Thursday, October 17, 2013

KHL Day 44 2013-2014

There are eight games going as the KHL approaches a busier stretch of days. We begin in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Mika Jarvinen are the inexperienced goalies. Yekaterinburg started in the first period on a Fyodor Malykhin power play goal, with a lone assist by Sami Lepisto. Khabarovsk tied it on an Evgeny Korotkov goal, passed from Alexander Yunkov and Jakub Petruzalek. Amur took the lead in the second period with a Petruzalek goal, going in unassisted. Avtomobilist tied it with a power play goal by Tobias Viklund, powered by Malykhin. Khabarovsk took the lead back in the third period with an unassisted power play goal by Yunkov. Yekaterinburg retied it with an Evgeny Fyodorov goal, coming off of Lepisto. Avtomobilist took the lead again as Vladislav Yegin scored, thanks to Anton Lazarev and Artyom Chernov. Yekaterinburg iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Eduard Lewandowski, set up by Sergei Gusev. The three stars were Malykhin, Lepisto, and Petruzalek, while Yunkov gets an honorable mention.

South to Vladivostok, with Admiral welcoming Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Joakim Lundstrom receive the starting nods. Vladivostok was first to score in the first period as Sergei Barbashev potted the puck, with the help of Vladimir Pervushin. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it in the second period on a Jonas Andersson power play goal, powered by Denis Sokolov and Stephen Dixon. Admiral retook the lead with a power play goal by Igor Bortnikov, assisted by Artyom Ternavsky and Evgeny Grachyov. Yugra tied it in the third period with a Denis Grot goal, fueled by Artyom Bulyansky and Anton Krysanov. Khanty-Mansiysk took the lead as Andersson scored an unassisted goal. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Andersson, Grot, and Biryukov (32 for 34 in saves).

To the west, Sibir Novosibirsk hosts Avangard Omsk. Mathieu Garon and Mikko Koskinen are in the blue paint. Omsk struck first in the first period with a Denis Kulyash goal, fueled by Nikita Pivtsakin. Novosibirsk tied it on a second period goal by Nikolai Lemtyugov, assisted by Jarno Koskiranta. Sibir took the lead with a power play goal by Vyacheslav Belov, powered by Jori Lehtera. They were able to protect the lead to the finish, winning 2-1, with the three stars being Belov, Koskinen (35 for 36 in saves), and Lemtyugov.

Moving along to Novokuznetsk, as Metallurg brings in Barys Astana. Vitaly Yeremeyev and Nikita Lozhkin are between the pipes. Astana began in the first period with a Dmitry Upper goal, assisted by Nikolai Antropov. Novokuznetsk tied it on a Zakhar Arzamastsev goal, guided in by Vadim Mitryakov and Nikita Vyglazov. Metallurg took the lead with a Denis Kurepanov goal, going in unassisted. Barys tied it as Brandon Bochenski scored an unassisted goal. Novokuznetsk retook the lead in the third period on a Damir Zhafyarov goal, an unassisted goal. Astana retied it as Bochenski scored again, with a lone helper by Nigel Dawes. Barys took the lead as Dawes scored, and Bochenski returned the favor with a lone assist. Astana wrapped it up at 5-3 with a Konstantin Rudenko empty net goal, set up by Upper. The three stars were Bochenski, Dawes, and Upper.

Way to the west, Vityaz Podolsk hosts Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Ivan Lisutin draw the starts. Minsk got going in the second period with an Alexander Materukhin goal, fueled by Geoff Platt and Jaroslav Kristek. Podolsk tied it in the third period on a Dmitry Shitikov goal, assisted by Vyacheslav Solodukhin and Dinar Khafizullin. Vityaz won the game 2-1 in the shootout with goals from Josh Hennessy and Shitikov. The three stars were Shitikov, Lisutin (28 for 29 in saves), and Haugen (38 for 39 in saves).

Backtracking to Nizhny Novgorod, where Torpedo welcomes Donbass Donetsk. Michael Leighton and Vitaly Koval guard the cages. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the third period as Tim Brent scored a power play goal, powered by Wojtek Wolski. This was all they needed for a 1-0 win, with the three stars going to Koval (25 save shutout), Brent, and Leighton (27 for 28 in saves).

Down in Kazan, Ak Bars hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Barry Brust and Konstantin Barulin tend the twines. Kazan opened in the first period with a Mikhail Varnakov power play goal, powered by Shaun Heshka and Tim Stapleton. Ak Bars added on as Varnakov scored again, thanks to Alexander Burmistrov. Zagreb got on the board with a Charles Linglet goal, fueled by Ryan Vesce in the second period. Kazan answered with a shorthanded goal by Dmitry Obukhov, passed from Konstantin Korneyev. Ak Bars extended the lead with another shorthanded goal, recorded by Kirill Petrov, and set up by Alexei Tereshchenko. Medvescak got one back in the third period as Patrick Bjorkstrand scored, with a lone assist by Kurtis Foster. Zagreb pulled closer as Vesce scored, with the help of Sasa Martinovic. Ak Bars iced it with an unassisted empty net goal by Tereshchenko for a 5-3 win. The three stars were Varnakov, Vesce, and Tereshchenko.

Finally, we end in Bratislava, where Slovan brings in Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Jaroslav Janus are the masked men. Bratislava led off in the first period as Tomas Netik scored, with the help of Milan Bartovic and Juraj Mikus. Slovan added on with a second period goal by Michel Miklik, via Michal Vondrka and Michal Sersen. Riga got one back as Marcel Hossa scored, thanks to Kyle Wilson and Vitalijs Pavlovs. Bratislava answered on a Martin Stajnoch goal, fueled by Miklik on the power play. Dinamo shot back with a power play goal by Mat Robinson, powered by Wilson and Hossa. Riga tied it as Wilson scored, with a lone assist by Hossa. Dinamo took the lead in the third period with a Robinson goal, set up by Paul Szczechura. This was good for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Robinson, Hossa, and Wilson, while Miklik gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

NHL Day 16 2013-2014

Two games on tonight, beginning with...

The Washington Capitals hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby are in the blue paint. New York opened in the second period with a John Moore goal, passed from Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers added on as Ryan Callahan scored his third of the season, with the help of Richards and Derick Brassard. This was all they needed for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Lundqvist (22 save shutout), Richards, and Holtby (34 for 36 in saves).

The other game comes from Anaheim, as the Ducks welcome the Calgary Flames. Joey MacDonald and Viktor Fasth are wearing the masks. Anaheim started with a first period goal by Dustin Penner, his second of the season, via Ryan Getzlaf and Bryan Allen. The Ducks added on as Kyle Palmieri scored, an unassisted goal. Calgary got on the board with a Lee Stempniak shorthanded goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. Anaheim replied in the second period as Teemu Selanne scored, with the help of Jakob Silfverberg. The Flames got one back in the third period as Jiri Hudler scored his third of the season, thanks to Kris Russell and Joe Colborne. They failed to get an equalizer, losing 3-2, with the three stars going to Selanne, Stempniak, and Fasth (33 for 35 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 43 2013-2014

Another day with just four games on, beginning in...

Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Andrei Vasilevsky are given the starting nods. Ufa was first to score in the first period with an Anton Babchuk goal, courtesy of Igor Mirnov and Alexei Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev added on when Alexander Pankov scored in the second period, thanks to Alexander Stepanov and Alexei Glukhov. Yaroslavl got on the board with a Vadim Khlopotov goal, assisted by Vitaly Vishnevsky and Anton But. Ufa iced it at 3-1 in the third period with an empty net goal by Antti Pihlstrom, set up by Brent Sopel. The three stars went to Vasilevsky (20 for 21 in saves), Pankov, and Babchuk.

Down in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Vasily Koshechkin are the masked men. Mytishchi led off in the first period with a Maxim Velikov goal, passed from Ilya Kablukov. Magnitogorsk tied it with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg took the lead on a Zaripov goal, with a lone assist by Chris Lee. Magnitogorsk added on as Rinat Ibragimov scored, thanks to Zaripov on a power play in the second period. Atlant got one back as Igor Radulov scored, via Sergei Shmelyov. Metallurg shot back in the third period with a power play goal by Vladislav Kamenev, powered by Justin Hodgman. Mytishchi got one back on a Pavel Kopytin goal, fueled by Alexander Kadeikin. They failed to tie the game, losing 4-3, with the three stars being Zaripov, Mozyakin, and Kamenev.

Over in Chelyabinsk, Traktor hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Ilya Ezhov and Michael Garnett are in the creases. St. Petersburg began in the first period on a Viktor Tikhonov power play goal, powered by Tony Martensson and Roman Cervenka. SKA added on as Vadim Shipachyov scored a power play goal, with a lone assist by Cervenka. St. Petersburg got another in the second period when Patrick Thoresen converted a penalty shot he received after being tripped by Dmitry Ryabykin on a breakaway. SKA extended the lead with an Evgeny Skachkov goal, fueled by Alexei Ponikarovsky. Vladislav Fokin replaced Garnett in goal at this time. St. Petersburg padded the lead on an Igor Makarov goal, assisted by Ilya Kovalchuk and Andrei Sigaryov. SKA struck again in the third period with a Sigaryov goal, set up by Makarov. St. Petersburg got another as Martensson scored, with the help of Thoresen. This made it 7-0, the final, with the three stars being Makarov, Sigaryov, and Thoresen, and the honorable mentions were Martensson, Cervenka, and Ezhov (23 save shutout).

Finally, in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Alexander Sudnitsin are the reliable goalies. Nizhnekamsk struck first in the first period on a Dmitry Kosmachyov power play goal, powered by Yegor Milovzorov. Cherepovets tied it in the second period as Gleb Klimenko scored a power play goal, via Petr Caslava. Severstal took the lead in the third period on a Niclas Andersen goal, guided in by Evgeny Kovyrshin and Pavel Buchnevich. They held on to win 2-1, with the three stars awarded to Stepanek (35 for 36 in saves), Klimenko, and Andersen.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

NHL Day 15 2013-2014

A whopping twelve games on today, beginning in...

Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Cam Ward are set to start. Chicago led off in the first period on a Patrick Sharp goal, via Michal Handzus. The Blackhawks added on as Marian Hossa scored his second of the season, with the help of Brandon Saad and Andrew Shaw. Carolina got on the board in the third period with an Alexander Semin goal, his second of the year, coming off of Eric Staal and Tuomo Ruutu. The Hurricanes tied it as Ron Hainsey scored an unassisted goal. The tie lasted into a shootout, where the Blackhawks won 3-2 with a lone tally by Sharp. The three stars were Sharp, Hossa, and Crawford (32 for 34 in saves).

Out to Long Island, as the New York Islanders welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Ryan Miller and Evgeni Nabokov are the veteran goalies. New York was first to score in the first period with a Frans Nielsen goal, his third of the season, assisted by Thomas Hickey and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Buffalo tied it on a Tyler Ennis goal, made possible by Drew Stafford and Christian Ehrhoff in the second period. The Islanders took the lead back on a Matt Martin goal, passed from Casey Cizikas and Eric Boulton. The Sabres retied it on a Thomas Vanek power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Cody Hodgson and Ehrhoff. New York pulled ahead again in the third period as Matt Moulson scored his second of the season, courtesy of John Tavares and Lubomir Visnovsky on the power play. Buffalo tied it again on a Marcus Foligno goal, with a lone assist by Tyler Myers. The tie was broken in favor of the Sabres in the shootout with goals scored by Vanek and Ennis to topple the Islanders' single tally by Moulson. The three stars of the 4-3 game were Ennis, Vanek, and Ehrhoff, while Moulson gets an honorable mention.

Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo faces a lesser foe in Steve Mason in goal. Philadelphia opened with a Tye McGinn goal, his second of the season, fueled by Nicklas Grossmann and Erik Gustafsson. Vancouver tied it on the second of the year by Ryan Kesler, passed from Jannik Hansen and Christopher Tanev. The Flyers took the lead in the second period as McGinn scored his second of the game and third of the season, set up by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. The Canucks tied it on a Chris Higgins goal in the third period, via Henrik Sedin and Jason Garrison. Vancouver took the lead when Kesler scored his second of the game and third of the year, assisted by Higgins and Henrik Sedin. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars belonging to Kesler, McGinn, and Higgins, and an honorable mention was given to Henrik Sedin.

Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Edmonton Oilers. Jason LaBarbera is mismatched with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Pascal Dupuis goal, his second of the season, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz. Edmonton tied it on a second period goal by Ales Hemsky, his second of the year, guided in by David Perron and Jeff Petry. The Penguins retook the lead on a goal by Kunitz, his second of the season, via Crosby and Dupuis. The Oilers retied it as Jordan Eberle scored his second of the year, with the help of Taylor Hall and Mark Arcobello. Pittsburgh gained the lead back as Evgeni Malkin scored his second of the campaign, a power play goal, powered by Paul Martin and Crosby, the latter getting a sock trick. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars awarded to Dupuis, Kunitz, and Crosby.

Up in Toronto, the Maple Leafs welcome the Minnesota Wild. Darcy Kuemper and James Reimer are in the creases. Toronto began with a Tyler Bozak power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Dave Bolland and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs added on with a Trevor Smith goal, via Morgan Rielly and Franson. Minnesota got on the board as Jason Pominville scored his third of the year, courtesy of Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise on the power play. Toronto replied in the second period on a Mason Raymond power play goal, his third of the season, set up by Nazem Kadri and Rielly. Josh Harding relieved Kuemper at this time. The Maple Leafs iced it at 4-1 in the third period as Raymond scored his second of the game and fourth of the year, an empty net goal pushed through by Phil Kessel. The three stars were handed to Raymond, Reimer (36 for 37 in saves), and Rielly, while Franson gets an honorable mention.

Way to the south, the Tampa Bay Lightning bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Ben Bishop are the masked men. Nineteen seconds into the first period, Tampa Bay struck first with a Ryan Malone goal, coming off of Sami Salo and Martin St. Louis. The Lightning added on with a Teddy Purcell goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Ondrej Palat and Matthew Carle. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the second period as St. Louis scored his third of the year, with the help of Steven Stamkos and Andrej Sustr. Ben Scrivens replaced Quick at this time. Los Angeles got on the board in the third period with a Slava Voynov goal, made possible by Matt Frattin and Jarret Stoll. The Lightning replied as St. Louis scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, with helpers provided by Malone and Stamkos. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-1 with a Palat goal, his second of the year, guided in by Purcell and Tyler Johnson. The three stars were St. Louis, Bishop (30 for 31 in saves), and Purcell, while Malone, Palat, and Stamkos get honorable mentions.

Back north, the Detroit Red Wings host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Jonas Gustavsson will occupy the blue paint. Detroit led off in the first period on a Daniel Alfredsson goal, fueled by Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Columbus got on the board as Cam Atkinson scored his second of the season, an unassisted power play goal. The Red Wings took the lead back with a power play goal by Todd Bertuzzi, his second of the year, powered by Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. They held on from here for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Zetterberg, Gustavsson (36 for 37 in saves), and Bobrovsky (30 for 32 in saves).

A bit southwest, the St. Louis Blues welcome the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jaroslav Halak guard the cages. San Jose started in the first period as Logan Couture scored his third of the season, with the help of Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton on the power play. The Sharks added on as Joe Pavelski scored a power play goal, powered by Jason Demers and Marleau. San Jose extended the lead with a Tommy Wingels goal in the second period, his second of the year, guided in by James Sheppard and Andrew Desjardins. The Sharks padded the lead as Scott Hannan scored, via Thornton and Brent Burns. Brian Elliott relieved Halak for the third period. San Jose kept going in the third period on a Thornton goal, with a lone assist by Tomas Hertl. St. Louis got on the board as Vladimir Tarasenko scored his fourth of the season, passed from Jaden Schwartz and Patrik Berglund. The Blues pulled closer with a Roman Polak goal, fueled by Derek Roy and Vladimir Sobotka. The Sharks answered on a Marleau power play goal, his fifth of the year, pushed through by Couture and Thornton. This made it a 6-2 final, with the three stars going to Thornton, Marleau, and Couture.

Eastward to Nashville, as the Predators bring in the Florida Panthers. Jacob Markstrom and Pekka Rinne receive the starting nods. Nashville began with a first period Shea Weber goal, via Mike Fisher and Colin Wilson. Florida tied it in the second period as Jonathan Huberdeau scored his third of the season, assisted by Scott Gomez and Mike Weaver. The Predators retook the lead on a Fisher goal, his second of the year, coming off of Craig Smith and Seth Jones. The Panthers retied it on a Marcel Goc goal, his third of the season, with assists provided by Jesse Winchester and Shawn Matthias. Nashville pulled ahead again as Smith scored, thanks to Gabriel Bourque and Weber. The Predators extended the lead with a Patric Hornqvist power play goal, his second of the year, powered by David Legwand and Filip Forsberg. Florida got one back as Matt Gilroy scored, with the help of Tomas Fleischmann and Brad Boyes. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-3, and the three stars went to Weber, Smith, and Fisher.

Back to Canada, as the Winnipeg Jets host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Ondrej Pavelec are between the pipes. Montreal opened with a Brandon Prust goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Francis Bouillon and Daniel Briere. The Canadiens added on as P.K. Subban scored his second of the year, thanks to David Desharnais and Josh Gorges. Montreal iced it at 3-0 in the third period as Briere scored an empty net power play goal, going in unassisted. The three stars of the game were Price (36 save shutout), Briere, and Prust.

Southwest to Colorado, as the Avalanche welcome the Dallas Stars. Dan Ellis and Semyon Varlamov will attempt to stop the puck. Dallas struck first in the first period with a Rich Peverley goal, assisted by Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Colorado tied it with the fourth of the season by Matt Duchene, an unassisted goal. The Avalanche took the lead a Jan Hejda scored, with the help of Nathan MacKinnon and P.A. Parenteau. The Stars tied it with a Cody Eakin goal in the second period, a power play goal powered by Ray Whitney and Erik Cole. Colorado regained the lead with another Duchene goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, guided in by Parenteau and Erik Johnson. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Duchene, Parenteau, and Varlamov (39 for 41 in saves).

Finally, we end in Phoenix, where the Coyotes bring in the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Mike Smith are the reliable goalies. Phoenix got going in the second period as Rob Klinkhammer scored his third of the season, assisted by Antoine Vermette. The Coyotes added on with a Radim Vrbata goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Mikkel Boedker and Martin Hanzal. Ottawa got one back as Jason Spezza scored his second of the season, with helpers provided by Patrick Wiercioch and Milan Michalek. The Senators tied it in the third period as Spezza scored his second of the game and third of the year, courtesy of Colin Greening. Ottawa took the lead as Spezza finished his natural hat trick with his fourth of the season, a power play goal powered by Erik Karlsson and Michalek. Phoenix tied it with a Mike Ribeiro power play goal, via Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Vermette. The Senators won 4-3 in overtime on a Cory Conacher goal, his second of the year, with assists from Marc Methot and Greening. The three stars were Spezza, Michalek, and Greening, while Vermette gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Day 42 2013-2014

Today, there is only one game, and it is the battle of the former Czechoslovakia. Slovan Bratislava hosts Lev Prague. Petri Vehanen and Jaroslav Janus tend the twines. Bratislava opened with a Michal Vondrka goal in the first period, assisted by Peter Olvecky and Michel Miklik. Slovan added on with a power play goal by Tomas Netik, powered by Juraj Mikus and Zdenek Kutlak. Bratislava extended the lead in the second period as Olvecky scored, with helpers from Vondrka and Miklik. Prague got one back as Calle Ridderwall scored, thanks to Jiri Sekac. Slovan replied as Netik scored his second of the game, an empty net goal, set up by Milan Bartovic. Lev got one back in odd fashion, as they were whistled for a penalty, but Slovan put the puck in their own net, so a goal was credited to Michal Birner, with assists provided by Ryan O'Byrne and Michal Repik. Bratislava iced it at 5-2 with an unassisted goal by Miklik. The three stars were Miklik, Vondrka, and Netik, while Olvecky gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Monday Night Football Week 6 2013

Tonight's Monday night game comes from San Diego, as the Chargers host the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis got going in the first quarter as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 30 yard field goal. San Diego took the lead in the second quarter on a Philip Rivers touchdown pass of 22 yards to Keenan Allen, and Nick Novak made the extra point. The Chargers added on as Novak drilled a 31 yard field goal. The Colts got some back on a 50 yard Vinatieri field goal. San Diego extended the lead on a third quarter 33 yard field goal by Novak. The Chargers padded the lead in the fourth quarter with a Novak field goal from 34 yards. Indianapolis chipped back as Vinatieri made a 51 yard field goal. San Diego wrapped it up with a Novak field goal of 50 yards. This produced a 19-9 final, with the Chargers now at 3-3 and the Colts falling to 4-2.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

NHL Day 14 2013-2014

Today, there are only three games on, beginning in...

Boston with a holiday matinee, as the Bruins bring in the Detroit Red Wings in the afternoon. Jonas Gustavsson is mismatched with Tuukka Rask in goal. Detroit began in the first period with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Pavel Datsyuk. Boston tied it as Loui Eriksson scored his second of the year, with the help of Johnny Boychuk and Reilly Smith. The Red Wings retook the lead on a second period goal by Stephen Weiss, his second of the season, passed from Johan Franzen and Brian Lashoff. Detroit extended the lead with Daniel Cleary's goal, courtesy of Daniel Alfredsson and Joakim Andersson. The Bruins pulled back in the third period on a Milan Lucic goal, his third of the year, made possible by Dennis Seidenberg and David Krejci. This wasn't enough to tie the game, and they fell 3-2, with the three stars going to Gustavsson (28 for 30 in saves), Cleary, and Zetterberg.

Over in Washington, the Capitals host the Edmonton Oilers. Jason LaBarbera and Braden Holtby get the stating nods. Edmonton led off in the first period with Boyd Gordon's fourth of the season, assisted by Justin Schultz. Washington tied it as Brooks Laich scored, thanks to Steve Oleksy. The Capitals took the lead on a second period goal by Joel Ward, a power play goal powered by Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Washington added on as Ovechkin scored his sixth of the year, courtesy of Marcus Johansson and Backstrom. The Capitals extended the lead with a Troy Brouwer power play goal, set up by Mikhail Grabovski and Backstrom, the latter getting a sock trick. The Oilers got one back in the third period as Will Acton scored, with assists provided by Jeff Petry and David Perron. The final was 4-2, with the three stars going to Backstrom, Ovechkin, and Holtby (28 for 30 in saves).

Finally, in Buffalo, the Sabres welcome the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Jhonas Enroth are in the blue paint. Minnesota got going in the first period as Kyle Brodziak scored, thanks to Matt Cooke and Jonas Brodin. Buffalo tied the game in the second period with a Brian Flynn goal, via Zemgus Girgensons. The Wild took the lead back as Jason Pominville scored his second of the season, a power play goal, powered by Mikko Koivu and Jared Spurgeon. They held on to win 2-1, with the three stars going to Pominville, Harding (22 for 23 in saves), and Brodziak.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.