NHL Day 111 2013-2014

Only three games on today, beginning in...

Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Corey Crawford tend the twines. Chicago was first to score in the first period with a Marian Hossa goal, his twentieth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Patrick Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Boston tied it on a Brad Marchand goal, his thirteenth of the year, via Patrice Bergeron and Adam McQuaid. The Bruins took the lead as Marchand scored his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, coming off of Reilly Smith and Johnny Boychuk. The Blackhawks retied it on a Brandon Bollig goal, his fifth of the year, assisted by Marcus Kruger and Duncan Keith. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Marchand canceled out Jonathan Toews, before Patrick Kane scored to seal the 3-2 Chicago win. The three stars went to Marchand, Crawford (34 for 36 in saves), and Rask (35 for 37 in saves).

East to Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop faces a lesser foe in Justin Peters in goal. Tampa Bay opened in the first period on a Mark Barberio power play goal, powered by Alex Killorn and Ondrej Palat. The Lightning added on with a Palat goal, his tenth of the season, thanks to Martin St. Louis and Tyler Johnson. Tampa Bay extended the lead with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his eighth of the year, guided in by Tom Pyatt and Ryan Malone. The Lightning padded the lead in the second period as Teddy Purcell netted his tenth of the season, via Radko Gudas and Matthew Carle. Carolina got on the board on an Alexander Semin power play goal, his ninth of the year, with a lone helper by Eric Staal. The Hurricanes pulled closer with an unassisted Eric Staal goal, his eleventh of the season. Tampa Bay shot back on a Barberio goal, his second of the game, made possible by Eric Brewer and Palat. Carolina replied in the third period on a Ron Hainsey goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of John-Michael Liles and Jiri Tlusty. This only made it 5-3, the final, with Barberio, Palat, and Eric Staal getting the three stars.

Finally, in New York, the Rangers bring in the Washington Capitals. Philipp Grubauer is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. New York started in the first period with a Rick Nash goal, his thirteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Rangers added on as Nash scored his second of the game and fourteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Brad Richards and Ryan McDonagh. New York extended the lead with a Derek Stepan goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Michael Del Zotto and Dan Girardi. Grubauer was pulled for Braden Holtby at this time. Washington got on the board with a second period power play goal by Alex Ovechkin, his thirty-fifth of the year, assisted by Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom. The Rangers shot back as Ryan Callahan scored his ninth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Dominic Moore and Girardi. This was all they needed for a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Nash, Lundqvist (24 for 25 in saves), and Girardi.

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Conference Championship Sunday 2014

The first of two big games today comes from Denver, as the Broncos host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Denver began in the first quarter on a field goal of 27 yards by Matt Prater. The Broncos added on in the second quarter with a 1 yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Jacob Tamme, and Prater made the extra point. New England got on the board with a 47 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. Denver shot back with a 35 yard field goal by Prater. The Broncos extended the lead in the third quarter with a 3 yard Manning touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, and Prater was true with the extra point. Denver padded the lead on a 19 yard field goal by Prater in the fourth quarter. The Patriots shot back as Brady found Julian Edelman for 7 yards and a touchdown, and Gostkowski knocked in the PAT. The Broncos got some more with a 54 yard Prater field goal. New England chipped back on a 5 yard Brady touchdown run, but Shane Vereen failed to run in the two-point attempt. This only made it 26-16, the final, with the Broncos going to the Super Bowl in two weeks while ending the Patriots season.

Northwest to Seattle, as the Seahawks host their bitter rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, for the NFC Championship. San Francisco led off on a first quarter Phil Dawson field goal of 25 yards. The 49ers added on in the second quarter as Anthony Dixon ran in a 1 yard touchdown, and Dawson handled the extra point. Seattle got on the board with a 32 yard field goal by Stephen Hauschka. The Seahawks tied the game in the third quarter as Marshawn Lynch rushed 40 yards for a touchdown, and Hauschka booted the extra point for the equalizer. San Francisco retook the lead on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to Anquan Boldin, and Dawson nailed the PAT. Seattle got some back on a 40 yard field goal by Hauschka. The Seahawks took the lead in the fourth quarter on a Russell Wilson touchdown pass of 35 yards to Jermaine Kearse, and Hauschka drilled the extra point. Seattle extended the lead with a 47 yard Hauschka field goal. This held up for a 23-17 win, sending the Seahawks to face the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl while eliminating the 49ers from the playoffs.

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KHL Day 138 2013-2014

Eight games on today, beginning in...

Moscow, as CSKA hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Andrei Stelmakh is mismatched with Mikhail Biryukov in goal. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the third period on an Alexander Frolov power play goal, powered by Deron Quint and Denis Denisov. Vladivostok tied it with a shorthanded and unassisted goal by Justin Hodgman. CSKA retook the lead on an Alexander Radulov, assisted by Nikolai Prokhorkin and Zakhar Arzamastsev. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Biryukov (29 for 30 in saves), Radulov, and Frolov.

Up in Mytishchi, Atlant welcomes Ak Bars Kazan. Emil Garipov and Stanislav Galimov are the veteran goalies. Mytishchi got going in the second period with a Roman Rukavishnikov goal, passed from Maxim Mayorov and Alexander Kadeikin. Kazan tied it on a Tim Stapleton power play goal in the third period, powered by Mikhail Varnakov and Shaun Heshka. Ak Bars won 2-1 in overtime on an Ilya Nikulin goal, coming off of Varnakov and Alexander Burmistrov. The three stars belonged to Garipov (22 for 23 in saves), Nikulin, and Varnakov.

West to St. Petersburg, as SKA brings in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Ilya Ezhov receive the starting nods. St. Petersburg opened in the first period on an Igor Makarov goal, with a lone assist by Artemy Panarin. SKA added on as Evgeny Ketov scored, thanks to Ilya Kablukov. St. Petersburg extended the lead on a Vadim Shipachyov goal, fueled by Ilya Kovalchuk and Ketov. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board as Vladimir Denisov scored, with the help of Roman Lyuduchin and Maxim Potapov. Torpedo got closer on a Sakari Salminen goal, coming off of Pavel Valentenko and Juuso Hietanen. Nizhny Novgorod tied it on a second period goal by Wojtek Wolski, with a lone helper from Mikhail Grigoryev. Torpedo took the lead with a power play goal by Hietanen, powered by Jarkko Immonen and Salminen. SKA retied it in the third period with a Dinar Khafizullin power play goal, pushed through by Shipachyov and Roman Cervenka. In the shootout, Wolski and Kovalchuk washed each other out, and then a Salminen goal gave Torpedo the 5-4 win. The three stars were handed to Salminen, Hietanen, and Ketov, while Shipachyov gets the honorable mention.

Back east, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Sharychenkov and Curtis Sanford are in the creases. Yaroslavl began in the first period on a Vadim Khlopotov goal, with a lone assist by Ilya Gorokhov. Lokomotiv added on with a Daniil Apalkov power play goal, powered by Yegor Averin and Gorokhov. Yaroslavl extended the lead in the second period with an Averin goal, fueled by Sergei Plotnikov and Gorokhov, the latter getting a sock trick. Moscow got on the board as Martins Karsums scored, thanks to Maxim Solovyov and Maxim Karpov. Dynamo pulled closer on an unassisted Alexei Tsvetkov goal. Moscow tied it with a Maxim Pestushko goal, via Leo Komarov. Dynamo gained the lead as Andrei Mironov scored a power play goal, guided in by Denis Kokarev and Yegor Dugin. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 4-3, and the three stars went to Gorokhov, Averin, and Mironov.

Across the lake, Severstal Cherepovets welcomes Vityaz Podolsk. Ivan Lisutin faces a lesser foe in Alexander Tryanichev in goal. Cherepovets was first to score on a first period Pavel Chernov shorthanded goal, set up by Gennady Stolyarov. Severstal added on as Chernov scored his second of the game, with the help of Evgeny Mons and Petr Caslava. Cherepovets extended the lead with a power play goal by Alexander Yevseyenkov, powered by Stolyarov and Caslava. Johan Backlund relieved Lisutin at this time. Severstal padded the lead with a Mons goal, with a lone helper by Chernov. Podolsk got on the board in the second period with an Ivan Ivanov power play goal, fueled by Nikita Shatsky and Yury Koksharov. Cherepovets replied with a Sergei Monakhov goal, coming off of Alexander Kuvayev. Vityaz shot back on a Vyacheslav Solodukhin goal, made possible by Maxim Afinogenov. Severstal answered with an Ignat Zemchenko goal, courtesy of Nikolai Kazakovtsev. Cherepovets got another on a Mons goal in the third period, helped along by Nikolai Stasenko and Linus Videll. Podolsk got one back on an Alexei Makeyev goal, with a lone assist by Afinogenov. This only made it 7-3, the final, with Chernov, Mons, and Stolyarov getting the three stars, while Caslava and Afinogenov get the honorable mentions.

Out in Riga, Dinamo brings in Amur Khabarovsk. Mika Jarvinen and Mikael Tellqvist are the goalies. Riga struck first in the second period on a Mat Robinson goal, with a lone assist by Miks Indrasis. Dinamo added on with a Jamie Johnson goal, fueled by Georgijs Pujacs and Martins Cipulis. Khabarovsk got on the board as Sergei Smurov scored, thanks to Vladimir Loginov. Riga responded with an unassisted empty net goal by Kyle Wilson. Dinamo iced it at 4-1 with a Paul Szczechura goal, passed from Indrasis and Marcel Hascak. The three stars were Johnson, Tellqvist (15 for 16 in saves), and Indrasis.

Further west to Prague, as Lev hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Nikita Bespalov and Petri Vehanen are called on to start. Prague led off in the first period on a Martin Thornberg goal, made possible by Ondrej Nemec. Lev tied it on a Jiri Novotny goal in the second period, via Justin Azevedo. Novosibirsk got on the board with a power play goal by Dmitry Kugryshev, powered by Alexander Kutuzov and Alexei Kopeikin. Prague iced it at 3-1 in the third period when Thornberg scored his second of the game, an empty net goal set up by Petr Vrana. Thornberg, Vehanen (25 for 26 in saves), and Novotny earned the three stars.

Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Nikita Lozhkin and Miroslav Kopriva are the backups in goal. Bratislava started in the first period with a Vladimir Mihalik power play goal, powered by Milan Bartovic and Peter Olvecky. Novokuznetsk got on the board with a shorthanded goal by Ansel Galimov, set up by Evgeny Lapenkov. Metallurg took the lead in the second period on a Vadim Mitryakov goal, courtesy of Igor Velichkin. Novokuznetsk added on as Alexei Kosourov scored, thanks to Galimov. Slovan got one back in the third period on a Michel Miklik goal, passed from Roman Kukumberg and Tomas Mojzis. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Galimov, Lozhkin (28 for 30 in saves), and Kosourov.

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NHL Day 110 2013-2014

Today is Hockey Day in Canada, and the league will be having a big day because of it. We begin the first of thirteen games and three matinees in...

Tampa Bay, as the Lightning host the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Ben Bishop are the solid goalies. San Jose was first to score in the first period with a Matthew Nieto goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Patrick Marleau and Tommy Wingels. Tampa Bay tied it on a Martin St. Louis goal, his twenty-second of the year, via Tyler Johnson and Teddy Purcell on the power play. The Sharks retook the lead with a Marleau goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, guided in by Nieto and Wingels. The Lightning retied it on another St. Louis goal, his second of the game and twenty-third of the season, coming off of Jean-Philippe Cote and the goalie Bishop. Tampa Bay pulled ahead as St. Louis completed his hat trick with his twenty-fourth of the year, with the help of J.T. Brown and Mark Barberio. The Lightning added on as St. Louis scored his fourth of the game and twenty-fifth of the campaign in the second period, a power play goal powered by Purcell and Johnson. The last three goals for St. Louis gave him a rare natural hat trick that doesn't include his first goal of the game. San Jose shot back on a Joe Pavelski goal, his twenty-third of the season, made possible by Tyler Kennedy and Jason Demers. The Sharks retied it as Pavelski scored his second of the game and twenty-fourth of the year, a power play goal fueled by Dan Boyle and Marleau. San Jose gained the lead when Pavelski finished his own natural hat trick with his twenty-fifth of the campaign, with assists provided by Matt Irwin and Joe Thornton. This was it for the scoring, making the final 5-4. The three stars were awarded to St. Louis, Pavelski, and Marleau, while Nieto, Wingels, Johnson, and Purcell all get honorable mentions.

Way to the northwest, the Winnipeg Jets welcome the Edmonton Oilers for part one of Hocker Day in Canada. Ilya Bryzgalov and Ondrej Pavelec are the overrated goalies. Edmonton got going in the second period on a Jordan Eberle goal, his sixteenth of the season coming on the power play from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall. Winnipeg tied it in the third period on a Jacob Trouba shorthanded goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Bryan Little. The Jets took the lead with a Mark Scheifele goal, his ninth of the season, guided in by Blake Wheeler and Eric O'Dell. The Oilers retied it on a David Perron goal, his eighteenth of the year, passed from Jeff Petry and Sam Gagner. Winnipeg won 3-2 in overtime on a Trouba goal, his second of the game and seventh of the campaign, made possible by Wheeler. The three stars went to Trouba, Scheifele, and Wheeler.

East to Ottawa, where the Senators bring in the New York Rangers for the last of the matinees. Cam Talbot and Craig Anderson are in the creases. Ottawa struck first in the first period on a Marc Methot goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Cody Ceci and Milan Michalek. New York tied it on a Brad Richards power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh. The Rangers took the lead in the second period with a Rick Nash goal, his twelfth of the season, with a lone assist by Stepan. New York added on as Stepan scored his eighth of the year, an unassisted goal. The Rangers extended the lead in the third period on a goal by Mats Zuccarello, his thirteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. This was good for a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Stepan, Talbot (29 for 30 in saves), and Nash.

Down in Buffalo, the Sabres host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Ryan Miller are the masked men. Buffalo began in the first period on a Tyler Myers goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis. Columbus tied it on a David Savard goal, his third of the year, passed from Derek MacKenzie and Mark Letestu. Buffalo retook the lead on a Drew Stafford goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Ennis. The Blue Jackets retied it on a Matt Calvert goal, his fifth of the year, via Nikita Nikitin and Brandon Dubinsky. Columbus took the lead in the second period with a Dubinsky power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Cam Atkinson and James Wisniewski. Buffalo tied it in the third period on another Myers goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Cody Hodgson and Christian Ehrhoff. The Blue Jackets won 4-3 in the shootout with a Ryan Johansen tally. The three stars were given to Dubinsky, Myers, and Ennis.

Back in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Montreal Canadiens for the second part of Hockey Day in Canada. Carey Price and Jonathan Bernier guard the cages. Toronto opened in the first period as Cody Franson scored his third of the season, thanks to Nazem Kadri and Nikolai Kulemin. Montreal tied it on a Brendan Gallagher power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Max Pacioretty and Andrei Markov. The Maple Leafs retook the lead in the second period as Phil Kessel scored his twenty-third of the season, fueled by Mason Raymond. Toronto added on with a Raymond power play goal, his thirteenth of the year, with assists provided by Kadri and Morgan Rielly. The Canadiens got one back on a Brian Gionta goal, his eighth of the season, with a lone assist by Francis Bouillon. Montreal tied it in the third period as David Desharnais put away his eighth of the year, with the help of P.K. Subban. The Maple Leafs reclaimed the lead on a James van Riemsdyk goal, his nineteenth of the season, via Tyler Bozak and Kessel. Toronto finished it at 5-3 with a Lupul goal, his fifteenth of the year, an empty net goal set up by Nikolai Kulemin. The three stars belonged to Raymond, Kessel, and Lupul, while Kadri gets an honorable mention.

Over in Detroit, the Red Wings bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jimmy Howard are the US Olympic team goalies. Los Angeles dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Mike Richards power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Slava Voynov. Detroit tied it with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Gustav Nyquist and Brendan Smith. The Kings took the lead in the third period back on a Jeff Carter goal, his eighteenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. The Red Wings tied it late on a Niklas Kronwall power play goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Zetterberg and Tomas Tatar. Detroit won as Tatar scored the only goal in the shootout for a 3-2 win. Tatar, Zetterberg, and Kronwall get the three stars.

Backtracking to Philadelphia, where the Flyers host the New York Islanders. Kevin Poulin and Steve Mason receive the starting nods. New York led off in the first period on a John Tavares goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo. The Islanders added on with a shorthanded Cal Clutterbuck goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Frans Nielsen and Brian Strait. Philadelphia got on the board with an Andrej Meszaros goal, his third of the season, going in unassisted. The Flyers tied it as Meszaros scored his second of the game and fourth of the year, with the help of Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds. Philadelphia took the lead on a second period goal by Adam Hall, his second of the season, with a lone assist by Mark Streit. New York retied it as Brock Nelson scored his seventh of the year, with the help of Calvin de Haan and Josh Bailey. The Islanders pulled ahead on a Strait goal, his third of the season, coming off of Nelson. Ray Emery relieved Mason at this time. The Flyers pulled even in the third period as Jakub Voracek scored his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Claude Giroux and Kimmo Timonen. Philadelphia gained the lead with a Michael Raffl goal, his fourth of the season, with assists provided by Giroux and Voracek. The Flyers wrapped it up at 6-4 with a Matt Read empty net goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Sean Couturier and Streit. The three stars went to Meszaros, Voracek, and Giroux, while Nelson and Strait get the honorable mentions.

South to Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Florida Panthers. Tim Thomas faces a former teammate in Anton Khudobin in goal. Carolina started in the second period on a Riley Nash goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Radek Dvorak. Florida tied it on a Marcel Goc goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Jonathan Huberdeau and Tom Gilbert. The Hurricanes took the lead in the third period as Alexander Semin scored his seventh of the season, via Eric Staal. Carolina added on with a shorthanded goal by Semin, his second of the game and eighth of the year, set up by Eric Staal. The Panthers got one back as Kopecky scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Dmitry Kulikov and Nick Bjugstad. This only made it 3-2, the final, with Semin, Eric Staal, and Khudobin (37 for 39 in saves) getting the three stars.

Westward to St. Louis, as the Blues bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Brian Elliott are in the blue paint. Anaheim opened in the first period on a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, courtesy of Corey Perry and Mark Fistric. The Ducks added on in the second period as Matt Belesky scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Nick Bonino. Anaheim extended the lead on a Cam Fowler power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Getzlaf and Bonino. St. Louis got on the board in the third period as Barret Jackman scored his second of the year, thanks to Vladimir Tarasenko and Vladimir Sobotka. The Blues pulled closer on a Jaden Schwartz power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, via T.J. Oshie and Alex Pietrangelo. This wasn't enough to avoid a 3-2 loss, with the three stars being handed to Getzlaf, Bonino, and Fowler.

Over in Nashville, the Predators host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Devan Dubnyk are in goal. Colorado was first to score on a Nick Holden goal, his third of the season, via Nathan MacKinnon and Paul Stastny. The Avalanche added on with a Jan Hejda goal, his sixth of the year, coming off of John Mitchell and Cody McLeod. Colorado extended the lead as Gabriel Landeskog scored his fourteenth of the season, passed from Stastny and MacKinnon. Nashville got on the board with a second period Patric Hornqvist power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Mike Fisher and David Legwand. The Avalanche shot back in the third period as Holden scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, with the help of Mitchell. Colorado padded the lead on a power play goal by Matt Duchene, his seventeenth of the year, courtesy of Holden and Ryan O'Reilly. The Predators answered on a Craig Smith goal, his fifteenth of the season, helped along by Nick Spaling and Roman Josi. Nashville pulled closer on a Ryan Ellis goal, his third of the year, going in unassisted. The Predators chipped closer on a Josi goal, his fifth of the season, pushed through by Viktor Stalberg and Ellis. They failed to tie it, losing 5-4, with the three stars being Holden, Ellis, and Josi, while MacKinnon, Stastny, and Mitchell get the honorable mentions.

Southwest to Phoenix, as the Coyotes welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Mike Smith are the veteran goalies. Phoenix began in the first period on a Jordan Szwarz goal, his third of the season, assisted by Kyle Chipchura and Keith Yandle. The Coyotes added on with a Jeff Halpern goal, his second of the year, made possible by David Moss and Martin Hanzal. New Jersey got on the board as Ryane Clowe scored his second of the season, thanks to Eric Gelinas and Adam Henrique on the power play. Phoenix shot back with a Hanzal power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, powered by Yandle and Radim Vrbata. The Devils chipped back on a third period goal by Jaromir Jagr goal, his fifteenth of the season, guided in by Clowe and Andy Greene. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2, with Hanzal, Clowe, and Yandle earning the three stars.

Up in Minnesota, the Wild bring in the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen faces a lesser foe in Darcy Kuemper. Minnesota struck first in the first period with an Erik Haula goal, going in unassisted. Dallas tied it in the second period on a Ryan Garbutt goal, his tenth of the season, with assists provided by Vernon Fiddler and Rich Peverley. The Wild took the lead back with a Ryan Suter goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Torrey Mitchell and Jonas Brodin. The Stars tied it on an Alex Chiasson power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Alex Goligoski and Tyler Seguin. Minnesota won 3-2 in overtime as Nate Prosser scored his second of the year, thanks to Nino Neiderreiter and Charlie Coyle. The three stars were given to Prosser, Kuemper (33 for 35 in saves), and Suter.

Finally, Hockey Day in Canada concludes with the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Roberto Luongo protect the nets. Calgary dented the scoreboard in the second period on a power play goal by Mark Giordano, his seventh of the season, powered by Lee Stempniak. Vancouver tied it with a Ryan Kesler goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Zack Kassian and Chris Higgins. The Flames took the lead in the third period on a Matt Stajan goal, his seventh of the season, with a lone assist from Lance Bouma. The Canucks retied it as Yannick Weber scored his second of the year, a power play goal made possible by Alexander Edler and Kesler. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Joe Colborne was matched by Weber, and then Higgins' tally gave the Canucks a 3-2 win. The three stars belonged to Kesler, Weber, and the officiating crew for putting up with the war at the beginning of the game.

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KHL Day 137 2013-2014

Six games on today, beginning in...

Omsk, where Avangard hosts Dinamo Minsk. Yan Shelepnyov and Henrik Karlsson are the KHL rookies in goal. Omsk led off in the first period with a Maxim Goncharov goal, fueled by Sergei Shirokkov. Avangard added on with a Sergei Kostitsyn goal, coming off of Nikita Pivtsakin and Dmitry Semin. A minute later, Shelepnyov was pulled for Kevin Lalande. Omsk extended the lead with an unassisted goal by Denis Kazionov. Avangard padded the lead with a Miroslav Blatak goal, assisted by Alexander Popov and Stefan Ruzicka. Minsk got on the board with Alexander Materukhin goal, going in unassisted. Omsk shot back in the second period with a Ruzicka goal, via Alexander Perezhogin. Dinamo got one back on an Evgeny Nogachyov shorthanded and unassisted goal. Avangard replied as Kirill Rasskazov scored, thanks to Ivan Baranka. Omsk got another when Kazionov scored his second of the game, another unassisted goal. This held up for a 7-2 win, with the three stars going to Kazionov, Ruzicka, and Karlsson (19 for 21 in saves).

Moving along to Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Alexei Volkov man the creases. Magnitogorsk began in the first period with a Denis Platonov goal, coming off of Evgeny Timkin. Metallurg added on as Platonov scored his second of the game, made possible by Timkin and Tim Brent. Ufa got on the board in the second period with an Igor Mirnov goal, via Alexei Kaigorodov and Anton Slepyshev. Magnitogorsk replied on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, passed from Mikhail Yunkov and Bogdan Potekhin. Salavat Yulaev answered as Mirnov scored his second of the game, thanks to Andrei Zubarev and Antti Pihlstrom. Metallurg shot back on a power play goal by Sergei Tereshchenko, powered by Yaroslav Khabarov. Andrei Vasilevsky relieved Volkov in the third period. Magnitogorsk extended the lead as Mozyakin scored his second of the game, an unassisted goal. This was good for a 5-2 win, with Mozyakin, Platonov, and Mirnov getting the three stars, while Timkin gets an honorable mention.

West to Chelyabinsk, as Traktor brings in Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Michael Garnett guard the cages. Chelyabinsk opened in the first period with an Anton Glinkin goal, fueled by Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexei Bondarev. Nizhnekamsk tied it as Petr Koukal scored on the penalty shot he received after Bondarev tripped him. Neftekhimik took the lead on an unassisted goal by Koukal, his second of the game. Nizhnekamsk added on with a Maxim Rybin goal, with a lone assist by Maxim Trunyov. Traktor pulled back in the third period with a Kostitsyn goal, coming off of Petri Kontiola. Chelyabinsk tied it with a Semyon Kokuyov goal, passed from Stanislav Chistov. Neftekhimik took the lead back as Rybin scored his second of the night, via Maxim Berezin and Igor Polygalov. Nizhnekamsk extended the lead as Rybin finished his hat trick with an unassisted goal. This made it 5-3, the final, with Rybin, Koukal, and Kostitsyn earning the three stars.

Over in Khanty-Mansiysk, Yugra hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Barry Brust and Alexei Kuznetsov draw the starts. Khanty-Mansiysk started in the first period on an Alexei Kruchinin power play goal, powered by Nikita Gusev and Igor Magogin. Zagreb tied it with a Michael Ryan goal, assisted by Kyle Klubertanz and the goalie Brust. Medvescak took the lead as Bill Thomas scored, with a lone assist by Matt Murley. Zagreb added on in the second period with a Mike Glumac goal, coming off of Erik Nystrom. Medvescak wrapped it up at 4-1 in the third period on a Ryan Vesce goal, passed from Matt Ellison and Mark Popovic. The three stars were given to Brust (42 for 43 in saves), Thomas, and Glumac.

Down in Astana, Barys welcomes Donbass Donetsk. Jan Laco and Ari Ahonen are between the pipes. Astana got going in the second period with a Cam Barker power play goal, assisted by Brandon Bochenski and Zach Hamill. Donetsk tied it on a power play goal by Dmitry Kagarlitsky, powered by Lukas Kaspar and Oleg Piganovich. Donbass took the lead with a Ruslan Fedotenko, with a lone assist by Petteri Wirtanen. Donetsk added on with an unassisted goal by Evgeny Dadonov. Donbass extended the lead on a Randy Robitaille goal, fueled by Tuomas Kiiskinen and Kaspar. Barys got one back with a power play goal by Nigel Dawes, guided in by Kristian Kudroc and Mike Lundin. Vitaly Yeremeyev relieved Ahonen in goal. Donetsk responded with a Vaclav Nedorost goal, with a lone helper from Maxim Yakutsenya. Donbass finished it at 6-2 on an empty net goal by Dadonov, his second of the night, set up by Peter Podhradsky and Teemu Laine. Dadonov, Kaspar, and Laco (29 for 31 in saves) got the three stars.

Finally, back north in Yekaterinburg, Avtomobilist brings in Spartak Moscow. Alexei Ivanov is mismatched with Jakub Kovar in goal. Yekaterinburg dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Fyodor Malykhin goal, assisted by Anton Lazarev and Sami Lepisto. Avtomobilist added on as Malykhin scored his second of the game, a power play goal powered by Lazarev and Tobias Viklund. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars being Malykhin, Kovar (21 save shutout), and Lazarev.

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NHL Day 109 2013-2014

Only two games tonight, beginning in...

Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the Washington Capitals. Phillip Grubauer and Sergei Bobrovsky are the young goalies. Columbus started in the first period with a James Wisniewski power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Jack Johnson and Ryan Johansen. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Matt Calvert and Brandon Dubinsky. Columbus extended the lead in the second period with an Johansen goal, his eighteenth of the season, courtesy of R.J. Umberger. Grubauer was pulled in favor of Braden Holtby at this time. Washington got on the board with a John Carlson goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Martin Erat and Troy Brouwer. The Blue Jackets replied in the third period as Mark Letestu scored his sixth of the season, a power play goal coming off of Nathan Horton and Johnson. Columbus wrapped it up at 5-1 as Atkinson scored his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, assisted by Ryan Murray and Nikita Nikitin. The three stars went to Atkinson, Johansen, and Bobrovsky (26 for 27 in saves).

West to Chicago, as the Blackhawks host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Corey Crawford are the veteran goalies. Chicago opened in the first period on a Marian Hossa shorthanded goal, his eighteenth of the season, set up by Jonathan Toews and Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Blackhawks added on with a Kris Versteeg goal, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. Chicago extended the lead in the third period on a Bryan Bickell goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Brent Seabrook. Anaheim got on the board with a Ryan Getzlaf goal, his twenty-fourth of the year, via Corey Perry and Cam Fowler. The Ducks pulled closer on a Kyle Palmieri goal, his ninth of the season, with the help of Cam Fowler. The Blackhawks iced it at 4-2 with a Hossa empty net goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, passed from Marcus Kruger and Hjalmarsson. The three stars were handed to Hossa, Bickell, and Hjalmarsson.

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KHL Day 136 2013-2014

Eight games on today, beginning in...

Moscow, as CSKA hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Mikhail Biryukov are in goal. Novokuznetsk was first to score in the first period on a Semyon Valuisky goal, passed from Evgeny Lapenkov and Kurtis McLean. Moscow tied it with a Deron Quint power play goal, powered by Ilari Filppula and Yakov Rylov. CSKA took the lead as Rylov scored, thanks to Jan Mursak and Quint. Moscow added on in the second period with an Alexander Radulov goal, via Nikolai Prokhorkin and Stanislav Yegorshev. CSKA wrapped it up at 4-1 in the third period on a Prokhorkin goal, made possible by Radulov and Igor Grigorenko. The three stars went to Quint, Rylov, and Radulov, while Prokhorkin gets an honorable mention.

East to Cherepovets, as Severstal welcomes Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period on a Sakari Salminen goal, assisted by Wojtek Wolski and Juuso Hietanen. Torpedo added on with an Evgeny Skachkov goal, fueled by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev and Vladimir Galuzin. Cherepovets got on the board with a power play goal by Bogdan Kiselevich, powered by Nikolai Zherdev and Vadim Berdnikov. Severstal tied it on a Linus Videll goal, coming off of Pavel Chernov and Stanislav Kalashnikov. Cherepovets took the lead with an Evgeny Kovyrshin goal, passed from Nikolai Stasenko and Kiselevich. Severstal added on as Kiselevich scored his second of the game, thanks to Anatoly Nikontsev and Kalashnikov. Nizhny Novgorod pulled back in the third period with a Galuzin goal, courtesy of Krasnoslobodtsev and Skachkov. Torpedo tied it on a Jarkko Immonen goal, made possible by Galuzin and Krasnoslobodtsev, the latter getting a sock trick. Nizhny Novgorod took the lead with a Galuzin goal, his second of the game, with a lone helper from Krasnoslobodtsev. This held up for a 5-4 win, with the three stars being Galuzin, Krasnoslobodtsev, and Kiselevich, while Videll, Skachkov, and Kalashnikov get the honorable mentions.

Across the lake, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl brings in Ak Bars Kazan. Konstantin Barulin faces a lesser foe in Vitaly Kolesnik in goal. Yaroslavl began in the first period with a Yegor Averin goal, fueled by Sergei Plotnikov and Ilya Lyubushkin. Lokomotiv added on with a Yegor Yakovlev goal, with a lone assist by Emil Galimov. Yaroslavl extended the lead in the second period with a goal by Igor Musatov, passed from Staffan Kronwall and Rafael Akhmetov. Lokomotiv padded the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Jonas Holos, powered by Geoff Platt and Janis Sprukts. This was good for a 4-0 win, with the three stars going to Kolesnik (29 save shutout), Averin, and Yakovlev.

Westward to St. Petersburg, as SKA hosts Vityaz Podolsk. Johan Backlund and Ilya Ezhov are in the creases. St. Petersburg opened in the first period on a Dmitry Kalinin power play goal, powered by Roman Cervenka and Maxim Chudinov. SKA added on in the third period as Kevin Dallman scored a power play goal, thanks to Artemy Panarin and Patrick Thoresen. St. Petersburg extended the lead on another Dallman power play goal, guided in by Panarin and Thoresen again. SKA padded the lead on a Cervenka goal, made possible by Igor Makarov. Podolsk got on the board with a Robert Kousal goal, assisted by Maxim Afinogenov and Alexander Vasilyev. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Dallman, Ezhov (29 for 30 in saves), and Cervenka, while Panarin and Thoresen get the honorable mentions.

Back to the Moscow Oblast, as Atlant Mytishchi welcomes the team from the city, Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Sharychenkov and Sergei Borisov are the little known goalies. Moscow struck first in the first period with an unassisted goal by Maxim Pestushko. Mytishchi tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Rafael Batyrshin, powered by Yury Trubachyov and Maxim Mayorov. Dynamo took the lead back in the third period with a Yegor Dugin goal, passed from Konstantin Volkov and Maxim Karpov. Moscow added on with another Pestushko goal, courtesy of Konstantin Gorovikov. This made it 3-1, the final, with Pestushko, Sharychenkov (34 for 35 in saves), and Dugin.

Out in Riga, Dinamo brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Nikita Bespalov and Jakub Sedlacek are given the starting nods. Riga led off in the first period with a Marcel Hascak goal, fueled by Gunars Skvorcovs and Paul Szczechura. Novosibirsk tied it on a power play goal by Dmitry Monya, powered by Jori Lehtera and Yegor Martynov. Dinamo retook the lead in the second period with a power play goal from Mat Robinson, with a lone assist from Hascak. Sibir tied it again with an Alexei Kopeikin goal, via Martynov. Novosibirsk took the lead in the third period on an Oleg Gubin goal, coming off of Stepan Sannikov. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being given to Martynov, Hascak, and Gubin.

West again to Prague, with Lev hosting Amur Khabarovsk. Mika Jarvinen and Atte Engren are the backups making spot starts. Prague dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Petr Taticek goal, assisted by Justin Azevedo and Mikko Maenpaa. Lev added on in the third period with a Jiri Novotny goal, with a lone helper provided by David Ullstrom. Prague extended the lead on a Petr Vrana goal, via Martin Thornberg and Patrik Zackrisson on the power play. This made it a 3-0 victory, with the three stars being Engren (17 save shutout), Taticek, and Novotny.

Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Evgeny Ivannikov and Jaroslav Janus are the masked men. Vladivostok started in the first period with a Richard Gynge goal, fueled by Logan Pyett and Felix Schutz. Bratislava tied it in the second period on a Mario Bliznak goal, coming off of Milan Bartovic and Tomas Mojzis. Admiral took the lead back as Gynge scored his second of the game, a power play goal powered by Denis Osipov and Niclas Bergfors. Vladivostok added on in the third period on an Igor Bortnikov goal, made possible by Viktor Drugov. Admiral extended the lead on an Alexei Ugarov goal, passed from Justin Hodgman and Ilya Zubov. Vladivostok padded the lead on a Bergfors goal, via Schutz and Gynge. Admiral iced it at 6-1 with a power play goal by Bortnikov, assisted by Osipov and Sergei Barbashev. The three stars were Gynge, Bortnikov, and Bergfors, while Schutz and Osipov get the honorable mentions.

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