Thursday Night Football Week 8 2013

Tonight's game is an underwhelming matchup from the NFC South, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers. Carolina was first to score in the first quarter with a Cam Newton touchdown pass to Greg Olsen for 1 yard, and Graham Gano booted the extra point. Tampa Bay got on the board with a 47 yard field goal by Rian Lindell. The Panthers added on in the second quarter as DeAngelo Williams ran in a 12 yard touchdown, and Gano was there with another extra point. The Buccaneers chipped back as Lindell was true with a 48 yard field goal. Carolina extended the lead in the third quarter as Newton rushed 6 yards for a touchdown, and Gano drilled the extra point. The Panthers padded the lead in the fourth quarter as Newton found Mike Tolbert for 3 yards and a touchdown, and Gano was true with the PAT. Carolina kept going as Gano made a 29 yard field goal. Tampa Bay got some back with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Mike Glennon to Tim Wright, and Lindell was there with the extra point. The final was 31-13, with the Panthers improving to 4-3 and the Buccaneers falling to 0-7.

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KHL Day 51 2013-2014

Only one game today, coming from Moscow, as Spartak hosts their neighbors to the south, Vityaz Podolsk. Johan Backlund and Jeff Glass are in the creases. Podolsk opened in the first period with a Maxim Mamin goal, assisted by Sergei Topol and Pavel Makarenko. Moscow tied it as Matt Anderson scored a power play goal, with a lone assist by Nikolai Zherdev. Spartak gained the lead with a power play goal by Evgeny Kulik, powered by Vyacheslav Kozlov and Alexander Nikulin. Vityaz tied it with a Vyachelsav Solodukhin goal, coming off of Pavel Chernov. Moscow won it 3-2 in overtime on a Deron Quint power play goal in overtme, with assists provided by Rastislav Spirko and Zherdev. The three stars were Quint, Zherdev, and Kulik.

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NHL Day 23 2013-2014

Only two games on tonight, beginning in...

Detroit, as the Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Jimmy Howard are the masked men. Ottawa started in the first period with an Eric Gryba goal, assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Erik Condra. The Senators added on with a Jason Spezza goal, his sixth of the season, coming on the power play via Chris Phillips and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa extended the lead with a Bobby Ryan power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Joe Corvo and Kyle Turris. Jonas Gustavsson relieved Howard at this time. Detroit got on the board as Todd Bertuzzi scored his third of the season, a power play goal, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Senators replied in the second period on a Spezza goal in the second period, his second of the game and seventh of the year, passed from Karlsson and Marc Methot. Ottawa padded the lead in the third period as Jared Cowen scored his second of the season, with the help of Zack Smith. The Senators wrapped it up at 6-1 with another Ryan goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, made possible by Clarke MacArthur and Turris. The three stars were Spezza, Ryan, and Karlsson, while Turris gets an honorable mention.

The other game comes from Buffalo, where the Sabres welcome the Boston Bruins. Chad Johnson and Ryan Miller draw the starts. Boston opened with a first period Milan Lucic goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Jarome Iginla and David Krejci. The Bruins added on in the second period as Lucic scored his second of the game and fifth of the year, thanks to Iginla. Buffalo got on the board with a Cody Hodgson goal, his third of the season coming on the power play via Thomas Vanek and Marcus Foligno. Boston replied as Dougie Hamilton scored his second of the year, courtesy of Brad Marchand and Carl Soderberg. The Sabres pulled back on a Nikita Zadorov goal, fueled by Steve Ott and Foligno. The Bruins shot back in the third period with a Torey Krug goal, his second of the season, coming off of Reilly Smith and Soderberg. Boston got another as Krug scored his second of the game and third of the year, a power play goal set up by Krejci and Lucic. The score was final at this point at 5-2, with Lucic, Krug, and Iginla getting the three stars, while Foligno, Soderberg, and Krejci get the honorable mentions.

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KHL Day 50 2013-2014

There are eight games of action today before the KHL slows down for a couple of days. Leading off, we have...

Amur Khabarovsk hosting Barys Astana. Ari Ahonen and Alexei Murygin play in the blue paint. Astana was first to score in the first period with a power play goal by Nikolai Antropov, powered by Talgat Zhailauov and Artemy Lakiza. Khabarovsk tied it with a Timofei Shishkanov goal, fueled by Andrei Stepanov. Shishkanov put Amur ahead when he scored his second of the game, made possible by Evgeny Korotkov and Stepanov. Khabarovsk added on in the second period as Stepanov scored, thanks to Korotkov and Shishkanov on the power play. Barys got one back in the third period with a Brandon Bochenski goal, set up by Mike Lundin. Astana tied it with a Zhailauov goal, coming off of Mikhail Panshin and Antropov. Barys took the lead as Antropov scored his second of the game, with a lone assist by Panshin. They would win 4-3, with the three stars being Antropov, Shishkanov, and Stepanov, while Zhailauov, Korotkov, and Panshin receive the honorable mentions.

Down to Vladivostok, where Admiral welcomes Avangard Omsk. Mathieu Garon and Evgeny Ivannikov guard the cages. Vladivostok began in the first period with an Andrei Nikitenko goal, coming on the power play from Enver Lisin. Admiral added on as Alexei Ugarov scored, with a lone assist by Lisin. Vladivostok extended the lead as Artyom Ternavsky scored, thanks to Niclas Bergfors. Admiral padded the lead with an Igor Bortnikov goal, fueled by Anton Poleshchuk and Konstantin Sokolov. Omsk got on the board with an Alexander Popov goal, coming off of Stanislav Yegorshev. The third period was silent, so Vladivostok won 4-1, and the three stars were Ivannikov (30 for 31 in saves), Lisin, and Ugarov.

To the west, Sibir Novosibirsk hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Mikko Koskinen are the masked men. Novosibirsk started with a first period power play goal by Jori Lehtera, made possible by Alexander Romanov. Sibir added on with a power play goal by Alexei Kopeikin, powered by Ivan Lekomtsev and Nikolai Lemtyugov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the second period as Veli-Matti Savinainen scored a power play goal, with assists provided by Stephen Dixon and Jonas Andersson. Yugra tied it with a Vitaly Sitnikov goal, passed from Mikhail Yakubov and Mikhail Zhukov. Novosibirsk took the lead back with a Vyacheslav Belov goal, courtesy of Kristian Kudroc and Lehtera on the power play. Sibir extended the lead as Dmitry Kugryshev scored a power play goal, with a lone assist by Lekomtsev. Novosibirsk padded the lead in the third period on another Kugryshev goal, assisted by Belov and Lehtera. Sibir got another on a Dmitry Monya goal, with helpers provided by Stepan Sannikov and Igor Ignatushkin. Novosibirsk wrapped it up at 7-2 with a Lehtera power play goal, coming off of Belov and Jonas Enlund. The three stars were Kugryshev, Lehtera, and Belov, while Lekomtsev was given an honorable mention.

Over in Novokuznetsk, Metallurg brings in Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Ilya Sorokin are the young goalies. Yekaterinburg got going in the second period as Fyodor Malykhin converted a penalty shot he received after being slashed by Tuukka Mantyla on a breakaway. Novokuznetsk tied it in the third period as Kurtis McLean scored, thanks to Rafael Akhmetov and Raymond Giroux. Avtomobilist took the lead on an Igor Yemeleyev goal, fueled by Alexei Simakov. Yekaterinburg iced it at 3-1 with an empty net power play goal by Artyom Chernov, powered by Sami Lepisto and Malykhin. The three stars went to Kovar (34 for 35 in saves), Malykhin, and Yemeleyev.

Westward to Nizhny Novgorod, where Torpedo hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Dekanich and Vitaly Koval are between the pipes. Nizhny Novgorod struck first in the second period with a Wojtek Wolski goal, with a lone assist by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. Zagreb tied it with a Matt Murley power play goal in the third period, powered by Kurtis Foster and Bill Thomas. Torpedo won 2-1 in overtime with another Wolski goal, a power play tally set up by Sakari Salminen. The three stars were Wolski, Koval (23 for 24 in saves), and Dekanich (32 for 34 in saves).

Into Kazan, as Ak Bars welcomes Donbass Donetsk. Michael Leighton and Konstantin Barulin tend the twines. Kazan led off in the third period with a Mikhail Varnakov goal, assisted by Tim Stapleton. This gave them a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Barulin (32 save shutout), Varnakov, and Leighton (24 for 25 in saves).

Further west to Moscow, as Dynamo hosts Dinamo Minsk. Kevin Lalande and Alexander Lazushin have the green light to start. Moscow dented the scoreboard with a second period Konstantin Gorovikov goal, fueled by Denis Mosalyov and Maxim Solovyov. Dynamo added on as Alexei Tsvetkov scored in the third period, thanks to Martins Karsums and Maxim Karpov. Moscow extended the lead with a power play goal by Yury Babenko, powered by Andrei Mironov and Solovyov. Dynamo wrapped it up at 4-0 with a Karsums goal, via Dmitry Pestunov and Karpov. The three stars were Karsums, Lazushin (24 save shutout), and Karpov, while Solovyov gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Riga, Dinamo brings in CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana and Mikael Tellqvist are the reliable goalies. Riga opened in the first period on a Paul Szczechura goal, assisted by Aleksandrs Nizivijs and Gints Meija. Dinamo added on when Szczechura scored again, with the help of Sandis Ozolins and Meija. Riga extended the lead with a Roberts Bukarts goal, fueled by Miks Indrasis. Moscow got on the board with an unassisted goal by Georgy Misharin. CSKA pulled closer when Misharin scored in the second period, his second of the game guided in by Vladimir Zharkov. Moscow tied it with a power play goal by Alexei Morozov, powered by Misharin and Igor Grigorenko. Dinamo took the lead back in the third period with another Bukarts goal, set up by Indrasis and Kristaps Sotnieks. This held up for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Bukarts, Szczechura, and Misharin, while Indrasis and Meija get the honorable mentions.

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NHL Day 22 2013-2014

Eight games on tonight, beginning in...

New York, as the Islanders host the Vancouver Canucks. Roberto Luongo and Evgeni Nabokov are the veteran goalies. New York led off with a first period Brock Nelson goal, assisted by Peter Regin and Cal Clutterbuck. The Islanders took the lead as Matt Moulson notched his fourth of the season, a power play goal, powered by Frans Nielsen and John Tavares. Vancouver got on the board with the fourth of the year by Ryan Kesler, made possible by Dan Hamhuis and Christopher Tanev. The Canucks tied it as Daniel Sedin potted his third of the season, thanks to Jannik Hansen and Tanev. New York retook the lead in the second period as Moulson scored his second of the game and fifth of the year, another power play goal, fueled by Kyle Okposo and Nielsen. Vancouver retied it as Henrik Sedin recorded his third of the season, via Daniel Sedin and Dale Weise. The Canucks gained the lead with a Chris Higgins goal, his third of the year, passed from Kevin Bieksa and Kesler. The Islanders pulled even in the third period on a Nielsen goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Andrew MacDonald and Okposo. Vancouver won it 5-4 in overtime with a Brad Richardson goal, his fourth of the year, with assists provided by Mike Santorelli and Alexander Edler. The three stars were awarded to Nielsen, Moulson, and Daniel Sedin, while Kesler, Okposo, and Tanev are given the honorable mentions.

Up in Toronto, the Maple Leafs welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Jonathan Bernier are in the creases. Anaheim opened in the first period with a Nick Bonino goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Pat Maroon and Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks added on as Mathieu Perreault scored in the second period, his fourth goal of the year, thanks to Sami Vatanen and Emerson Etem. Toronto got on the board with the third of the season by Phil Kessel, a power play goal powered by James van Riemsdyk and Cody Franson. The Maple Leafs tied it on a Dion Phaneuf goal, his second of the year, made possible by Josh Leivo and Dave Bolland. Toronto took the lead as Kessel scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, with the help of Paul Ranger. The Maple Leafs extended the lead in the third period as Kessel finished his hat trick with his fifth of the year, and van Riemsdyk had the only assist. This was good for a 4-2 win, with the three stars being Kessel, Phaneuf, and van Riemsdyk.

Back in the United States, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Sergei Bobrovsky are the highly-regarded young goalies. New Jersey got going in the second period as Michael Ryder scored his fourth of the season, a power play goal, assisted by Jaromir Jagr and Rostislav Olesz. Columbus tied it on a power play goal by Brandon Dubinsky, his second of the year, powered by R.J. Umberger and James Wisniewski. The Blue Jackets took the lead as Cam Atkinson potted his third of the season, an unassisted goal. Columbus added on in the third period as Wisniewski scored a goal, going in unassisted. The Blue Jackets iced it at 4-1 with a Marian Gaborik empty net goal, his fourth of the year, set up by Dubinsky and Wisniewski. The three stars were Wisniewski, Bobrovsky (24 for 25 in saves), and Dubinsky.

Crossing north into Quebec, as the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Carey Price are between the pipes. Montreal began in the first period with a Tomas Plekanec power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Andrei Markov and Michael Bournival. The Canadiens added on as Brendan Gallagher scored his fifth of the year, an unassisted goal. Edmonton got on the board in the second period as Ales Hemsky scored his third of the season, passed from Mark Arcobello. The Oilers tied it as Ladislav Smid potted a goal, via Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle. Edmonton took the lead in the third period with a Jeff Petry goal, his second of the year, made possible by Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle. The Oilers extended the lead as Ryan Jones scored, with the help of David Perron and Arcobello. Montreal got one back on a Brian Gionta goal, his second of the campaign, fueled by Plekanec and P.K. Subban. They failed to tie it, losing 4-3, with the three stars being Plekanec, Nugent-Hopkins, and Eberle, while Arcobello gets an honorable mention.

Way to the south, the Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Tim Thomas receive the starting nods. Chicago struck first in the second period with a Jonathan Toews goal, his third of the season, coming on the power play from Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks added on as Bryan Bickell notched his second of the year, via Andrew Shaw and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Florida got on the board in the third period with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his second of the campaign, with assists provided by Aleksander Barkov and Kris Versteeg. The Panthers tied the game with an unassisted goal by Dmitry Kulikov. Jacob Markstrom had to relieve an injured Thomas late in the third period. The tie lasted into shootout, where Toews and Patrick Sharp lifted the Blackhawks to a 3-2 win. The three stars were handed to Toews, Crawford (20 for 22 in saves), and Sharp.

North once again to Winnipeg, as the Jets welcome the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Ondrej Pavelec are the overrated goalies. Washington dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Mikhail Grabovski goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by John Erskine and Joel Ward. Winnipeg tied it on a Bryan Little goal, his fourth of the year, coming shorthanded via Andrew Ladd. The Jets took the lead on a Grant Clitsome goal, courtesy of Zach Bogosian and Ladd. The Capitals tied it with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Marcus Johansson. Washington took the lead as Ovechkin scored his second of the night and ninth of the year, again with a lone assist by Johansson. Winnipeg pulled even as Blake Wheeler notched his second of the season, with the help of Evander Kane and Mark Scheifele. The Capitals retook the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Troy Brouwer, his third of the year, powered by Nicklas Backstrom. The Jets evened the ledger again on a Little goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, fueled by Ladd, who got a sock trick, and Devin Setoguchi. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Ladd exchanged goals with Backstrom, followed by Olli Jokinen and Brooks Laich doing the same, Setoguchi and Brouwer following suit, and then finally Martin Erat scored to lift the Capitals to a 5-4 win. The three stars were Ovechkin, Little, and Ladd, while Johansson, Backstrom, Setoguchi, and Brouwer all get honorable mentions.

Dipping back to the south, the Minnesota Wild host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Josh Harding protect the nets. Minnesota was first to score in the second period as Justin Fontaine scored his second of the season, via Clayton Stoner and Zach Parise. The Wild iced it at 2-0 with an empty net goal by Jason Pominville, his fourth of the year, set up by Mikko Koivu and Parise. The three stars were handed to Harding (16 save shutout), Parise, and Rinne (27 for 28 in saves).

Finally, in Phoenix, the Coyotes bring in the Calgary Flames. Joey MacDonald and Mike Smith occupy the creases. Phoenix started with a first period goal by Radim Vrbata, his fifth of the season, a power play goal fueled by Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on as Mike Ribeiro scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Mikkel Boedker and David Moss. Calgary got on the board with a Lee Stempniak goal, his third of the season, passed from Kris Russell and T.J. Galiardi. The Flames tied it in the third period as Joe Colborne scored, via Jiri Hudler. Phoenix retook the lead with a Ribeiro goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, guided in by Yandle. The Coyotes iced it at 4-2 with a Rob Klinkhammer goal, his fourth of the campaign, going unassisted into the empty net. The three stars were given to Ribeiro, Yandle, and Smith (22 for 24 in saves).

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KHL Day 49 2013-2014

Just four games to go with today, beginning in...

Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Sergei Borisov and Andrei Vasilevsky make the starts. Mytishchi got going in the second period with a Konstantin Koltsov goal, assisted by Vitaly Novpashin and Oleg Yashin. Ufa tied it in the third period on an Antti Pihlstrom goal, fueled by Anton Babchuk. Salavat Yulaev took the lead on an Alexander Pankov goal, with the help of Alexander Stepanov. Ufa added on with a power play goal by Denis Khlystov, powered by Yegor Dubrovsky and Tomas Zaborsky. They went on to win 3-1, with the three stars being Vasilevsky (29 for 30 in saves), Pankov, and Khlystov.

Into Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Vitaly Kolesnik and Vasily Koshechkin are in the blue paint. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period with a Sergei Mozyakin power play goal, powered by Chris Lee and Danis Zaripov. Yaroslavl tied it on a Daniil Apalkov goal, assisted by Sergei Plotnikov. The tie lasted all the way to a shootout, where Emil Galimov was the only goal-scorer, and led Lokomotiv to a 2-1 win. The three stars were Kolesnik (36 for 37 in saves), Galimov, and Koshechkin (30 for 31 in saves).

A bit west, Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Michael Garnett wear the masks. Chelyabinsk dented the scoreboard in the first period as Anton Glinkin scored, with a lone assist by Yegor Dugin. Cherepovets tied it on an unassisted goal by Nikolai Bushuyev in the second period, coming shorthanded. Traktor took the lead as Dugin scored, thanks to Glinkin and Alexei Bondarev. Severstal tied it in the third period as Bushuyev scored again, via Linus Videll and Anatoly Nikontsev. The tie lasted into the shootout, where two goals by Glinkin topped one goal by Videll, leading Traktor to a 3-2 win. The three stars were Glinkin, Bushuyev, and Dugin, while Videll gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Nizhnekamsk, Neftekhimik brings in SKA St. Petersburg. Dmitry Shikin and Matt Dalton are between the pipes. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period with a Viktor Tikhonov goal, assisted by Vadim Shipachyov. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the second period on a Yegor Milovzorov goal, fueled by Renat Mamashev. SKA took the lead back with a Patrick Thoresen goal, with a lone assist from Ilya Kovalchuk. St. Petersburg iced it at 3-1 in the third period on a Roman Cervenka goal, guided in by Kovalchuk and Shipachyov. The three stars were Shikin (30 for 31 in saves), Kovalchuk, and Shipachyov.

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NHL Day 21 2013-2014

There are only three games on tonight, beginning in...

Detroit, as the Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Jimmy Howard tend the twines. San Jose ended up winning 1-0 with a shootout tally by Logan Couture. The three stars were Niemi (24 save shutout), Howard (27 save "shutout"), and Couture.

Back east, the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Marc-Andre Fleury are the French-Canadian goalies. Colorado got going in the second period on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his third of the season, assisted by Ryan Wilson and Cory Sarich. This was all they needed for a 1-0 win, with the three stars going to Giguere (34 save shutout), Landeskog, and Fleury (13 for 14 in saves).

Finally, we end in Los Angeles, as the Kings bring in the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Jonathan Quick man the creases. Los Angeles began in the first period with a power play goal by Drew Doughty, his third of the season, powered by Dustin Brown and Justin Williams. Calgary tied it in the second period as Michael Cammalleri scored a power play goal, with the help of Jiri Hudler and Mark Giordano. The Flames took the lead on a Sean Monahan goal, his sixth of the year, coming on the power play from Cammalleri and Giordano. The Kings tied it with a shorthanded goal by Jeff Carter, his fifth of the season, set up by Mike Richards. Calgary took the lead late in the third period on a T.J. Brodie power play goal, assisted by Hudler and Lee Stempniak. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Cammalleri, Hudler, and Giordano.

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