulled closer in the fourth quarter when Bradford passed 3 yards to Austin Pettis, and Zuerlein was true with the extra point. Atlanta padded the lead with an 11 yard run by Jason Snelling, and Bryant made another extra point. The Rams countered as Bradford found Austin for 10 yards on another touchdown pass, and Zuerlein managed to make the extra point. It wasn't enough in the end, as the Falcons won 31-24, and both teams went to 1-1 on the season.

Back to the north, where the Philadelphia Eagles host the San Diego Chargers. San Diego led off in the first quarter as Nick Novak hit a 49 yard field goal. Philadelphia tied it when Alex Henery made a 25 yard field goal. The Chargers took the lead back in the second quarter with a Philip Rivers 11 yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal, and Novak was there with the extra point. San Diego added on with a 44 yard field goal by Novak. The Eagles replied as Michael Vick found Riley Cooper for 13 yards and a touchdown, and Henery drilled the extra point. The Chargers responded in the third quarter on another Rivers touchdown pass to Royal for 24 yards this time, and Novak nailed the PAT. Philadelphia got some back with Henery making a 48 yard field goal. The Eagles pulled even with a 61 yard touchdown pass from Vick to DeSean Jackson, and Henery was true with the extra point. San Diego pulled ahead again in the fourth quarter on a 33 yard field goal by Novak. Philadelphia took the lead as Vick ran 2 yards for a touchdown, and Henery handled the extra point. The Chargers edged ahead on a Rivers touchdown pass of 15 yards to Royal, and Novak booted the extra point. The Eagles tied it again on a field goal by Henery from 32 yards. San Diego took the game 33-30 on a late field goal by Novak, good from 46 yards out. Both teams are now 1-1.

Westward to Chicago, where the Bears welcome the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota got going immediately in the first quarter as Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening kickoff for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Blair Walsh made the extra point. Chicago evened the score with a touchdown pass from Jay Cutler to Martellus Bennett for 1 yard, and Robbie Gould was there with the extra point. The Bears took the lead when Cutler passed a 34 yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall. The Vikings retied it in the second quarter as Cutler fumbled, and the ball was picked up and returned 61 yards by Brian Robison for a touchdown, allowing Walsh to make the extra point. Chicago took the lead back on a Tim Jennings interception of Christian Ponder, returned 44 yards for a touchdown, and Gould was true with the PAT. Minnesota pulled even again as Ponder found the right guy this time, Kyle Rudolph, for 20 yards and a touchdown, which led to another Walsh extra point. The Bears edged ahead on a Gould field goal from 20 yards out at the end of the half. The Vikings tied it again in the third quarter on a Walsh field goal of 28 yards. Minnesota took the lead as Walsh was true on a 28 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Vikings added on as Walsh made another field goal, this time from 22 yards. Chicago ended up winning as Cutler threw a tying touchdown pass of 16 yards to Bennett, and Gould's extra point made it 31-30 for the decisive score. The Bears improve to 2-0, while dropping the Vikings to 0-2.

East again to Buffalo, where the Bills bring in the Carolina Panthers. Buffalo began in the second quarter on a Dan Carpenter 55 yard field goal. Carolina took the lead with a Cam Newton touchdown pass of 13 yards to Greg Olsen, and Graham Gano made the extra point. The Bills got some back in the third quarter with a Carpenter field goal of 20 yards. The Panthers shot back on a 40 yard touchdown pass from Newton to Ted Ginn, Jr., and Gano nailed the PAT. Buffalo chipped closer with a touchdown run of 4 yards by Fred Jackson, and the two-point conversion pass from EJ Manuel to Robert Woods was good to tie the game. Carolina took the lead back in the fourth quarter on a 27 yard Gano field goal. The Panthers extended the lead with a Gano field goal from 25 yards. The Bills got some back as Carpenter was true from 48 yards for a field goal. Carolina replied with a 39 yard Gano field goal. Buffalo tied the game with Manuel passing 2 yards to Stevie Johnson for a touchdown, and they won the game when Carpenter made the extra point for a 24-23 final score. The Bills are now 1-1 while the Panthers fall to 0-2.

Well to the south, the Houston Texans host the Tennessee Titans. Houston started in the first quarter with a 1 yard Matt Schaub touchdown pass to Garrett Graham, and Randy Bullock made the extra point. Tennessee tied it as Jake Locker passed 6 yards to Kendall Wright for a touchdown, and Rob Bironas' extra point was the equalizer. The Titans took the lead in the second quarter as Bironas made a 47 yard field goal. The Texans took the lead back in the third quarter as Schaub tossed Owen Daniels a 12 yard touchdown, and Bullock nailed the extra point. Houston padded the lead as Chris Johnson was stuffed on a run and was tackled in his end zone for a safety. Tennessee pulled ahead with a Locker touchdown pass of 10 yards to Delanie Walker, and Bironas had the go-ahead extra point. The Titans extended the lead as Alterraun Verner picked off Schaub and returned the ball for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Bironas knocked in the PAT. The Texans answered as Arian Foster ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and then he ran in the two-point conversion. The game went into overtime, and Houston prevailed as Schaub tossed a 3 yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins for a touchdown and a 30-24 win. The Texans are now 2-0 and the Titans drop to 1-1.

Moving up to Indianapolis, where the Colts welcome the Miami Dolphins. Miami began in the first quarter on a Ryan Tannehill 18 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace, and Caleb Sturgis made the extra point. Indianapolis got on the board with an Adam Vinatieri field goal of 30 yards. The Dolphins extended the lead with a Lamar Miller touchdown run of 10 yards, and Sturgis handled the extra point. The Colts shot back in the second quarter as Andrew Luck passed 3 yards to Coby Fleener for a touchdown, and Vinatieri was there with the extra point. Indianapolis took the lead as Ahmad Bradshaw ran in a 1 yard touchdown, and Vinatieri was true with the PAT. Miami pulled even on a Sturgis field goal of 54 yards. The Colts retook the lead in the third quarter on a 38 yard field goal by Vinatieri. The Dolphins pulled ahead as Charles Clay ran 1 yard for a touchdown and Sturgis knocked in the extra point. The fourth quarter was scoreless, so the Dolphins held on for a 24-20 win, and improved to 2-0 while dropping the Colts to 1-1.

Into Missouri, where the Kansas City Chiefs bring in the Dallas Cowboys. Kansas City led off with a first quarter Alex Smith touchdown pass of 2 yards to Jamaal Charles, and Ryan Succop made the extra point. Dallas got on the board with a 51 yard field goal by Dan Bailey. The Cowboys took the lead on a 2 yard Tony Romo touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, and Bailey was there with the extra point. The next scoring came in the third quarter from Dallas, as Bailey made a 30 yard field goal. The Chiefs edged ahead as Smith found Dwayne Bowe for 12 yards and a touchdown, and Succop had the go-ahead extra point. Kansas City padded the lead on a Succop field goal from 40 yards away. The Cowboys got some back when Bailey knocked in a 53 yard field goal. They failed to pull ahead, losing 17-16, with the Chiefs now at 2-0 and the Cowboys at 1-1.

To the southeast, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans was first to score in the first quarter on a 44 yard field goal by Garrett Hartley. Tampa Bay answered with a Josh Freeman touchdown pass of 5 yards to Kevin Ogletree, and Rian Lindell was true with the extra point. The Saints replied as Drew Brees found Jimmy Graham for 56 yards and a touchdown, and Hartley was true with the extra point. New Orleans added on in the third quarter as Hartley made a 41 yard field goal. The Buccaneers pulled ahead in the fourth quarter on a Mason Foster interception of Brees that he returned for 85 yards and a touchdown, and Lindell had the go-ahead PAT. The Saints answered at the end of the game with a good field goal by Hartley from 27 yards away to make it a 16-14 victory. The Saints improve to 2-0 while dropping the Buccaneers to 0-2.

Way to the west, the Arizona Cardinals welcome the Detroit Lions. Arizona got going in the second quarter on a Jay Feely field goal of 47 yards. Detroit took the lead as Matthew Stafford tossed a 72 yard touchdown to Calvin Johnson, and David Akers knocked in the extra point. The Cardinals went ahead again as Carson Palmer found Andre Ellington for 36 yards and a touchdown, and Feely was true with the extra point. The Lions regained the lead as Stafford and Johnson connected for 3 yards and another touchdown, and Akers again made the extra point. Arizona chipped back in the third quarter with a Feely field goal from 23 yards away. Detroit responded with DeAndre Levy returning an interception of Palmer for 66 yards and a touchdown, and Akers booted the PAT. The Cardinals pulled closer on a field goal by Feely, good from 43 yards out. Arizona kept going with a 33 yard Feely field goal. The Cardinals took the lead as Rashard Mendenhall ran in a 1 yard touchdown, but the two-point attempt from Palmer to Michael Floyd failed. Nonetheless, the Cardinals still won 25-21, and both teams moved to 1-1.

Into New Jersey, where the New York Giants bring in the Denver Broncos for the Manning Bowl. New York struck first in the first quarter on a Josh Brown field goal of 36 yards. Denver took the lead in the second quarter on a 20 yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno, and Matt Prater supplied the extra point. The Giants got some back as Brown made a 24 yard field goal. New York went ahead on a Brown field goal of 41 yards. The Broncos replied as Prater made a 42 yard field goal to regain the lead. Denver added on in the third quarter as Peyton Manning threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker, and Prater was there with the extra point. The Giants pulled back as Brandon Jacobs ran in a 1 yard touchdown, and Brown booted the extra point. The Broncos replied as Moreno ran 25 yards for a touchdown, and Prater knocked in the PAT. Denver padded the lead as Peyton Manning tossed an 11 yard touchdown to Julius Thomas, and Prater again made the extra point. The Broncos got some more as Trindon Holliday returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown, and Prater drove in the extra point. New York got some back as Eli Manning found Da'Rel Scott for 23 yards and a touchdown, and Brown came on for the extra point. Denver iced it at 41-23 with a 47 yard Prater field goal, and improved to 2-0 while the Giants fall to 0-2.

Crossing the country to Oakland, where the Raiders host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Oakland started in the first quarter on an 11 yard touchdown run by Marcel Reece, and Sebastian Janikowski made the extra point. Jacksonville got on the board in the second quarter with a Josh Scobee field goal from 27 yards out. The Raiders replied with a 46 yard field goal by Janikowski. Oakland added on in the third quarter as Janikowski made a 30 yard field goal. The Raiders padded the lead as Janikowski booted a 29 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. In a case of deja vu, Oakland extended the lead with another 29 yard Janikowski field goal. The Jaguars answered with Chad Henne passing 13 yards for a touchdown to Clay Harbor, but the two-point attempt to Stephen Burton failed. This ended up producing the final score of 19-9 Raiders, who are now 1-1 while the Jaguars fall to 0-2.

Finally, on Sunday Night Football, the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers. The weather won in the first quarter, with lightning storms around the Seattle area causing a delay. Once the game resumed, Seattle opened in the second quarter as San Francisco committed a penalty in the end zone for a safety. The Seahawks added on as Steven Hauschka kicked a 30 yard field goal. Seattle extended the lead in the third quarter with a 14 yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch, and Hauschka was true with the extra point. San Francisco got on the board with a 21 yard field goal by Phil Dawson. The Seahawks answered in the fourth quarter as Russell Wilson tossed Lynch a 7 yard touchdown pass, and Hauschka supplied the PAT. Seattle kept going as Hauschka made a 37 yard field goal. The Seahawks padded the lead as Lynch ran in a 2 yard touchdown, and Hauschka again handled the extra point. This was good for a statement victory of 29-3, and the Seahawks are now 2-0 while the 49ers drop to 1-1.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 12 2013-2014

Two games on today to wrap up a slow weekend. We begin in...

Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Mikhail Biryukov are in goal. Yekaterinburg got going in the second period on a Vasily Streltsov goal, assisted by Nikita Tryamkin and Ilya Krikunov. Avtomobilist added on with an Alexei Simakov goal, fueled by Anton Lazarev. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board as Vitaly Sitnikov scored, thanks to Igor Magogin and Igor Skorokhodov. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 2-1 final, with the three stars being Kovar (39 for 40 in saves), Simakov, and Biryukov (23 for 25 in saves).

The other game comes from Kazan, where Ak Bars hosts Avangard Omsk. Teemu Lassila and Emil Garipov are called on to start. Kazan began in the first period with a power play goal by Shaun Heshka, powered by Evgeny Medvedev. Ak Bars added on with a Chris Bourque goal, fueled by Vladimir Tkachyov. Kazan extended the lead with a Tim Stapleton goal, coming on the power play via Alexander Burmistrov and Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars padded the lead in the second period on a Burmistrov power play goal, passed from Heshka and Stapleton. Denis Kostin came on in relief of Lassila. Kazan kept going in the third period on a power play goal by Janne Pesonen, made possible by Konstantin Korneyev and Nikulin. Ak Bars iced it at 6-0 with a power play goal by Kirill Petrov, set up by Dmitry Obukhov and Pesonen. The three stars were Heshka, Burmistrov, and Stapleton, while Nikulin, Pesonen, and Garipov (27 save shutout).

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 11 2013-2014

Four games on a calm Saturday, beginning in...

Podolsk, as Vityaz hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Ivan Lisutin tend the twines. Moscow opened in the first period with a Filip Novak power play goal, powered by Maxim Pestushko. Dynamo added on in the third period when Alexei Sopin score, thanks to Andrei Mironov. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Yeryomenko (18 save shutout), Novak, and Lisutin (34 for 36 in saves).

Southeast to Kazakhstan, where Barys Astana welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Sergei Borisov and Vitaly Yeremeyev are in the blue paint. Astana struck first in the first period with a Fyodor Polishchuk goal, with a lone assist by Talgat Zhailauov. Barys added on as Roman Starchenko scored an unassisted power play goal. Mytishchi got on the board in the second period with a Sergei Shmelyov goal, courtesy of Alexander Kadeikin. Astana replied with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Brandon Bochenski and Dustin Boyd. Atlant answered on an Oleg Yashin goal, via Konstantin Koltsov. Barys extended their lead with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, set up by Zhailauov. Mytishchi chipped back with another Shmelyov goal, assisted by Kadeikin. Stanislav Galimov relieved Borisov for the third period. Astana padded the lead in the third period on an Evgeny Blokhin goal, fueled by Josh Gratton and Mikhail Rakhmanov. Atlant pulled back on a power play goal by Rafael Batyrshin, pushed through by Bobby Sanguinetti. They failed to tie the game, handing Barys a 5-4 win. The three stars were Shmelyov, Zhailauov, and Kadeikin.

Back to the Moscow area, where Spartak brings in Lev Praha. Atte Engren is mismatched with Jeff Glass in goal. Moscow was first to score in the first period with a goal from Alexei Krutov, passed from Vyacheslav Kozlov. Praha tied it on a Martin Thornberg goal, going in unassisted. Spartak took the lead back in the second period with a power play goal by Andrei Sergeyev, powered by Rastislav Spirko. Lev retied it as Thornberg scored again, courtesy of Patrik Zackrisson. Moscow again gained the lead on a Pavel Medvedev goal, fueled by Dmitry Chernykh. Praha got another equalizer as Michal Repik scored, with the help of Nathan Oystrick and Ondrej Nemec. Spartak took the lead once again in the third period as Medvedev scored his second of the game, made possible by Igor Volkov. Spartak held on from here to win 4-3, with the three stars being Medvedev, Thornberg, and Krutov.

Finally, we end in Moscow, where CSKA hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Rastislav Stana guard the cages. Riga started in the first period with a Miks Indrasis goal, made possible by Mat Robinson and Roberts Bukarts. Moscow tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Maxim Goncharov, powered by Igor Grigorenko and Alexander Radulov. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Bukarts and Radulov exchanged goals early, and then Radulov edged Bukarts in a later round for a 2-1 win. Radulov, Stana (17 for 18 in saves), and Tellqvist (20 for 21 in saves) get the three stars, while Bukarts gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 10 2013-2014

Only one game today, and it's not even in Russia. Medvescak Zagreb of Croatia hosts Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia. Jaroslav Janus and Mark Dekanich are in the creases. Zagreb led off in the first period with a Ryan Vesce goal, assisted by Bill Thomas and Charles Linglet. Bratislava tied it as Roman Kukumberg scored, thanks to Milan Bartovic and Jonathan Sigalet. Medvescak took the lead back with a goal by Ivan Svarny in the second period, set up by Boyd Kane and Patrick Bjorkstrand. Zagreb added on as Jonathan Cheechoo scored, courtesy of Brian Willsie. Slovan shot back in the third period as Bartovic scored, with a lone helper by Juraj Mikus. Bratislava tied it with a Tomas Netik goal, fueled by Libor Hudacek. Slovan completed the comeback with an overtime goal to win 4-3, coming when Mario Bliznak scored, with an assist provided by Bartovic. The three stars were Bartovic, Bliznak, and Netik.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Thursday Night Football Week 2 2013

This week's Thursday Night game is a spectacular installment in the rivalry between the host New England Patriots and the visiting New York Jets. New England began with a first quarter Tom Brady touchdown pass to Aaron Dobson for 39 yards, and Stephen Gostkowski handled the extra point. The Patriots added on as Gostkowski made a 21 yard field goal. New York got on the board as Nick Folk kicked a 37 yard field goal. New England responded in the second quarter with a 30 yard field goal by Gostkowski. The Jets pulled closer in the third period as Bilal Powell ran in a 3 yard touchdown, and Folk booted the extra point. The fourth quarter saw no points scored, so the Patriots held on for a 13-10 win, and improve to 2-0 on the season while dropping the Jets to 1-1.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 9 2013-2014

There are ten games to be played today, beginning in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Teemu Lassila are in goal. Mytishchi began with a first period goal by Konstantin Koltsov, assisted by Bobby Sanguinetti. Atlant took the lead as Juha-Pekka Haataja scored, with a lone helper from Ilya Kablukov. Omsk got on the board as Tomas Zaborsky scored, thanks to Alexander Perezhogin and Denis Kulyash. Avangard tied the game as Zaborsky scored again, via Kulyash and Perezhogin. Mytishchi took the lead back in the second period with a goal from Alexander Kadeikin, set up by Igor Radulov. Omsk answered as Kulyash scored, with assists provided by Alexander Popov and Kirill Lyamin. Avangard gained the lead in the third period when Valentin Pyanov scored a goal, helped along by Alexei Badyukov. This was good for a 4-3 Avangard victory, with Kulyash, Zaborsky, and Perezhogin getting the three stars.

Next up, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Evgeny Lobanov stand in the creases. Yaroslavl led off with a first period goal by Sergei Plotnikov, assisted by Anton But. Lokomotiv added on as Yegor Averin scored, via Plotnikov. Yaroslavl extended the lead in the second period with an Emil Galimov goal, going in unassisted. Lokomotiv wrapped it up at 4-0 in the third period when David Ullstrom scored, with the help of Alexander Chernikov. The three stars were Sanford (28 save shutout), Plotnikov, and Averin.

Moving along to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra welcomes Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Mikhail Biryukov receive the starting nods. Cherepovets was first to score in the first period as Vladimir Antipov scored an unassisted goal. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it with a Mikhail Yakubov goal, courtesy of Marek Troncinsky and Ivan Khlyntsev. Yugra took the lead with an Igor Skorokhodov goal, made possible by Igor Magogin and Vitaly Sitnikov. Khanty-Mansiysk padded the lead on a power play goal by Mikhail Tyulyapkin, powered by Khlyntsev and Yakubov. The scoring was non-existent in the second and third periods, so Yugra walked out with a 3-1 victory, with the three stars being Biryukov (29 for 30 in saves), Yakubov, and Khlyntsev.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana brings in SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Ari Ahonen guard the cages. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, assisted by Vadim Shipachyov. Astana tied it as Dustin Boyd scored, thanks to Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. SKA took the lead back with a power play goal by Viktor Tikhonov, powered by Kovalchuk and Roman Cervenka. St. Petersburg added on in the second period when Alexei Ponikarovsky scored, with the help of Yury Alexandrov and Andrei Sigaryov. SKA extended the lead as Cervenka scored a power play goal, fueled by Dmitry Kalinin and Patrick Thoresen. St. Petersburg padded the lead as Kalinin scored a power play goal, passed from Kovalchuk and Cervenka. Barys got one back in the third period on a Roman Savchenko goal, guided in by Talgat Zhailauov and Vladislav Kolesnikov on the power play. They got no closer, losing 5-2, with the three stars going to Kovalchuk, Cervenka, and Kalinin.

Back in Russia, Vityaz Podolsk hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Andrei Vasilevsky and Ivan Lisutin are in the blue paint. Ufa opened with a first period goal by Nikita Filatov, assisted by Dmitry Makarov and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on in the second period when Brent Sopel scored, thanks to Makarov and Kirill Koltsov on the power play. Podolsk got on the board as Anton Korolyov scored, with helpers provided by Alexander Rybakov and Vyacheslav Solodukhin. Ufa responded in the third period when Stefan Ruzicka scored a power play goal, powered by Koltsov and Andrei Zubarev. Vityaz got one back with another Korolyov goal, fueled by Logan Pyett. They failed to get an equalizer, leaving Salavat Yulaev with a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Korolyov, Makarov, and Koltsov.

To the east, Ak Bars Kazan welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Alexander Pechursky is mismatched with Konstantin Barulin in goal. Kazan started in the first period as Janne Pesonen scored, with the help of Shaun Heshka and Vladimir Tkachyov. Ak Bars added on in the second period as Mikhail Varnakov scored a goal, passed from Heshka and Tim Stapleton. Kazan extended the lead in the third period when Dmitry Obukhov scored, thanks to Konstantin Korneyev and Denis Golubev. Magnitogorsk got on the board as Chris Lee scored a power play goal, powered by Rinat Ibragimov and Danis Zaripov. Metallurg pulled closer with a Yaroslav Khabarov power play goal, set up by Justin Hodgman. They couldn't complete the comeback, dropping a 3-2 decision to Ak Bars, and the three stars were Obukhov, Heshka, and Pesonen.

Backtracking to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Georgy Gelashvili protect the nets. Nizhnekamsk got going in the first period with a Nikita Shchitov goal, courtesy of Oskar Osala and Igor Polygalov. Neftekhimik added on in the second period as Osala scored a power play goal, powered by Nikolai Belov and Vitaly Shulakov. They held on from here for a 2-0 victory, with the three stars being Sudnitsin (31 save shutout), Osala, and Shchitov.

Onward to Moscow, where Spartak Moscow brings in their cross-town rivals, CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana and Jeff Glass tend the twines. CSKA led off with a first period goal by Alexander Radulov, fueled by Igor Grigorenko. Spartak tied it in the second period as Vyacheslav Kozlov scored, thanks to Alexei Krutov. Spartak took the lead with an Igor Volkov goal, made possible by Deron Quint. Spartak added on as Quint scored a power play goal in the third period, powered by Krutov and Kozlov. CSKA got one back as Oleg Saprykin scored a goal, courtesy of Brandon Reid, but they failed to escape a 3-2 defeat. The three stars were Quint, Kozlov, and Krutov.

Moving west to Belarus, where Dinamo Minsk hosts Lev Praha. Petri Vehanen and Lars Haugen are the masked men. Praha began with a Jakub Klepis goal, assisted by Niko Kapanen and Nicklas Danielsson. Minsk got on the board as Alexander Pavlovich scored in the second period, with the help of Alexander Kitarov. Lev retook the lead with a Toms Kubalik goal, fueled by Nathan Oystrick. Praha added on as Jiri Sekac scored, with a lone assist from Patrik Zackrisson. There was no scoring in the third period, so Lev won 3-1, and the three stars were Kubalik, Vehanen (29 for 30 in saves), and Sekac.

Finally, in Ukraine, Donbass Donetsk hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Jan Laco will attempt to stop the puck. Donetsk started in the first period with a Peter Podhradsky power play goal, passed from Evgeny Dadonov and Maxim Yakutsenya. Riga tied it on a Marcel Hossa goal, with a lone assist by Vitalijs Pavlovs. Dinamo took the lead as Kyle Wilson scored, thanks to Gunars Skvorcovs. Riga added on in the second period as Wilson scored again, and Pavlovs had the only helper. Donbass pulled back on a third period power play goal by Dadonov, powered by Vaclav Nedorost and Yakutsenya. Dinamo shot back and iced the game at 4-2 as Wilson finished his hat trick with an unassisted empty net goal. The three stars were Wilson, Dadonov, and Pavlovs, while Yakutsenya got an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 8 2013-2014

Only two games on today, beginning in...

Novosibirsk, as Sibir hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Mika Jarvinen and Sergei Gaiduchenko are the masked men. Novosibirsk started in the first period with a Dmitry Kugryshev goal, courtesy of Konstantin Alexeyev. Sibir added on in the second period as Nikolai Lemtyugov scored, with the help of Jori Lehtera. Khabarovsk got on the board as Dylan Reese scored, with assists provided by Artyom Kryukov and Brian Salcido. Amur tied it in the third period on a Mikhail Fisenko goal, made possible by Vladimir Loginov and Ilshat Bilalov. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Novosibirsk's Dmitry Kugryshev matched Khabarovsk's Alexander Yunkov, followed by Lemtyugov and Jakub Petruzalek trading goals, and then Yunkov and Kugryshev washed each other out again before Sibir finally went ahead for good 3-2 with Kugryshev's third shootout tally. The three stars were Kugryshev, Lemtyugov, and Yunkov.

The other game comes from Novokuznetsk, as Metallurg hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Joakim Lundstrom and Niko Hovinen are between the pipes. Novokuznetsk opened in the second period with an unassisted goal by Marko Anttila. Vladivostok tied it in the third period as Enver Lisin scored an unassisted power play goal. Admiral won 2-1 in overtime as Felix Schutz scored, with a lone assist by Yegor Antropov. The three stars went to Schutz, Lundstrom (34 for 35 in saves), and Hovinen (37 for 39 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.