KHL Day 30 2013-2014

Nine games coming from Russia today. Fun fact: I was still awake when the first game started. We begin in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Lev Praha. Petri Vehanen and Alexei Murygin are the goalies. Khabarovsk got going in the second period with a Jakub Petruzalek goal, assisted by Jan Mursak. Amur added on as Mursak scored an empty net goal, going in unassisted. With three second left in the game, Petruzalek added a second empty net goal, also unassisted. The three stars were Murygin (35 save shutout), Petruzalek, and Mursak.

Next up, Admiral Vladivostok welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Miroslav Kopriva and Joakim Lundstrom are in the blue paint. Bratislava opened in the second period with a Tomas Netik goal, set up by Michal Sersen. Vladivostok tied it as Richard Gynge scored, thanks to Mathias Porseland. Admiral took the lead with a Niclas Bergfors goal, made possible by Enver Lisin and Denis Osipov. Vladivostok iced it at 3-1 as Lisin scored an unassisted goal. The three stars were Lundstrom (26 for 27 in saves), Lisin, and Bergfors.

Westward to Novokuznetsk, where Metallurg brings in Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Niko Hovinen are given the starting nods. Riga was first to score in the first period on an Aleksandrs Nizivijs goal, fueled by Paul Szczechura. Dinamo added on with a second period Andris Dzerins goal, passed from Sandis Ozolins and Gints Meija. This would be good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars belonging to Tellqvist (35 save shutout), Nizivijs, and Dzerins.

Into Novosibirsk, where Sibir hosts CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana opposes a lesser foe in Mikko Koskinen in goal. Moscow began in the second period with an Ilari Filppula goal, guided in by Daniil Markov and Ilya Zubov. Novosibirsk tied it with an unassisted goal by Jori Lehtera. Sibir took the lead on an Alexander Kutuzov goal, coming off of Jonas Enlund. Novosibirsk extended the lead with a Kristian Kudroc goal, going in unassisted. CSKA got one back in the third period as Sergei Shirokov scored, with the help of Maxim Goncharov. They failed to get an equalizer, falling 3-2, with the three stars being Kudroc, Lehtera, and Kutuzov.

Moving along to Magnitogorsk, as Metallurg welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Vasily Koshechkin tend the twines. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Chris Lee and Jan Kovar. Metallurg added on in the second period as Mozyakin scored again, via Danis Zaripov and Kovar. Magnitogorsk extended the lead in the third period with an Evgeny Grigorenko goal, helped along by Justin Hodgman and Denis Platonov. This made it 3-0, the final, with Mozyakin, Koshechkin (23 save shutout), and Kovar getting the three stars.

To the west, Vityaz Podolsk brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Ivan Lisutin are the reliable goalies. Cherepovets started in the first period with a Nikolai Kazakovtsev goal, assisted by Pavel Dedunov and Alexander Yevseyenkov. Podolsk tied it in the third period with a Logan Pyett goal, made possible by Yury Koksharov and Vyacheslav Solodukhin. Vityaz took the lead as Pyett scored again, thanks to Dinar Khafizullin and Koksharov. Podolsk added on when Maxim Afinogenov potted an empty net goal, set up by Alexander Vasilyev and Josh Hennessy. They would go on to win 3-1, with the three stars handed to Pyett, Lisutin (28 for 29 in saves), and Koksharov.

Up in Moscow, Dynamo hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Alexander Yeryomenko guard the cages. Yaroslavl led off in the second period as Yegor Yakovlev scored, with the help of Alexander Chernikov and Alexei Vasilyev. Lokomotiv added on with another Yakovlev goal, with a lone assist by Yury Petrov. Yaroslavl extended the lead as Sergei Plotnikov scored, thanks to Daniil Apalkov. Moscow got one back on a Maxim Solovyov goal, passed from Denis Kokarev and Alexei Tsvetkov, but it only made it a 3-1 loss for them. The three stars were Yakovlev, Sanford (26 for 27 in saves), and Plotnikov.

Backtracking to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Vitaly Koval are the masked men. Nizhny Novgorod opened in the first period with a Mikhail Grigoryev goal, made possible by Tim Brent. Mytishchi answered in the second period as Yaroslav Dyblenko scored, with the help of Alexei Mikhnov and Andreas Engqvist. Atlant took the lead as Dyblenko scored an unassisted goal in the third period. Mytishchi iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal from Sergei Shmelyov, set up by Rafael Batyrshin. The three stars were given to Dyblenko, Galimov (27 for 28 in saves), and Grigoryev.

Finally, we end in Kazan, with Ak Bars bringing in SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Konstantin Barulin are between the pipes. St. Petersburg got going in the second period with an Evgeny Skachkov goal, via Vadim Shipachyov. Kazan tied it as Artyom Lukoyanov scored, thanks to Vladimir Tkachyov and Evgeny Medvedev. SKA took the lead back in the third period on a Dmitry Yudin goal, going in unassisted. St. Petersburg added on as Alexei Ponikarovsky scored an unassisted power play goal. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars being Yudin, Salak (30 for 31 in saves), and Ponikarovsky.

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NHL Day 2 2013-2014

Three more games on the second day of the season, beginning in...

Philadelphia, with the Flyers hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Steve Mason are sent out to start. Philadelphia was first to score in the first period on a Brayden Schenn power play goal, powered by Vincent Lecavalier and Mark Streit. Toronto tied it in the second period on a Phil Kessel goal, with a lone assist by Dion Phaneuf. The Maple Leafs took the lead when Dave Bolland scored, courtesy of Joffrey Lupul and Nikolai Kulemin in the third period. Toronto added on as Bolland scored his second of the game, a power play goal assisted by Lupul and Cody Franson. They went on for a 3-1 win, with the three stars being Bolland, Bernier (31 for 32 in saves), and Lupul.

Westward to Detroit, where the Red Wings welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Jimmy Howard protect the nets. Detroit began in the first period with a Mikael Samuelsson goal, fueled by Cory Emmerton and Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings added on with an unassisted Pavel Datsyuk goal. Buffalo got on the board in the third period as Zemgus Girgensons scored, with the help of Brian Flynn. It wasn't enough for them to avoid a 2-1 loss, with the three stars awarded to Datsyuk, Howard (19 for 20 in saves), and Miller (30 for 32 in saves).

Finally, in Colorado, the Avalanche bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Viktor Fasth and Semyon Varlamov receive the starting nods. Colorado opened with an unassisted Ryan O'Reilly goal in the first period. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a Steve Downie power play goal, powered by O'Reilly and Alex Tanguay. Colorado extended the lead as John Mitchell scored, thanks to Tyson Barrie and Cody McLeod. The Avalanche padded the lead on a Jamie McGinn goal, passed from Nathan MacKinnon and Tanguay. Colorado kept going in the third period as McGinn scored his second of the game, set up by MacKinnon and P.A. Parenteau. The Avalanche got another on a power play goal by Matt Duchene, made possible by Downie and Tanguay, the latter getting a sock trick. Anaheim avoided the shutout as Jakob Silfverberg scored, and the assists were credited to Nick Bonino and Mark Fistric. They still lost 6-1, and the three stars were handed to McGinn, Tanguay, and O'Reilly, while Downie, MacKinnon, and Varlamov (35 for 36 in saves) were given honorable mentions.

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KHL Day 29 2013-2014

There are five KHL games on today, and three NHL games tonight. We begin today in...

Nizhnekamsk, as Neftekhimik hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Andrei Vasilevsky and Alexander Sudnitsin are in the creases. Ufa led off in the first period with a Nikita Filatov goal, assisted by Kirill Koltsov and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on with an Alexander Mereskin goal, passed from Denis Khlystov and Yegor Dubrovsky. Ufa extended the lead in the second period as Alexei Glukhov scored, with the help of Alexander Stepanov. Nizhnekamsk got on the board when Maxim Berezin scored, via Mikhail Anisin and Petr Koukal. Neftekhimik pulled closer on an unassisted Koukal goal. Nizhnekamsk tied it with an Andrei Taratukhin goal, guided in by Pyotr Khokhryakov and Bogdan Yakimov. The tie lasted into overtime, where Anisin lifted Neftekhimik to a comeback victory by scoring a power play goal, pushed along by Nikita Shchitov. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Anisin, Taratukhin, and Koukal.

Way to the west, Donbass Donetsk welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Michael Leighton are set to start. Yekaterinburg started in the first period with an Eduard Lewandowski goal, with a lone assist by Andrei Antonov. Donetsk tied it as Teemu Laine scored a power play goal, thanks to Ruslan Fedotenko. Avtomobilist took the lead back as Igot Yemeleyev scored a power play goal, powered by Nikolai Zhilin. Donbass tied it again on an unassisted goal by Peter Podhradsky. Donetsk took the lead on a Sergei Varlamov goal, set up by Lukas Kaspar and Evgeny Belukhin. Donbass extended the lead with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, courtesy of Maxim Yakutsenya and Clay Wilson. This held up for a 4-2 win, with the three stars belonging to Varlamov, Dadonov, and Podhradsky.

Backtracking to Moscow, as Spartak hosts Barys Astana. Ari Ahonen and Alexei Ivanov are between the pipes. Astana struck first in the first period on a Josh Gratton goal, fueled by Roman Savchenko. Moscow tied it as Alexander Nikulin scored a goal, passed from Nikolai Zherdev. Barys retook the lead as Konstantin Rudenko scored, thanks to Dmitry Upper and Nikolai Antropov. Astana extended the lead in the third period with a Mikhail Rakhmanov goal, assisted by Andrei Gavrilin. Barys added on when Mike Lundin found twine, with the help of Roman Starchenko. Spartak got one back on a Vyacheslav Kozlov goal, set up by Denis Bodrov and Zherdev. Moscow puller closer with a Rastislav Spirko goal, via Kozlov and Andrei Sergeyev. They failed to get an equalizer, losing 4-3. The three stars were given to Lundin, Kozlov, and Zherdev.

Leaving Russia again, we head to Minsk, where Dinamo brings in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Kevin Lalande are called on for the starts. Minsk opened in the first period with an Alexei Kalyuzhny goal, assisted by Tomas Surovy. Dinamo added on with a Geoff Platt goal, via Oleg Goroshko and Artur Gavrus. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board when Guntis Galvins scored, thanks to Alexei Pepelyaev and Mikhail Yakubov on the power play. Minsk replied in the second period with a Lukas Krajicek goal, courtesy of Platt. Dinamo struck again as Surovy scored, with a lone assist provided by Kalyuzhny. Minsk extended the lead with a Platt goal, made possible by Konstantin Zakharov and Ilya Shinkevich. Yugra shot back with a Mikhail Zhukov goal, coming off of Kirill Knyazev and Vitaly Sitnikov. Khanty-Mansiysk pulled closer as Veli-Matti Savinainen potted a shorthanded goal, set up by Vladimir Gorbunov. They wouldn't score again, dropping a 5-3 game, with the three stars going to Platt, Kalyuzhny, and Surovy.

Finally, in Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb hosts Avangard Omsk. Denis Kostin and Barry Brust protect the nets. Zagreb got going in the second period with a Jonathan Cheechoo power play goal, powered by Bill Thomas and Hannu Pikkarainen. Medvescak added on with another power play goal, scored by Hugh Jessiman and assisted by Pikkarainen and Matt Murley. Zagreb extended the lead in the third period when Andrew Murray scored, with the help of Luke Walker. Medvescak padded the lead on another Cheechoo goal, via Mark Katic. This made it a 4-0 final, with Cheechoo, Brust (39 save shutout), and Pikkarainen getting the three stars.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

NHL Day 1 2013-2014

I know you've all been waiting for this even more than I have been. This is the first time in two years we've had a normal NHL opening night. For a refresher course, I list all goalie matchups as road team and then home team, so that is how you can understand them. I fully believe I will be able to provide up-to-date coverage at the end of the last game every night, for the entirety of the season. With that said, there are three games to get things going today, beginning in...

Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Carey Price are the masked men. Toronto began in the first period with a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, powered by Phil Kessel and Cody Franson. Montreal tied it with a Lars Eller goal, passed from Raphael Diaz and Alex Galchenyuk. The Canadiens took the lead with a Brendan Gallagher goal, fueled by Eller and Galchenyuk. The Maple Leafs tied it in the second period on a Dion Phaneuf goal, guided in by Nazem Kadri and Nikolai Kulemin. Toronto took the lead as Tyler Bozak scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal. The Maple Leafs extended the lead with a Mason Raymond goal, set up by Troy Bodie. Montreal got one back as Eller scored his second of the game, an unassisted goal. The unofficial three stars belonged to Eller, Galchenyuk, and Raymond.

Down in the States, the Chicago Blackhawks raise their Stanley Cup banner in front of the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford are in the blue paint. Chicago led off in the first period with a Brandon Bollig goal, assisted by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Marcus Kruger. Washington tied it on an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, powered by Mikhail Grabovski and Nicklas Backstrom. The Blackhawks retook the lead as Patrick Kane scored, with helpers provided by Jonathan Toews and Michal Rozsival. The Capitals retied it in the second period with a Grabovski goal, with a lone assist by Joel Ward. Chicago took the lead back as Brent Seabrook scored a power play goal, via Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad. Washington tied it again in the third period with a Grabovski power play goal, with assists provided by Mike Green and Ovechkin. The Capitals took the lead on another Grabovski goal, his second of the game coming on the power play from Green and Backstrom. The Blackhawks got another equalizer on a Saad goal, made possible by Michal Handzus and Duncan Keith. Chicago took the lead again with a Johnny Oduya goal, pushed along by Saad and Hjalmarsson. The Blackhawks iced it at 6-4 with an empty net goal by Hossa, and it went in unassisted. The three stars were unofficially named as Grabovski, Saad, and Hossa, while Ovechkin, Hjalmarsson, Backstrom, and Green.

Finally, we're back in Canada, as the Edmonton Oilers host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Devan Dubnyk draw the starts. Edmonton started in the first period as Mike Brown scored, with a assists by Luke Gazdic and Will Acton. Winnipeg tied it with a power play goal by Mark Scheifele, powered by Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom. The Jets took the lead as Bryan Little scored, via Enstrom and Byfuglien. The Oilers evened the score again with a Boyd Gordon goal, coming off of Justin Schultz and Ales Hemsky on the power play. Edmonton took the lead in the second period as Hemsky scored, with helpers provided by Taylor Hall and Ryan Smyth. The Oilers added on as Jesse Joensuu scored a power play goal, powered by Jordan Eberle and Mark Arcobello. Winnipeg got one back as Michael Frolik scored, with assistance from Zach Bogosian and Jacob Trouba. The Jets tied it up with a Trouba goal, going in unassisted. Winnipeg took the lead when Frolik scored his second of the night, made possible by Eric Tangradi and Byfuglien, the latter getting a sock trick. This was good for a 5-4 win, and the three stars were awarded unofficially to Frolik, Byfuglien, and Trouba, while Hemsky and Enstrom get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. All three stars selections this season are my opinion only, and not reflective of the actual stadium-selected three stars.

KHL Day 28 2013-2014

Eight games on the schedule today, which is also the first day of the NHL season (more on that tonight). We begin the day of hockey in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Slovan Bratislava. Miroslav Kopriva and Alexei Murygin are set to start. Bratislava opened with a first period Tomas Mojzis goal, fueled by Milan Bartovic. Slovan added on when Roman Kukumberg scored, thanks to Libor Hudacek. Khabarovsk got on the board when Alexander Yunkov scored, with a lone assist by Jakub Petruzalek. Bratislava replied with a Michel Miklik goal, set up by Michal Vondrka. Slovan extended the lead with an unassisted goal by Juraj Mikus. Bratislava padded the lead in the second period as Tomas Netik scored, courtesy of Bartovic. Amur got one back with a Timofei Shishkanov goal, made possible by Evgeny Korotkov. The scoring ended here, with Slovan picking up a 5-2 win, and the three stars were Bartovic, Miklik, and Kopriva (31 for 33 in saves).

Into Vladivostok, where Admiral welcomes Lev Praha. Petri Vehanen and Joakim Lundstrom receive the starting nods. Vladivostok began in the first period on a Vladimir Pervushin goal, courtesy of Sergei Barbashev. Praha tied it on a Topi Jaakola goal, coming off of Calle Ridderwall. Lev took the lead on a second period goal by Michal Repik, via Michal Birner. Admiral retied it in the third period as Enver Lisin scored an unassisted goal. Praha ended up winning 3-2 in overtime with another Jaakola goal, again set up by Ridderwall. The three stars were Jaakola, Repik, and Ridderwall.

Westward to Novosibirsk, as Sibir hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Sergei Gaiduchenko are in the creases. Riga was first to score in the first period with a Marcel Hossa goal, made possible by Vojtech Polak and Aleksandrs Nizivijs. Novosibirsk tied it on a Vladimir Butuzov goal, thanks to Artyom Karavayev and Stepan Sannikov. Dinamo took the lead back as Hossa scored again, with the help of Kyle Wilson and Arvids Rekis. Riga added on in the second period as Sandis Ozolins scored a power play goal, powered by Wilson. Dinamo extended the lead in the third period when Wilson scored, and Ozolins and Polak had the assists. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Hossa, Wilson, and Ozolins, while Polak gets the honorable mention.

Next up, Metallurg Novokuznetsk brings in CSKA Moscow. Ilya Proskuryakov and Niko Hovinen are the masked men. Novokuznetsk struck first in the first period on a Yegor Martynov power play goal, powered by Raymond Giroux. Moscow tied it in the second period as Nikolai Prokhorkin scored a goal, assisted by Denis Denisov. CSKA took the lead with a Vladimir Zharkov goal, going in unassisted. Metallurg tied it again with a third period goal by Kurtis McLean, guided in by Artyom Gareyev. Moscow took the game 3-2 with a power play goal in overtime scored by Maxim Goncharov, set up by Denisov and Ilya Zubov. The three stars were Zharkov, Denisov, and Proskuryakov (26 for 28 in saves).

Way to the west, Vityaz Podolsk hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Johan Backlund are between the pipes. Podolsk started in the first period with a Sergei Topol goal, via Alexander Korolyuk and Yury Koksharov. Yaroslavl tied it on a power play goal by Daniil Apalkov, powered by Sergei Plotnikov and Yegor Averin. Lokomotiv took the lead on a second period goal by Averin, an unassisted goal. Vityaz retied the game in the third period with a power play goal by Korolyuk, guided in by Logan Pyett and Josh Hennessy. Yaroslavl took the lead back with an Anton But goal, with a lone helper provided by Mikhail Pashnin. They held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being given to Averin, Korolyuk, and But.

Backtracking to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Emil Garipov are in the blue paint. Kazan led off with a power play goal by Alexander Svitov, powered by Dmitry Obukhov and Tomas Vincour. Mytishchi tied it on an Alexander Kadeikin goal, fueled by Bobby Sanguinetti and Sergei Shmelyov. Ak Bars regained the lead in the second period on a power play goal by Mikhail Varnakov, set up by Alexander Burmistrov. Kazan added on in the third period with another power play goal, this time from the tape of Burmistrov, and passed from Evgeny Medvedev and Shaun Heshka. Atlant got one back as Konstantin Koltsov converted a penalty shot he received after being tripped by Ilya Nikulin on a breakaway. Ak Bars quickly shot back with a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, with a lone helper by Nikulin. They would go on to win 4-2, with the three stars being Burmistrov, Varnakov, and Tkachyov.

Completing the circle, we're back in Moscow, as Dynamo hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Alexander Yeryomenko tend the twines. Moscow got going in the first period with a Filip Novak power play goal, with a lone assist by Konstantin Gorovikov. Dynamo added on with a Konstantin Volkov goal, thanks to Novak and Maxim Karpov. Moscow extended the lead when Martins Karsums scored, via Alexei Tsvetkov and Denis Kokarev. Cherepovets got on the board in the second period when Nikolai Bushuyev scored, with the help of Linus Videll. The scoring ended here, with Dynamo winning 3-1, and the three stars were Novak, Yeryomenko (19 for 20 in saves), and Volkov.

We end the day in Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Georgy Gelashvili will play goal. Nizhny Novgorod opened in the first period as Daniil Zharkov scored, with helpers provided by Maxim Potapov and Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. Torpedo added on with a power play goal by Jarkko Immonen, powered by Juuso Hietanen. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead as Immonen scored again in the second period, thanks to Pavel Valentenko and Sakari Salminen. St. Petersburg got on the board as Yury Alexandrov scored, courtesy of Artemy Panarin. Torpedo responded as Immonen finished his hat trick with a power play goal, assisted by Hietanen and Denis Parshin. Nizhny Novgorod padded the lead on a Mikhail Grigoryev goal, passed from Wojtek Wolski and Vladimir Denisov. SKA got one back on a Panarin goal, guided in by Viktor Tikhonov and Alexander Kucheryavenko. They got no closer, losing 5-2, with the three stars being Immonen, Hietanen, and Panarin.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion and check back here tonight and for the rest of the season for NHL action alongside KHL games.

Monday Night Football Week 4 2013

Tonight's Monday Night Football game comes from New Orleans, as the Saints host the Miami Dolphins. New Orleans led off in the first quarter with a 5 yard touchdown run by Darren Sproles, and Garrett Hartley made the extra point. Miami got on the board as Caleb Sturgis made a 34 yard field goal. The Saints extended the lead with a Drew Brees touchdown pass of 27 yards to Jimmy Graham in the second quarter, and Hartley handled the extra point. The Dolphins shot back as Lamar Miller ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Sturgis booted the extra point. New Orleans shot back on a Brees touchdown pass of 13 yards to Sproles, and Hartley was true with the PAT. The Saints added on in the third quarter with a 4 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Benjamin Watson, and Hartley supplied another extra point. New Orleans padded the lead with a 43 yard touchdown pass from Brees to Graham, allowing Hartley to make another extra point. Miami answered in the fourth quarter as Ryan Tannehill found Charles Clay for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Sturgis knocked in the extra point. The Saints replied with a 29 yard field goal by Hartley. This made it 38-17, the final, with the Saints going to 4-0 and the Dolphins falling to 3-1.

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KHL Day 27 2013-2014

Only four games going today, beginning in...

Moscow, as Spartak hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Jeff Glass are between the pipes. Khanty-Mansiysk got going in the third period with a Jonas Andersson goal, assisted by Andrei Shefer and Mikhail Yakubov. Yugra held on to the 1-0 win, with the three stars being Biryukov (36 save shutout), Andersson, and Glass (21 for 22 in saves).

Over in Belarus, Dinamo Minsk hosts Barys Astana. Vitaly Yeremeyev and Lars Haugen are the masked men. Astana led off in the first period with a Talgat Zhailauov power play goal, powered by Roman Savchenko and Roman Starchenko. Minsk tied it with a second period goal by Oleg Goroshko, courtesy of Alexander Kitarov and Lukas Krajicek. Dinamo took the lead on an Alexei Yefimenko goal, coming on the power play via Dmitry Meleshko and Krajicek. Barys tied it with a Brandon Bochenski goal, fueled by Dustin Boyd and Savchenko. Astana took the lead as Bochenski scored again, thanks to Nikolai Antropov and Maxim Semyonov. Barys added on as Starchenko scored, with assists provided by Zhailauov and Fyodor Polishchuk. Astana extended the lead in the third period on a Bochenski goal, completing his hat trick on a shorthanded goal set up by Boyd. This made it 5-2, a final, with Bochenski, Zhailauov, and Starchenko getting the three stars, while Savchenko, Boyd, and Krajicek get the honorable mentions.

Into Ukraine, where Donbass Donetsk welcomes Avangard Omsk. Teemu Lassila and Michael Leighton are in the creases. Donetsk opened in the first period with a Petteri Wirtanen goal, made possible by Teemu Laine. Donbass added on as Vaclav Nedorost scored, with the help of Peter Podhradsky. Donetsk extended the lead as Evgeny Dadonov scored, thanks to Nedorost and Oskars Bartulis. Donbass padded the lead on another goal by Nedorost, via Maxim Yakutsenya and Clay Wilson. Donetsk struck again in the second period with an unassisted goal by Lukas Kaspar. Omsk got on the board on an unassisted goal by Alexei Badyukov. Donbass shot back in the third period when Laine scored, with helpers from Wirtanen and Ruslan Fedotenko. This produced a 6-1 final score, with the three stars being Nedorost, Wirtanen, and Laine, while Leighton gets an honorable mention for his 27-for-28 in saves performance.

Finally, in Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Barry Brust will protect the nets. Zagreb started in the first period on a Matt Murley goal, guided in by Jonathan Cheechoo. Medvescak added on in the second period with a Cheechoo power play goal, powered by Murley and Kurtis Foster. Zagreb extended the lead on a Murley unassisted goal in the third period. This was good for a 3-0 win, and Murley, Brust (32 save shutout), Cheechoo.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.