Saturday, October 19, 2013

KHL Day 46 2013-2014

There are nine games on today, beginning very early (just past midnight on the west coast of the United States), and they start in...

Vladivostok, as Admiral hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Evgeny Ivannikov are given the starting nods. Vladivostok started in the first period with an unassisted power play goal by Enver Lisin. Admiral added on with a Felix Schutz power play goal, powered by Denis Osipov and Niclas Bergfors. Yekaterinburg got on the board in the second period with a Fyodor Malykhin power play goal, assisted by Tobias Viklund and Vladislav Yegin. This was it for the scoring, with Admiral holding on for a 2-1 win, and the three stars were Ivannikov (39 for 40 in saves), Schutz, and Lisin.

North to Khabarovsk, as Amur welcomes Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Alexei Kuznetsov and Alexei Murygin are in the creases. Khabarovsk was first to score in the first period as Timofei Shishkanov scored an unassisted goal. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it in the second period on a Mikhail Zhukov goal, with a lone assist by Vitaly Sitnikov. Amur took the lead back on a Dmitry Lugin goal, going in unassisted. Yugra retied it with a Sitnikov goal, fueled by Zhukov and Tomas Starosta. Khabarovsk retook the lead again with an unassisted power play goal by Dmitry Bykov. Amur made it 4-2 on an unassisted Shishkanov goal, his second of the game. This was a final, with Shishkanov, Zhukov, and Sitnikov getting the three stars.

To the west, Sibir Novosibirsk brings in Barys Astana. Vitaly Yeremeyev and Mikko Koskinen are set to start. Novosibirsk led off in the first period with an Alexei Kopeikin power play goal, powered by Ivan Lekomtsev and Nikolai Lemtyugov. Sibir added on in the second period as Dmitry Kugryshev scored, with a lone assist by Vyacheslav Belov. Astana got on the board with a power play goal by Nigel Dawes, coming off of Brandon Bochenski and Dustin Boyd. Barys got a lucky break to tie the game, as the goalie Yeremeyev was the last to touch the puck before it sailed into a vacated net, resulting in an unassisted goal for the goalie. Astana took the lead in the third period as Dawes scored again, and Boyd supplied the only assist. This was good for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Dawes, Yeremeyev (36 for 38 in saves and a goal), and Boyd.

Staying close by, Metallurg Novokuznetsk hosts Avangard Omsk. Andrei Mezin and Nikita Lozhkin are the unknown goalies. Novokuznetsk opened in the first period with a Rafael Akhmetov goal, fueled by Konstantin Turukin and Evgeny Lapenkov. Omsk tied it on an Alexander Popov goal, coming off of Stefan Ruzicka. Avangard took the lead in the second period with an Alexander Frolov goal, via Dmitry Semin and Sergei Kostitsyn. Omsk added on when Alexander Perezhogin scored, with a lone assist by Ivan Baranka. Ilya Sorokin relieved Lozhkin at this time. Metallurg got one back as Akhmetov scored his second of the game, thanks to Ansel Galimov and Lapenkov. Novokuznetsk tied it in the third period with a Vadim Mitryakov goal, set up by Zakhar Arzamastsev and Denis Kurepanov. Metallurg took the lead on an Alexei Kosourov goal, made possible by Sergei Yemelin. They went on to win 4-3, with the three stars being Sorokin (perfect in relief), Akhmetov, and Lapenkov.

Way to the west, Dynamo Moscow welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Dekanich is mismatched with Alexander Yeryomenko in goal. Zagreb struck first in the first period with a Ryan Vesce goal, assisted by Hannu Pikkarainen and Charles Linglet. Moscow tied it in the second period as Martins Karsums scored a power play goal, powered by Dmitry Vishnevsky and Konstantin Gorovikov. Medvescak took the lead back on a Linglet goal, with a lone helper from Kurtis Foster. Dynamo tied it on a Konstantin Volkov goal in the third period, thanks to Marek Kvapil. Zagreb took the lead once again on a Michael Ryan goal, fueled by Sasa Martinovic. Moscow pulled even with an Alexei Tsvetkov goal, passed from Kvapil. Dynamo took the lead with just four seconds left in regulation on a Denis Mosalyov goal, made possible by Leo Komarov. This was good for a stunning 4-3 comeback win, and the three stars were Mosalyov, Kvapil, and Tsvetkov, while Linglet gets an honorable mention.

Down in Podolsk, Vityaz brings in Donbass Donetsk. Michael Leighton and Johan Backlund have the green light to play goal. Podolsk began in the first period on a Dmitry Shitikov goal, coming on the power play from Josh Hennessy and Vladimir Malevich. Donetsk tied it with a Lukas Kaspar goal, assisted by Randy Robitaille. Vityaz retook the lead with a Branislav Mezei goal, going in unassisted. Donbass tied it with an Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, powered by Clay Wilson. Podolsk retook the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Alexander Vasilyev, guided in by Dinar Khafizullin and Maxim Afinogenov. Vityaz iced it at 4-2 with an unassisted, shorthanded, and empty net goal by Afinogenov. The three stars were Afinogenov, Mezei, and Backlund (32 for 34 in saves).

Backtracking to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Konstantin Barulin are the solid goalies. Kazan started in the first period with an Alexander Svitov goal, assisted by Janne Pesonen and Alexander Osipov on the power play. Ak Bars added on as Tomas Vincour scored, with a lone assist by Evgeny Bodrov. Kazan extended the lead on a Dmitry Obukhov goal, passed from Osipov. Ak Bars padded the lead on a Bodrov goal, courtesy of Artyom Lukoyanov. Minsk got on the board in the third period with a Geoff Platt goal, via Derek Meech and Alexei Kalyuzhny. Kazan replied with a power play goal by Vincour, powered by Kirill Petrov and Alexei Tereshchenko. This was good for a 5-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Vincour, Bodrov, and Osipov.

Up in Nizhny Novgorod, Torpedo welcomes Spartak Moscow. Jeff Glass and Vitaly Koval guard the cages. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period with a Denis Parshin goal, assisted by Sakari Salminen and Alexander Makarov. Torpedo added on with a Pavel Valentenko goal, made possible by Vladimir Galuzin and Vyacheslav Kulyomin. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead on a Salminen goal, fueled by Parshin and Jarkko Immonen. Moscow got on the board as Alexei Krutov scored, with the help of Evgeny Kulik. Spartak pulled closer in the third period on a Matt Anderson power play goal, set up by Deron Quint and Rastislav Spirko. Moscow tied it as Alexander Niklulin scored a power play goal, thanks to Vyacheslav Kozlov. Spartak completed the comeback with an overtime goal by Kozlov, passed from Mikhail Yunkov, for a 4-3 win. The three stars were Kozlov, Parshin, and Salminen.

Finally, in Prague, Lev brings in CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana and Petri Vehanen tend the twines. Moscow opened in the first period on an Alexei Morozov goal, fueled by Ilari Filppula and Sergei Shirokov. Prague tied it in the second period as Michal Repik scored, thanks to Ryan O'Byrne. CSKA took the lead back in the third period with a Vladimir Zharkov goal, via Nikolai Prokhorkin and Georgy Misharin. This was good for a 2-1 win, and the three stars went to Stana (32 for 33 in saves), Zharkov, and Morozov.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

NHL Day 18 2013-2014

Only two games on again today, beginning in...

Winnipeg, where the Jets host the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Ondrej Pavelec are in the blue paint. St. Louis was first to score in the first period with a David Backes goal, his sixth of the season, via T.J. Oshie. Winnipeg tied it with Olli Jokinen's second of the year, thanks to Matt Halischuk. The Blues took the lead back on an Alexander Steen goal, his sixth of the season, going in unassisted. St. Louis extended the lead as Steen scored his second of the game and seventh of the year in the third period, via Backes and Jay Bouwmeester. The Jets got one back as Evander Kane potted his fourth of the season, with a lone helper from Bryan Little. Winnipeg tied it on a Tobias Enstrom goal, made possible by Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Oshie and Andrew Ladd cancelled each other out, followed by Steen and Little doing the game before Jokinen was able to win it all in sudden-death. The Jets skated away with a 4-3 win, and the three stars were Jokinen, Steen, and Oshie, while Little gets an honorable mention.

The other game comes from Anaheim, where the Ducks bring in the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jonas Hiller protect the nets. Anaheim struck first in the first period as Teemu Selanne scored his second of the season, with the help of Mathieu Perreault. Phoenix tied it on an Antoine Vermette goal, his second of the year, passed from Keith Yandle and Mike Ribeiro in the second period. The Coyotes took the lead in the third period as Rostislav Klesla scored, courtesy of Martin Hanzal and Shane Doan. The Ducks tied it as Nick Bonino recorded his third of the campaign, an unassisted goal. This game also went to the shootout, where Bonino was matched by Radim Vrbata, Corey Perry and Ribeiro washed each other out, Selanne and Oliver Ekman-Larsson cancelled each other out, and then Jakob Silfverberg won it for the Ducks with his shootout tally for a 3-2 win. The three stars were Selanne, Ribeiro, and Bonino. 

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KHL Day 45 2013-2014

Only four games on today, but they are big games. We begin with the biggest one, from...

Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Andrei Vasilevsky are set to start. Ufa began in the first period with a Dmitry Makarov goal, assisted by Nikita Filatov and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on as Alexander Mereskin scored, thanks to Ivan Vishnevsky and Denis Khlystov. Ufa extended the lead on an Antti Pihlstrom goal, fueled by Igor Mirnov and Mereskin. Salavat Yulaev padded the lead as Tomas Zaborsky scored, with the help of Khlystov and Brent Sopel. Cherepovets got on the board with a goal by Evgeny Kovyrshin, passed from Nikolai Kazakovtsev and Pavel Buchnevich. Ufa replied in the second period on an Alexander Stepanov goal, coming off of Alexei Glukhov and Yefim Gurkin. Salavat Yulaev kept going in the third period on an Alexander Pankov goal, set up by Anton Babchuk and Gurkin. Ufa struck again with a Hartikainen goal, with assists provided by Makarov and Filatov. Salavat Yulaev got another as Mirnov scored, helped along by Alexei Kaigorodov and Gurkin, the latter getting a sock trick. Severstal answered with an Alexander Yevseyenkov goal, with a lone assist by Linus Videll. Cherepovets chipped back with a Buchnevich goal, made possible by Kazakovtsev and Kovyrshin. This only made it 8-3 Salavat Yulaev, the final, with the three stars going to Makarov, Mirnov, and Gurkin, while Hartikainen, Gurkin, Buchnevich, Kovyrshin, Khlystov, and Filatov get the honorable mentions.

Over in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg welcomes SKA St. Petersburg. Ilya Ezhov and Vasily Koshechkin are the veteran goalies. St. Petersburg started with an Igor Makarov goal, assisted by Artemy Panarin. Magnitogorsk tied it with a Danis Zaripov power play goal, powered by Sergei Mozykin and Jan Kovar. SKA took the lead back in the second period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, fueled by Roman Cervenka and Vadim Shipachyov. St. Petersburg added on with an Alexander Kucheryavenko goal, guided in by Panarin and Evgeny Ryasensky. SKA made it 4-1 in the third period with a Maxim Chudinov power play goal, with a lone helper by Viktor Tikhonov. This was the final, with the three stars going to Ezhov (23 for 24 in saves), Kovalchuk, and Panarin.

Next up, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Vladislav Fokin receive the starting nods. Mytishchi led off with a first period goal by Andreas Engqvist, coming off of Yaroslav Dyblenko. Chelyabinsk tied it with an unassisted power play goal by Stanislav Chistov. Traktor took the lead when Jan Bulis scored a power play goal in the second period, powered by Dmitry Ryabykin. Atlant retied the game with another Engqvist goal, fueled by Igor Radulov. Mytishchi took the lead in the third period on a Pavel Kopytin goal, via Radulov. They held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Engqvist, Galimov (20 for 22 in saves), and Radulov.

Finally, in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik brings in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Alexander Sudnitsin protect the nets. Nizhnekamsk opened with a first period Yaroslav Alshevsky goal, fueled by Maxim Berezin and Stanislav Alshevsky. Yaroslavl tied it as Anton But scored an unassisted goal. Lokomotiv took the lead in the third period on a Yegor Averin goal, passed from Sergei Plotnikov and Daniil Apalkov. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 2-1, and the three stars were Averin, Sanford (33 for 34 in saves), and But.

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

NHL Day 17 2013-2014

Another day with twelve games on, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Ryan Miller protect the nets. Vancouver struck first in the first period as Chris Higgins scored his second of the season, via Mike Santorelli. The Canucks added on in the second period with a Brad Richardson shorthanded goal, his second of the year, set up by Jason Garrison and Santorelli. Vancouver iced it at 3-0 in the third period as Ryan Stanton scored, with the help of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The three stars were Luongo (25 save shutout), Richardson, and Santorelli.

Down on Long Island, the New York Islanders welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Evgeni Nabokov are in the blue paint. New York started in the first period on a Josh Bailey goal, his third of the season, assisted by Travis Hamonic and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Edmonton tied it as Taylor Hall scored his second of the year, thanks to Justin Schultz and Mark Arcobello. The Oilers took the lead eight seconds later as Hall scored his second of the game and third of the season, passed from Arcobello and Jordan Eberle. The Islanders retied it in the second period with a Kyle Okposo power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Matt Moulson and John Tavares. New York took the lead on a Tavares goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Okposo and Michael Grabner. They would hold on for a 3-2 win throughout the scoreless third period, and the three stars were Tavares, Hall, and Okposo, while Arcobello gets an honorable mention.

A bit west, the battle of Pennsylvania is renewed, as the Philadelphia Flyers bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury faces a lesser foe in Steve Mason in goal. Pittsburgh opened in the second period with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on as Chris Kunitz scored his third of the year, thanks to Pascal Dupuis and Matt Niskanen. Philadelphia got on the board as Wayne Simmonds scored a power play goal, powered by Claude Giroux and Brayden Schenn. Pittsburgh replied in the third period as Sidney Crosby notched his sixth of the season, assisted by Dupuis. The Penguins iced it at 4-1 with a Malkin empty net goal, his third of the year, set up by Craig Adams and Crosby. The three stars were Fleury (24 for 25 in saves), Crosby, and Malkin, while Dupuis gets an honorable mention.

Up in Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and James Reimer are the average goalies. Toronto got going with a second period goal by Joffrey Lupul, his sixth of the season, coming off of Paul Ranger. The Maple Leafs added on as Josh Leivo scored, thanks to Dave Bolland and Morgan Rielly. Carolina got on the board with a Ryan Murphy power play goal in the third period, powered by Jeff Skinner. The Hurricanes tied it on an Eric Staal goal, his third of the year, with a lone assist by Justin Faulk. Carolina took the lead as Ron Hainsey scored his second of the season, and the goalie Ward had the only helper. This was good for a 3-2 win, with Ward (24 for 26 in saves), Hainsey, and Staal getting the three stars.

Over in Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Carey Price guard the cages. Montreal was first to score in the first period on a Rene Bourque power play goal, his second of the season, powered by P.K. Subban. The Canadiens added on with a Michael Bournival goal, guided in by Andrei Markov and Subban. Montreal extended the lead in the second period on a shorthanded goal by Markov, going in unassisted. Columbus got on the board as Boone Jenner scored a power play goal, via Ryan Johansen and David Savard. The Blue Jackets pulled closer as Johansen scored, with a lone assist by Fedor Tyutin. Columbus tied it in the third period as Jenner scored his second of the game, another power play goal, made possible by Mark Letestu and Artem Anisimov. The Canadiens took the lead back as Tomas Plekanec scored his second of the year, thanks to Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges. Montreal wrapped it up at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Plekanec, his second of the game and third of the campaign, a shorthanded and empty net goal fueled by Brandon Prust and Raphael Diaz. The three stars were Plekanec, Jenner, and Subban, while Johansen and Markov get honorable mentions.

Back in Ontario again, the Ottawa Senators bring in the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Craig Anderson are manning the creases. Ottawa led off in the first period with an Erik Karlsson, his second of the season, assisted by Bobby Ryan. The Senators added on as Ryan scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Kyle Turris and Clarke MacArthur. Ottawa extended the lead in the second period on a Zack Smith goal, his second of the season, fueled by Karlsson and Jason Spezza. New Jersey got on the board in the third period with a Travis Zajac power play goal, powered by Marek Zidlicky and Patrik Elias. The Devils pulled closer as Steve Bernier scored, with a lone assist by Stephen Gionta. The Senators replied on a Milan Michalek goal, his second of the year, passed from Spezza and Karlsson. Ottawa finished it at 5-2 with a Spezza empty net goal, set up by Erik Condra. The three stars were given to Karlsson, Anderson (40 for 42 in saves), and Ryan, while Spezza gets an honorable mention.

Way to the south, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Ben Bishop receive the starting nods. Tampa Bay began in the first period as Tyler Johnson scored his second of the season, a power play goal, powered by Valtteri Filppula and Richard Panik. Minnesota tied it in the third period with a Mikko Koivu goal, with assists provided by Nino Neiderreiter and Ryan Suter. The Lightning retook the lead with the fifth of the year from Steven Stamkos, set up by Matthew Carle and Radko Gudas. Tampa Bay iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Sami Salo, going in unassisted. The three stars were Stamkos, Bishop (25 for 26 in saves), and Harding (27 for 29 in saves).

Staying in the south, the Florida Panthers welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask faces his old mentor, Tim Thomas, in goal. Boston was first to score in the first period with a Daniel Paille goal, fueled by Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski. The Bruins added on as Dougie Hamilton scored a power play goal, powered by David Krejci and Zdeno Chara. Florida got on the board in the second period on a Kris Versteeg goal, his second of the season, via Jonathan Huberdeau and Tom Gilbert. The Panthers tied it with a Jesse Winchester goal in the third period, passed from Nick Bjugstad. Boston took the lead late on a Reilly Smith goal, assisted by Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug. They held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars awarded to Smith, Hamilton, and Paille.

Northwest to Chicago, where the Blackhawks bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Corey Crawford tend the twines. Chicago struck first in the first period as Brandon Pirri scored, with a lone assist from Marian Hossa. St. Louis tied it with a David Backes goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo on the power play. The Blackhawks retook the lead in the second period as Hossa scored his third of the season, thanks to Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Blues tied it again as Alexander Steen scored his fifth of the year, courtesy of Bouwmeester and T.J. Oshie. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Oshie's lone tally lifted the Blues to a 3-2 win. The three stars were Oshie, Hossa, and Bouwmeester.

Backtracking to Nashville, as the Predators host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne are the star goalies. Nashville opened with a first period Matt Cullen goal, fueled by Craig Smith and Gabriel Bourque. Los Angeles tied it on a Slava Voynov goal, his second of the season, passed from Mike Richards and Kyle Clifford. The tie lasted all the way to a shootout, where Anze Kopitar provided the only tally the Kings needed for a 2-1 win. The three stars were Quick (34 for 35 in saves), Rinne (29 for 30 in saves), and Kopitar.

Southwest to Dallas, as the Stars welcome the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Dan Ellis are all padded up. San Jose quickly led off nine seconds into the first period with an unassisted goal by Tyler Kennedy. Dallas tied it on a Tyler Seguin goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Jamie Benn and Stephane Robidas. The Sharks took the lead back on a Matthew Nieto goal, his second of the year, assisted by Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels. The Stars pulled even again in the second period as Trevor Daley scored, with the help of Cody Eakin and Ray Whitney. San Jose took the lead back on a Patrick Marleau goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Marc-Edouard Vlasic and the goalie Niemi. Dallas quickly retied it on an Eakin goal, his second of the year, set up by Alex Chiasson and Whitney. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Chiasson had the only goal to lead the Stars to a 4-3 win. Chiasson, Eakin, and Whitney were named the three stars.

Finally in Denver, the Colorado Avalanche bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Jonas Gustavsson and Semyon Varlamov handle the goaltending duties. Detroit started in the first period with a Johan Franzen power play goal, powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Jakub Kindl. The Red Wings added on as Pavel Datsyuk recorded his third of the season, with the help of Danny DeKeyser and Daniel Alfredsson. Colorado got on the board in the second period as Erik Johnson scored a power play goal, fueled by the goalie Varlamov. The Avalanche tied it on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, with a lone assist from Paul Stastny on the power play. Detroit took the lead back in the third period as Franzen scored his second of the game, another power play goal, guided in by Justin Abdelkader and Alfredsson. The Red Wings extended the lead as Datsyuk scored his second of the game and fourth of the year, thanks to Alfredsson, who got a sock trick. The final score was 4-2 from here on, and the three stars were Franzen, Datsyuk, and Alfredsson.

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Thursday Night Football Week 7 2013

Tonight's Thursday Night game comes from Arizona, where the Cardinals welcome the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle began in the first quarter as Russell Wilson found Sidney Rice for 31 yards and a touchdown, and Steven Hauschka booted the extra point. The Seahawks added on as Wilson tossed a 15 yard touchdown to Zach Miller in the second quarter, and Hauschka was true with the extra point. Arizona got on the board as Jay Feely made a 49 yard field goal. The Cardinals pulled closer as Rashard Mendenhall ran in a 3 yard touchdown, and Feely knocked in the extra point. Seattle answered on a Hauschka field goal of 51 yards. Arizona got some back in the third quarter on a 52 yard field goal by Feely. The Seahawks extended the lead on a 1 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Kellen Davis, and Hauschka supplied the PAT. Seattle padded the lead with a Marshawn Lynch touchdown run of 2 yards, and Hauschka made another extra point. The Cardinals replied with a fourth quarter Feely field goal of 22 yards. The Seahawks responded on a Hauschka field goal, good from 42 yards. Arizona took some back as Carson Palmer found Jaron Brown for 8 yards and a touchdown, but the two point attempt failed. This was as close as it got, with the Seahawks winning 34-22, improving to 6-1 while dropping the Cardinals to 3-4.

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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.