NHL Day 55 2013-2014

Two games on today, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Detroit Red Wings. Jonas Gustavsson and Ryan Miller get the starting nods. Buffalo started in the first period on a Cody Hodgson goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Drew Stafford. Detroit tied it in the second period as Darren Helm scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Daniel Alfredsson and Justin Abdelkader. The Red Wings gained the lead in the third period as Johan Franzen scored his sixth of the season, a power play goal powered by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. Detroit iced it at 3-1 as Alfredsson scored an empty net goal, his fourth of the year, set up by Franzen. The three stars were Franzen, Gustavsson (21 for 22 in saves), and Alfredsson.

The other game is from Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner and Cam Ward are in the creases. Ottawa opened in the first period with the tenth of the season for Jason Spezza, assisted by Mika Zibanejad. Carolina tied it in the second period as Patrick Dwyer scored his third of the year, coming off of Jordan Staal and Justin Faulk. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Tuomo Ruutu goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist by Eric Staal. Carolina added on as Elias Lindholm scored his second of the year, a power play goal powered by Eric Staal and Faulk. The Hurricanes wrapped it up at 4-1 with an Eric Staal empty net goal, his sixth of the campaign, set up by Manny Malhotra. Eric Staal, Ward (35 for 36 in saves), and Faulk are given the three stars.

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KHL Day 82 2013-2014

Twelve more games on today, beginning in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Mathieu Garon are in the blue paint. Omsk was first to score in the first period with a power play goal by Sergei Shirokov, powered by Kirill Lyamin and Maxim Goncharov. Avangard added on with a Stefan Ruzicka goal, fueled by Sergei Kalinin. Riga got on the board in the second period as Vitalijs Pavlovs scored, thanks to Miks Indrasis and Marcel Hascak. Omsk replied as Alexander Popov scored, with helpers provided by Shirokov and Andrei Ivanov. Dinamo got one back in the third period on a Paul Szczechura goal, going in unassisted. Avangard answered on a Dmitry Semin goal, with a lone assist from Kalinin. Omsk wrapped it up at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Sergei Kostitsyn, set up by Shirokov and Semin. The three stars were Shirokov, Semin, and Kalinin.

Up in Yekaterinburg, as Avtomobilist welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Jakub Kovar make the starts. Yekaterinburg struck first in the first period as Alexander Streltsov scored, thanks to Anatoly Golyshev. Avtomobilist added on with an Igor Yemeleyev power play goal, with a lone assist by Tobias Viklund. Yekaterinburg extended the lead as Alexei Simakov scored, via Sergei Demagin. Avtomobilist padded the lead with a power play goal by Nikita Tryamkin, powered by Eduard Lewandowski. Yekaterinburg got another when Alexei Yefimov scored, with the help of Lewandowski and Anthony Stewart. Bratislava got on the board in the third period with a Michal Vondrka goal, passed from Martin Stajnoch. Avtomobilist replied on an Anton Lazarev goal, assisted by Viklund and Fyodor Malykhin. Yekaterinburg kept going as Ilya Arkalov scored a goal, guided in by Yefimov. Avtomobilist finished it at 8-1 with an Artyom Chernov goal, made possible by Tryamkin. The three stars were Yefimov, Tryamkin, and Viklund, while Lewandowski gets an honorable mention.

Staying in the region, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk brings in Lev Prague. Petri Vehanen and Alexei Kuznetsov receive the starting nods. Prague began in the first period on a Justin Azevedo goal, coming off of Jiri Novotny. Lev added on in the second period as David Ullstrom scored, with a lone helper by Novotny. Prague extended the lead with an unassisted goal by Topi Jaakola. Khanty-Mansiysk got one back as Artyom Bulyansky converted a penalty shot he received after being hooked by Marc-Andre Gragnani. Lev shot back in the third period as Martin Thornberg scored, with the help of Jiri Sekac. This made it a 4-1 final score, with the three stars belonging to Vehanen (31 for 32 in saves), Novotny, and Ullstrom.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana hosts CSKA Moscow. Ilya Proskuryakov and Vitaly Yeremeyev man the creases. Moscow opened in the first period on an Alexei Morozov goal, thanks to Georgy Misharin and Oleg Saprykin. CSKA added on as Saprykin scored, with helpers from Yakov Rylov and Morozov. Astana got on the board in the second period with an Evgeny Blokhin goal, passed from Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. Moscow responded in the third period on an Ivan Nepryayev goal, coming off of Nikita Zaitsev and Fyodor Fyodorov. Barys answered back with a power play goal by Bochenski, powered by Roman Savchenko. CSKA shot back when Igor Grigornko scored an unassisted. Moscow iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Saprykin, his second of the game, set up by Stanislav Yegorshev and Morozov. The three stars were handed to Saprykin, Morozov, and Bochenski.

Northwest to Moscow, as Dynamo welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Mika Jarvinen and Alexander Lazushin are the backups making spot starts. Moscow led off in the first period with a Sergei Soin goal, fueled by Denis Kokarev and Yury Babenko. Khabarovsk tied it as Alexander Yunkov converted a penalty shot he received after Martins Karsums slashed him. Amur took the lead as Yunkov scored a regular goal, via Jan Mursak and Andrei Stepanov. Khabarovsk extended the lead in the second period as Jakub Petruzalek scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Dynamo answered with a Denis Mosalyov goal, courtesy of Soin and Kokarev. Moscow tied it as Leo Komarov scored a power play goal, powered by Karsums and Alexei Tsvetkov. Dynamo gained the lead on a Soin power play goal, guided in by Tsvetkov and Babenko. Moscow padded the lead on a Dominik Granak goal, made possible by Komarov and Tsvetkov, the latter getting a sock trick. Amur got one back in the third period as Stepanov scored an unassisted goal. They failed to tie the game, losing 5-4, with the three stars being Soin, Komarov, and Yunkov, while Tsvetkov, Babenko, Kokarev, and Stepanov all get the honorable mentions.

Staying in the region, Vityaz Podolsk brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Ivan Lisutin guard the cages. Novosibirsk started in the first period with a power play goal by Jonas Enlund, powered by Dmitry Kugryshev and Jori Lehtera. Sibir added on in the second period as Kristian Kudroc scored a power play goal, via Lehtera and Kugryshev. Novosibirsk extended the lead with an Alexei Kopeikin goal, assisted by Konstantin Alexeyev and Nikolai Lemtyugov. Podolsk got on the board with a Dinar Khafizullin goal, passed from Sergei Rozin and Mike Iggulden. Vityaz pulled closer in the third period when Igor Golovkov scored, with assists provided by Maxim Afinogenov and Alexei Makeyev. Podolsk tied it as Yegor Seleznyov scored, with the help of Airat Ziazov. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Dmitry Shitikov and Vyacheslav Solodukhin scored to top a single tally by Lemtyugov for a 4-3 Vityaz win. The three stars were handed to Lehtera, Kugryshev, and Lemtyugov.

A bit to the east, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Nikita Lozhkin is mismatched with Georgy Gelashvili in goal. Nizhny Novgorod was first to score in the first period with a Sakari Salminen goal, fueled by Denis Parshin and Jarkko Immonen. Torpedo added on with a Parshin goal, with a lone assist by Immonen. Nizhny Novgorodd extended the lead as Sergei Bernatsky scored, thanks to Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. Torpedo padded the lead on another Salminen goal, assisted by Maxim Potapov and Vladimir Denisov. Nizhny Novgorod got another in the third period on an unassisted goal by Vladimir Galuzin. This made it 5-0, the final, with the three stars being Salminen, Gelashvili (30 save shutout), and Parshin, while Immonen gets an honorable mention.

Back west, SKA St. Petersburg welcomes Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin faces a lesser foe in Ilya Ezhov in goal. St. Petersburg began in the first period with an Evgeny Ketov goal, fueled by Alexander Kucheryavenko and Dmitry Kalinin. Nizhnekamsk tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Nikolai Belov, powered by Yegor Milovzorov and Renat Mamashev. SKA took the lead back in the third period when Maxim Chudinov scored, thanks to Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrick Thoresen. They went onto win 2-1, with the three stars going to Ezhov (16 for 17 in saves), Chudinov, and Sudnitsin (30 for 32 in saves).

Eastward to Kazan, as Ak Bars brings in Admiral Vladivostok. Evgeny Ivannikov and Emil Garipov are between the pipes. Kazan got going in the second period with an Alexei Tereshchenko goal, fueled by Ilya Nikulin and Kirill Petrov. Ak Bars added on in the third period as Tomas Vincour scored, with the help of Tereshchenko. Kazan extended the lead with a power play goal by Nikulin, powered by Konstantin Korneyev. Ak Bars padded the lead on a Tim Stapleton power play goal, guided in by Evgeny Medvedev and Mikhail Varnakov. Kazan struck again on the power play when Vincour scored his second of the game, pushed through by Petrov and Tereshchenko. Vladivostok avoided the shutout with a Konstantin Sokolov goal, helped along by Artyom Ternavsky. This resulted in a 5-1 final, with the three stars going to Vincour, Tereshchenko, and Nikulin, while Petrov and Garipov (18 for 19 in saves) receive the three stars.

Leaving Russia, we head to Belarus, as Dinamo Minsk hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Lars Haugen protect the nets. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period on a Vladimir Malinovsky goal, courtesy of Anton Shenfeld and Evgeny Grigorenko. Minsk tied it as Tomas Surovy scored, with the help of Geoff Platt and Alexander Materukhin. Dinamo took the lead in the third period as Materukhin scored an unassisted goal. Minsk added on as Platt scored, with a lone helper by Zbynek Irgl. This gave them a 3-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Platt, Materukhin, and Haugen (32 for 33 in saves).

Into Ukraine, as Donbass Donetsk welcomes Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Alexei Volkov and Michael Leighton are the masked men. Ufa led off in the first period on a Denis Khlystov goal, assisted by Anton Babchuk. Donetsk tied it in the second period as Evgeny Dadonov scored, thanks to Vaclav Nedorost. Donbass took the lead with a Gennady Razin goal, coming off of Clay Wilson. Donetsk added on as Alexander Toryanik scored, with the help of Evgeny Belukhin and Viktor Zakharov. Salavat Yulaev got one back in the third period as Kirill Koltsov scored a power play goal, with a lone helper by Dmitry Makarov. Donbass iced it at 4-2 on a Tuomas Kiiskinen power play goal, powered by Jan Kolar. The three stars were given to Toryanik, Kiiskinen, and Razin.

Finally, in Zagreb, Medvescak brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Barry Brust tend the twines. Zagreb dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Michael Ryan goal, fueled by Matt Murley and Kurtis Foster. Chelyabinsk tied it with a Yegor Artamonov goal, with a lone helper by Anton Glinkin. Medvescak took the lead back in the third period as Ryan Vesce scored, thanks to Charles Linglet. Zagreb added on as Vesce scored a power play goal, powered by Jonathan Cheechoo and Mathieu Carle. Traktor got one back as Artyom Borodkin scored a shorthanded goal, set up by Petri Kontiola. Chelyabinsk tied it with an unassisted power play goal by Jan Bulis. Medvescak regained the lead as Ryan scored, with the help of Foster and Mark Katic. Traktor retied it on a power play goal by Glinkin, coming off of Maxim Kondratyev. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Ryan and Kontiola exchanged goals before Lauris Darzins secured a 5-4 Traktor victory. Glinkin, Kontiola, and Ryan gets the three stars, while Vesce and Foster get honorable mentions.

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NHL Day 54 2013-2014

Twelve games on today, including two matinees. The first is in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward faces a lesser foe in Chad Johnson in goal. Carolina led off in the first period with an Andrej Sekera goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal on the power play. Boston tied it with a power play goal by Zdeno Chara, his fourth of the year, powered by Milan Lucic and Torey Krug. The Bruins took the lead in the second period as Reilly Smith scored his fourth of the season, thanks to Carl Soderberg and Matt Bartkowski. The Hurricanes retied it in the third period with a Patrick Dwyer goal, his second of the year, going in shorthanded and unassisted. Boston won 3-2 in overtime as David Krejci scored his fourth of the campaign, via Jarome Iginla and Johnny Boychuk. The three stars went to Krejci, Dwyer, and Smith.

Northwest to Winnipeg, as the Jets welcome the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom returns from injury to face Ondrej Pavelec in goal. Winnipeg got going in the second period as Michael Frolik scored his sixth of the season, assisted by Matt Halischuk. Minnesota tied it as Nino Neiderreiter scored his fifth of the year in the third period, passed from Marco Scandella and Zach Parise. The Jets took the lead back with a Halischuk goal, his second of the season, guided in by Frolik and Mark Scheilefe. The Wild tied it again as Parise scored a shorthanded goal, his eleventh of the year, set up by Mikko Koivu and Ryan Suter. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Koivu and Bryan Little swapped goals before Charlie Coyle gave Minnesota a 3-2 win. The three stars were Parise, Halischuk, and Frolik.

East to Toronto, as the Maple Leafs bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and James Reimer are in the blue paint. Toronto dented the scoreboard in the second period with a David Clarkson power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri. Washington tied it in the third perid as Alex Ovechkin scored his twentieth of the year, with a lone assist by Mike Green. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Toronto's James van Riemsdyk matched Washington's Eric Fehr before the Maple Leafs won with a Joffrey Lupul goal by a 2-1 score. The three stars went to Reimer (49 for 50 in saves), Holtby (27 for 28 in saves), and Lupul.

Into the States, as the Detroit Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner is mismatched with Jimmy Howard in goal. Detroit opened in the first period on a Darren Helm goal, his fourth of the season, coming via Tomas Tatar and Jakub Kindl on the power play. Ottawa answered with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Bobby Ryan and Patrick Wiercioch. The Senators took the lead on a Chris Neil goal, his fourth of the season, passed from Cory Conacher and Zack Smith. The Red Wings tied it on a Pavel Datsyuk third period power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg. Ottawa retook the lead on a Ryan power play goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza. The Senators finished it at 4-2 with a MacArthur power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, guided in by Wiercioch and Karlsson. The three stars were MacArthur, Karlsson, and Ryan, while Wiercioch gets the honorable mention.

Back east, the Philadelphia Flyers welcome the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Steve Mason are the unreliable goalies. Philadelphia began in the second period as Matt Read scored his seventh of the season, with the help of Sean Couturier and Steve Downie. The Flyers added on as Wayne Simmonds scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Vincent Lecavalier and Erik Gustafsson. Philadelphia extended the lead on a Claude Giroux power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Simmonds and Jakub Voracek. Anders Nilsson replaced Poulin at this time. New York got on the board as John Tavares scored his tenth of the year, fueled by Thomas Vanek and Matt Donovan. The Islanders pulled closer in the third period with an Eric Boulton goal, coming off of Casey Cizikas. The Flyers answered as Brayden Schenn scored his seventh of the season, passed from Voracek and Giroux. Philadelphia iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Read, his second of the game and eighth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars were Read, Giroux, and Simmonds, while Voracek gets an honorable mention.

Up in Canada again, as the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal struck first in the second period with a Max Pacioretty goal, his sixth of the season, going in unassisted. The Canadiens added on in the third period as Tomas Plekanec scored his seventh of the year, thanks to Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban. Montreal extended the lead when Pacioretty scored his seventh of the season and second of the game, with the help of Raphael Diaz. Pittsburgh got on the board with the third of the year by James Neal, guided in by Evgeni Malkin and Paul Martin on the power play. The Penguins pulled closer as Neal scored his second of the night and fourth of the campaign, with a lone helper by Malkin. They failed to tie the score, losing 3-2, with the three stars belonging to Pacioretty, Neal, and Malkin.

Back south, the St. Louis Blues host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Brian Elliott are the veteran goalies. St. Louis started in the first period with a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and T.J. Oshie. Dallas tied it with a Brenden Dillon goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Rich Peverley and Jamie Benn. The Blues took the lead back as Vladimir Tarasenko scored his eighth of the season, thanks to Jaden Schwartz. St. Louis added on in the second period with a David Backes goal, his tenth of the year, going in unassisted. The Blues extended the lead as Derek Roy scored his sixth of the season in the third period, a power play goal powered by Alexander Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk. St. Louis padded the lead with a Chris Stewart goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Brenden Morrow and Jay Bouwmeester. Dan Ellis relieved Lehtonen. The Blues wrapped it up at 6-1 with an Oshie goal, his fourth of the campaign, set up by Pietrangelo and Patrik Berglund. The three stars went to Elliott (34 for 35 in saves), Oshie, and Pietrangelo.

Over in Nashville, the Predators welcome the New York Rangers. Cam Talbot and Marek Mazanec are the unheard of goalies. New York was first to score in the second period with a Ryan McDonagh goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Dan Girardi and Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers added on as Derek Stepan scored his fifth of the year in the third period, with a lone helper by Zuccarello. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars going to Talbot (17 save shutout), Zuccarello, and McDonagh.

Southwest to Arizona, as the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Mike Smith are the masked men. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Dustin Penner power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Cam Fowler and Nick Bonino. Phoenix tied it in the second period on a Mike Ribeiro goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Derek Morris and Shane Doan. The Ducks retook the lead as Penner scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, thanks to Ben Lovejoy. Anaheim added on as Corey Perry scored his thirteenth of the year, with a lone assist by Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks extended the lead with a Sami Vatanen power play goal, his second of the season, coming off of Mathieu Perreault and Matt Beleskey. The Coyotes got one back in the third period as Shane Doan scored his eleventh of the year, assisted by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Radim Vrbata. They got no closer, losing 4-2, with the three stars being Penner, Hiller (42 for 44 in saves), and Doan.

Way to the north, as the Vancouver Canucks host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Roberto Luongo guard the cages. Vancouver opened in the first period on a Ryan Kesler goal, his tenth of the season, coming on the power play from Jason Garrison and Daniel Sedin. Chicago tied it in the third period as Andrew Shaw scored his fifth of the year, courtesy of Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks gained the lead with a Marcus Kruger goal, his third of the season, passed from Niklas Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya. This was good for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Crawford (36 for 37 in saves), Kruger, and Luongo (27 for 29 in saves).

Into California, where the San Jose Sharks welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Antti Niemi protect the nets. San Jose started in the first period with a Scott Hannan goal, his third of the season, passed from Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Sharks added on when Tyler Kennedy potted his third of the year, thanks to Martin Havlat and Jason Demers. New Jersey got on the board in the third period with a Patrik Elias goal, his fourth of the season, coming on the power play from Andy Greene and Eric Gelinas. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Niemi (18 for 19 in saves), Brodeur (28 for 30 in saves), and Kennedy.

Finally, we end in Los Angeles, as the Kings bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Ben Scrivens are between the pipes. The final was 1-0 in favor of Colorado in overtime with a Jamie McGinn goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of John Mitchell and Jan Hejda. Varlamov (19 save shutout), McGinn, and Scrivens (32 for 33 in saves) receive the three stars.

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KHL Day 81 2013-2014

Only one game today, as Severstal Cherepovets hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Sergei Borisov and Jakub Stepanek receive the starting nods. Cherepovets was first to score in the first period with a Nikolai Bushuyev goal, assisted by Linus Videll and Alexander Guskov. Severstal added on as Pavel Buchnevich converted a penalty shot he received after being hooked by Pavel Kopytin on a breakaway. Cherepovets extended the lead in the second period as Buchnevich scored his second of the game, via Nikolai Kazakovtsev. Severstal iced it at 4-0 in the third period with an Evgeny Kovyrshin goal, passed from Buchnevich. The three stars were Buchnevich, Stepanek (25 save shutout), and Bushuyev.

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NHL Day 53 2013-2014

This post comes from home, and details five NHL games. We begin in...

Pittsburgh, as the Penguins host the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Jeff Zatkoff are given the starting nods. Pittsburgh led off with a Chris Kunitz goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the power play. The Penguins added on as Kunitz scored his second of the game and eleventh of the year, a power play goal powered by James Neal and Paul Martin. New York got on the board in the second period with a Thomas Vanek goal, his sixth of the season, via Kyle Okposo and Radek Martinek. Pittsburgh answered with a Malkin goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Neal and Jussi Jokinen. The Islanders got one back as Colin McDonald scored his second of the season, courtesy of Casey Cizikas. New York tied it with another Vanek goal, his second of the night and seventh of the year, made possible by Okposo and John Tavares. The Penguins won 4-3 in the third period as Crosby scored his twelfth of the campaign, with helpers provided by Pascal Dupuis and Kunitz. The three stars were Kunitz, Crosby, and Malkin, while Vanek and Okposo get the honorable mentions.

Over in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Peter Budaj and Michal Neuvirth are the backups making spot starts. Montreal began in the first period as Travis Moen scored, with the help of Michael Bournival and Ryan White. The Canadiens added on as David Desharnais scored, thanks to Josh Gorges and Andrei Markov. Montreal extended the lead as Daniel Briere netted his fourth of the season, courtesy of Gorges and Alexei Emelin on the power play. Washington got on the board with Alex Ovechkin scoring his eighteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by John Carlson and Troy Brouwer. The Capitals pulled closer in the third period with Ovechkin's second of the game and nineteenth of the campaign, a power play goal coming off of Carlson and Mikhail Grabovski. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2, with the three stars being given to Ovechkin, Gorges, and Carlson.

Way to the west, the Calgary Flames host the Florida Panthers. Tim Thomas and Reto Berra man the creases. Florida was first to score in the first period with a Tom Gilbert goal, fueled by Nick Bjugstad. Calgary tied it in the second period as Joe Colborne notched his third of the season, via David Jones. The Flames took the lead as Sven Baertschi scored his second of the year, courtesy of Colborne and T.J. Brodie on the power play. Calgary extended the lead as Blair Jones scored in the third period, via Lance Bouma and Mikael Backlund. The Panthers got one back with an unassisted Jimmy Hayes goal. Florida tied it on a Marcel Goc goal, his sixth of the campaign, helped along by Sean Bergenheim and Scott Gomez. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Jiri Hudler and Brad Boyes traded goals, followed by Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Fleischmann doing the same, and then the Flames won 4-3 as Sean Monahan went unanswered in the sixth round. The three stars were Colborne, Monahan, and Baertschi.

Over in Vancouver, the Canucks bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Roberto Luongo tend the twines. Columbus started in the first period with a Matt Calvert goal, coming off of Michael Chaput. Vancouver tied it on a Daniel Sedin goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Alexander Edler. The Canucks added on as Zack Kassian scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Brad Richardson and Ryan Stanton. Vancouver extended the lead with a Henrik Sedin goal, his fifth of the season, made possible by Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler. The Canucks padded the lead with an Edler goal, his third of the year, assisted by Chris Higgins and Mike Santorelli. Vancouver got another in the third period as Henrik Sedin scored his second of the game and sixth of the season, via Daniel Sedin and Stanton. The Blue Jackets got one back as Artem Anisimov scored his sixth of the year, guided in by Nikita Nikitin and David Savard. The Canucks replied as Jeremy Welsh scored, with the help of Stanton, who got a sock trick, and Dale Weise. This made it 6-2, the final, with Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, and Stanton getting the three stars, while Edler gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Anaheim, the Ducks host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Jonas Hiller are between the pipes. Anaheim won 1-0 in overtime on a Ryan Getzlaf goal with just six seconds left, his thirteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The three stars were Getzlaf, Hiller (31 save shutout), and Bishop (41 for 42 in saves).

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KHL Day 80 2013-2014

Twelve more games today. This is a travel day for me, so I will be late with NHL games tonight, either delayed until tomorrow or very late tonight. We begin hockey today in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts CSKA Moscow. Ilya Proskuryakov and Mathieu Garon draw the starts. Moscow started with an Ilari Filppula goal in the first period, assisted by Oleg Saprykin. Omsk tied it in the second period on a Denis Kulyash goal, fueled by Alexander Popov. CSKA retook the lead with a Nikolai Prokhorkin goal, coming off of Alexander Radulov and Saprykin. Avangard tied it in again as Alexander Perezhogin scored a shorthanded and unassisted goal. Moscow gained the lead again on an unassisted goal by Alexei Morozov. CSKA added on in the third period as Brandon Reid scored, with the help of Alexander Frolov. Omsk got one back as Stefan Ruzicka scored, via Ivan Baranka and Popov. Moscow extended the lead when Prokhorkin scored his second of the game, thanks to Yakov Rylov and Radulov. This was good for a 5-3 final, with Prokhorkin, Radulov, and Saprykin getting the three stars, while Popov gets an honorable mention.

Up in Yekaterinburg, Avtomobilist welcomes Lev Prague. Petri Vehanen and Jakub Kovar are given the starts. Prague began in the first period with a Jiri Novotny goal, assisted by Justin Azevedo. Lev added on in the third period with another Novotny goal, going in unassisted. Yekaterinburg got on the board as Sami Lepisto scored a power play goal, powered by Artyom Chernov. Prague answered with Novotny completing his hat trick on an unassisted empty net goal. This was good for a 3-1 win, with the three stars being Novotny, Vehanen (28 for 29 in saves), and Lepisto.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana brings in Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Ari Ahonen are the experienced goalies. Riga was first to score in the first period with an unassisted goal by Marcel Hossa. Dinamo added on in the second period when Krisjanis Redlihs scored a power play goal, powered by Aleksandrs Nizivijs and Miks Indrasis. Astana got on the board with a Dustin Boyd goal, coming off of Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. Riga answered with a power play goal by Hossa, with a lone helper by Sandis Ozolins. Barys replied with a Roman Starchenko goal, via Konstantin Rudenko and Nikolai Antropov. Astana tied it as Boyd scored his second of the game, with a lone assist from Cam Barker on the power play. Barys took the the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Dawes, guided in by the goalie Ahonen and Barker. Dinamo retied it as Paul Szczechura scored, with the help of Hossa and Mat Robinson. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Szczechura finished what he started by scoring the lone tally for a 5-4 Dinamo win. The three stars were Szczechura, Hossa, and Boyd, while Dawes and Barker get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Alexei Kuznetsov man the creases. They did that well, keeping the game scoreless into a shootout. It was here that Slovan won 1-0 on a Tomas Netik goal. The three stars were awarded to Janus (27 save shutout), Kuznetsov (15 save "shutout"), and Netik.

A bit west to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Alexei Murygin and Vitaly Koval play goal. Khabarovsk led off in the first period with an Andrei Stepanov power play goal, with a lone assist by Alexander Loginov. Nizhny Novgorod tied it on a power play goal by Wojtek Wolski, powered by Justin Hodgman and Sakari Salminen. Torpedo took the lead in the second period on a power play goal by Juuso Hietanen, guided in by Salminen and Jarkko Immonen. Nizny Novgorod added on with a Vyacheslav Kulyomin goal, passed from Vadim Khomitsky. Torpedo extended the lead when Vladimir Denisov scored, with the help of Denis Parshin and Immonen. Amur got one back in the third period with a Dmitry Tarasov goal, fueled by Jakub Petruzalek. Nizhny Novgorod replied as Parshin scored, and Immonen's assist gave him a sock trick. Torpedo wrapped it up at 6-2 with an Mikhail Grigoryev goal, made possible by Maxim Potapov and Sergei Sentyurin.

Down in Kazan, Ak Bars brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Emil Garipov are the masked men. Kazan struck first in the first period as Alexei Tereshchenko scored, with a lone assist by Ilya Nikulin. Novosibirsk tied it in the third period on a Nikolai Lemtyugov goal, coming off of Konstantin Alexeyev. Sibir won 2-1 in the shootout with goals by Lemtyugov and Jori Lehtera. The three stars were Lemtyugov, Koskinen (27 for 28 in saves), and Garipov (35 for 36 in saves).

Way to the west, SKA St. Petersburg hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vladislav Fokin and Alexander Salak. St. Petersburg opened in the first period on an Evgeny Skachkov goal, assisted by Anton Burdasov and Andrei Sigaryov. SKA added on as Ilya Kovalchuk scored, via Roman Cervenka. St. Petersburg extended the lead with a Maxim Chudinov shorthanded goal, set up by Kovalchuk and Skachkov. They held on for a 3-0 win, with the three stars being Salak (29 save shutout), Kovalchuk, and Skachkov.

Backtracking to Moscow, as Spartak welcomes Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Matt Dalton and Alexei Ivanov are in the blue paint. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the first period as Deron Quint scored a power play goal, powered by Denis Bodrov and Matt Anderson. Spartak added on as Tom Wandell scored, thanks to Andrei Sergeyev and Anderson. Nizhnekamsk got on the board with a Denis Tolpeko goal, courtesy of Martin Cibak and Nikolai Belov on the power play. Moscow replied in the second period when Viktor Bobrov scored an unassisted goal. Neftekhimik chipped back with a Maxim Rybin goal, via Roman Lyuduchin and Petr Koukal. Spartak iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Anderson, set up by Vyacheslav Kozlov. The three stars were Anderson, Ivanov (19 for 21 in saves), and Bobrov.

Staying in the city, Dynamo Moscow brings in Admiral Vladivostok. Evgeny Ivannikov and Alexander Yeryomenko guard the cages. Moscow got going in the first period on a Denis Kokarev goal, assisted by Yury Babenko and Sergei Soin. Dynamo added on with a power play goal by Dominik Granak, powered by Dmitry Pestunov. Vladivostok got on the board in the second period as Andrei Nikitenko scored, with the help of Alexei Ugarov and Evgeny Grachyov. Moscow answered with a Martins Karsums power play goal, fueled by Maxim Solovyov and Maxim Karpov. Admiral got one back in the third period Viktor Drugov's goal, with a lone helper from Igor Bortnikov. This was as close as it got, with the final being 3-2, and the three stars were Karsums, Granak, and Kokarev.

Over in Minsk, Dinamo hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Alexei Volkov and Lars Haugen will be between the pipes. Ufa began in the first period with an Alexander Mereskin goal, assisted by Anton Slepyshev and Andrei Zubarev. Minsk tied it in the second period on a Geoff Platt goal, coming off of Tomas Surovy. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back on an unassisted goal by Alexander Pankov. Ufa added on with a Dmitry Makarov goal, passed from Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev extended the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Igor Mirnov, powered by Kirill Koltsov. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Pankov, Volkov (28 for 29 in saves), and Makarov.

Moving along to Ukraine, where Donbass Donetsk welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Michael Leighton protect the nets. Donetsk started in the first period on a Teemu Laine goal, coming off of Tuomas Kiiskinen and Ruslan Fedotenko. Novokuznetsk tied it with a power play goal by Artyom Gareyev, powered by Mikhail Chernov and Vladislav Kartayev. Donbass took the lead as Maxim Yakutsenya scored, via Evgeny Dadonov and Randy Robitaille. Donetsk added on in the third period with a Fedotenko goal, courtesy of Oleg Piganovich on the power play. Donbass extended the lead as Piganovich scored, assisted by Laine and Fedotenko. Donetsk wrapped it up at 5-1 with a Robitaille goal, passed from Dadonov and Piganovich. The three stars were handed to Fedotenko, Piganovich, and Robitaille, while Laine and Dadonov get the honorable mentions.

Finally, in Zagreb, Medvescak brings in Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Barry Brust tend the twines. Magnitogorsk got going in the second period with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, going in unassisted. Zagreb got on the board as Bill Thomas scored in the third period, with the help of Matt Murley and Ivan Svarny. Medvescak took the lead with a Jonathan Cheechoo power play goal, powered by Kurtis Foster and Mark Popovic. This was good for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being given to Brust (18 for 19 in saves), Cheechoo, and Thomas.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Thursday Night Football Week 12 2013

Tonight's game is an NFC South battle between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints from Atlanta. Atlanta was first to score in the first quarter as Steven Jackson ran 1 yard for a touchdown, and Matt Bryant. New Orleans answered as Drew Brees found Benjamin Watson for 1 yard and a touchdown, and Garrett Hartley nailed the extra point. The Falcons took the lead back in the second quarter as Bryant made a 39 yard field goal. The Saints took the lead back as Brees connected for 44 yards and a touchdown with Jimmy Graham, while Hartley booted the PAT. Atlanta got some back with a 24 yard Bryant field goal. New Orleans replied in the third quarter as Hartley booted a 41 yard field goal. This held up for a 17-13 win, with the Saints going to 9-2 while the Falcons fall to 2-9.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.