NHL Day 165 2013-2014

Eight games on a busy Friday. Post was delayed due to my travel day.

We begin with the New York Islanders hosting the San Jose Sharks. Antti Niemi and Evgeni Nabokov are set to start. San Jose began with a Matthew Nieto goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau. The Sharks added on with a Jason Demers goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Martin Havlat and James Sheppard. New York got on the board in the second period with an Anders Lee goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo. San Jose shot back with a Joe Thornton goal, his tenth of the year, passed from Brent Burns. The Islanders pulled back with a Brock Nelson goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Matt Donovan and Josh Bailey. The Sharks replied with a Havlat goal, his seventh of the year, with a lone assist from Sheppard. New York answered in the third period on a Nielsen goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, fueled by Okposo and Lee. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Havlat, Lee, and Sheppard, while Okposo and Nielsen get the honorable mentions.

Down in Washington, the Capitals welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Jaroslav Halak are in the blue paint. Washington opened on a first period goal by Joel Ward, his nineteenth of the season, coming off of Eric Fehr and Jason Chimera. Vancouver tied it on a Jordan Schroeder goal, his third of the year, with a lone assist by Zack Kassian. Washington took the lead back in the second period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his forty-fifth of the season, powered by John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington added on with a Tom Wilson goal, his third of the year, guided in by Kuznetsov and Jay Beagle. The Canucks shot back in the third period on a Shawn Matthias goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Chris Higgins and Chris Tanev. Vancouver tied it on a Nicklas Jensen goal, coming off of Higgins and Tanev. The Capitals took the lead back on a Mike Green goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Nicklas Backstrom and Kuznetsov, the latter getting a sock trick. The final stood from here at 4-3, with the three stars going to Kuznetsov, Higgins, and Tanev.

Northwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Viktor Fasth is mismatched with Jimmy Howard in goal. Detroit led off in the first period with a Riley Sheahan goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Tomas Tatar and Drew Miller. Edmonton tied it in the third period on a Ryan Smyth goal, his tenth of the year, going in unassisted. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the Red Wings won 2-1 with a Tatar tally. The three stars were Tatar, Howard (21 for 22 in saves), and Fasth (22 for 23 in saves).

Way south to Florida, where the Panthers host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider faces former mentor Roberto Luongo in goal. Florida struck first in the first period on a Brian Campbell goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Jonathan Huberdeau and Jimmy Hayes. New Jersey tied it on a Jaromir Jagr power play goal, his twenty-second of the year, powered by Damien Brunner and Travis Zajac. The Devils took the lead in the second period on a Bryce Salvador goal, fueled by Patrik Elias and Ryane Clowe. New Jersey added on with an Elias goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Brunner and Andy Greene. The Panthers got one back on a Quinton Howden goal, his second of the year, passed from Scott Gomez and Huberdeau. Florida tied it in the third period as Brad Boyes potted his eighteenth of the season, an unassisted goal. The Panthers took the lead as Scottie Upshall netted his thirteenth of the year, thanks to Boyes. Florida iced it at 5-3 on a Vincent Trocheck empty net goal, set up by Campbell. The three stars were Boyes, Campbell, and Huberdeau, while Elias and Brunner get the honorable mentions.

Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Corey Crawford protect the nets. Nashville started in the first period with a Mike Fisher goal, his seventeenth of the season, coming off of Matt Cullen and Roman Josi. The Predators added on as Patric Hornqvist potted his thirteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Shea Weber and Josi. Chicago got on the board with a Jonathan Toews goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, via Kris Versteeg. Nashville answered in the third period on a Ryan Ellis goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone assist by Josi, who got a sock trick. The Blackhawks got one back as Peter Regin put away his fourth of the campaign, with the help of Johnny Oduya and Andrew Shaw. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars being Josi, Ellis, and Hornqvist.

Crossing into Canada, where the Winnipeg Jets bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec make the starts. New York was first to score in the first period on a Carl Hagelin goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Benoit Pouliot and Kevin Klein. Winnipeg tied it on a Dustin Byfuglien goal, his seventeenth of the year, guided in by Blake Wheeler and Tobias Enstrom. The Jets added on as Andrew Ladd scored his nineteenth of the season, with the help of Bryan Little and Michael Frolik. The Rangers retied it on a Chris Kreider goal, his seventeenth of the year, passed from Derek Stepan and Dan Girardi. Pavelec was hurt, so Al Montoya played goal at the start of the second period. New York took the lead again with another Hagelin goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, via Martin St. Louis and Klein. The Rangers finished it at 4-2 in the third period when Hagelin finish his hat trick on his sixteenth of the year, with helpers provided by Brad Richards. Hagelin, Klein, and Lundqvist (30 for 32 in saves) were the three stars.

Back stateside, the Dallas Stars host the Calgary Flames. Joey MacDonald and Tim Thomas are the older goalies. Dallas got going in the second period with an Antoine Roussel goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Vernon Fiddler and Jordie Benn. Calgary tied it on a Michael Cammalleri goal, his eighteenth of the year, passed from Joe Colborne and Mark Giordano. The Stars took the lead with a Jamie Benn goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, courtesy of Trevor Daley and Tyler Seguin. Dallas added on as Erik Cole put away his sixteenth of the year, thanks to Brenden Dillion and Travis Morin. The Flames got one back in the third period with a Paul Byron power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Curtis Glencross and Kris Russell. Calgary retied it on a Cammalleri goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, via T.J. Brodie and Colborne. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Jordie Benn was cancelled out by Sean Monahan, allowing Corban Knight to score the game-winner for a 4-3 Flames victory. The three stars went to Cammalleri, Colborne, and Jordie Benn.

Finally, in Denver, the Colorado Avalanche host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Semyon Varlamov guard the cages. Colorado dented the scoreboard in the first period with a John Mitchell goal, his eighth of the season, via Gabriel Landeskog and Nate Guenin. Anaheim tied it in the second period with a Daniel Winnik goal, his fourth of the year, made possible by Nick Bonino and Bryan Allen. The Avalanche retook the lead on a Jamie McGinn power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Ryan O'Reilly and Nick Holden. The Ducks evened the score with a Kyle Palmieri goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Pat Maroon and Ryan Getzlaf. Anaheim pulled ahead on Palmieri's second of the game and eleventh of the season, helped along by Hampus Lindholm and Bonino. The Ducks added on as Corey Perry scored his thirty-sixth of the year, thanks to Teemu Selanne and Cam Fowler. Anaheim chased Varlamov with a Ben Lovejoy goal, his fourth of the season, fueled by Fowler and Getzlaf. Former Duck Jean-Sebastien Giguere came on in relief. Colorado pulled back with another McGinn power play goal, his second of the game and seventeenth of the year, with assists from Erik Johnson and O'Reilly. The Avalanche chipped closer on a Landeskog goal, his twentieth of the season, pushed through by Mitchell and Jan Hejda. The Ducks replied with a Mathieu Perreault goal, his thirteenth of the year, coming off of Jakob Silfverberg and Luca Sbisa. This was it for the scoring, with the final standing at 6-4. The three stars went to Palmieri, McGinn, and Fowler, while Getzlaf, Bonino, Landeskog, Mitchell, and O'Reilly get the honorable mentions.

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KHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Day 5 2014

Three series are left in the East. All three play today, beginning in...

Magnitogorsk, as Metallurg hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Evgeny Ivannikov and Vasily Koshechkin tend the twines. Magnitogorsk opened with a first period power play goal by Danis Zaripov, with a lone assist by Sergei Mozyakin. Metallurg added on with Jan Kovar goal, fueled by Mozyakin and Zaripov. Vladivostok got on the board in the second period when Igor Bortnikov scored a power play goal, powered by Ilya Zubov. Admiral tied it with an Alexei Ugarov power play goal, coming off of Evgeny Grachyov. Magnitogorsk took the lead in the third period on a Kovar goal, his second of the game, made possible by Mozyakin, who got a sock trick. Vladivostok tied it with a Justin Hodgman power play goal, guided in by Logan Pyett. Metallurg won 4-3 in overtime with a Mozyakin goal, helped along by Zaripov. The three stars went to Mozyakin, Zaripov, and Kovar. Metallurg wins the series 4-1.

Moving along to Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev welcomes Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Georgy Gelashvili and Andrei Vasilevsky are set to start. Ufa started in the first period with a power play goal by Yegor Dubrovsky, powered by Denis Khlystov and Denis Tolpeko. Nizhny Novgorod tied it with a power play goal by Wojtek Wolski, assisted by Juuso Hietanen and Sakari Salminen. Torpedo took the lead on a Salminen goal in the second period, passed from Wolski and Jarkko Immonen on the power play. Salavat Yulaev tied it with another power play goal by Nikita Shchitov, courtesy of Khlystov and Tolpeko. Ufa regained the lead in the third period on a power play goal from Dubrovsky, his second of the game, via Khlystov, who got a sock trick. Salavat Yulaev iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Antti Pihlstrom, set up by Alexei Kaigorodov and the goalie Vasilevsky. The three stars were given to Dubrovsky, Khlystov, Tolpeko, while Salminen and Wolski get the honorable mention. Salavat Yulaev takes a 3-2 series lead.

Finally, in Kazan, Ak Bars brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Emil Garipov are in the creases. Novosibirsk got going in the third period with an Oleg Gubin goal, courtesy of Sergei Shumakov and Stepan Sannikov. This was the only goal in the game, for a 1-0 final. Koskinen (29 save shutout), Gubin, and Garipov (27 for 28 in saves). Sibir takes a 3-2 series lead.

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NHL Day 164 2013-2014

Seven games on a slow Thursday, beginning in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Tuukka Rask are the veteran goalies. Boston was first to score in the first period with a Zdeno Chara goal, his sixteenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins added on as Jarome Iginla scored his twenty-first of the year, thanks to Johnny Boychuk and Milan Lucic. Phoenix got on the board in the third period with a Lauri Korpikoski goal, his ninth of the campaign, passed from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Shane Doan. This was as close as it got, with the three stars going to Rask (21 for 22 in saves), Iginla, and Chara.

Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Michal Neuvirth and Cam Ward are the backups making spot starts. Buffalo started in the first period with a Tyler Ennis goal, his seventeenth of the season, coming on a penalty shot after Jiri Tlusty slashed him on the breakaway. Carolina tied it with a Jeff Skinner goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, courtesy of Ryan Murphy and Elias Lindholm. The Sabres retook the lead in the third period on a Drew Stafford goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Cory Conacher and Mike Weber. The Hurricanes retied it as Alexander Semin potted his eighteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Andrej Sekera and Jordan Staal. Carolina took the lead as Tlusty scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Semin and Jordan Staal. The Hurricanes iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal from Nathan Gerbe, his fourteenth of the year, set up by Patrick Dwyer and Eric Staal. The three stars were Semin, Jordan Staal, and Neuvirth (51 for 54 in saves).

Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets bring in the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Sergei Bobrovsky are the young goalies. Columbus struck first in the first period on a Ryan Johansen goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, assisted by Boone Jenner and Nick Foligno. San Jose tied it on a Patrick Marleau goal, his twenty-seventh of the year, with a lone assist from Logan Couture. The Blue Jackets retook the lead in the second period on a shorthanded goal by R.J. Umberger, his eighteenth of the season, set up by Brandon Dubinsky. The Sharks pulled even in the third period with a Matthew Nieto goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. San Jose took the lead on Marleau's second of the game and twenty-eighth of the season, a power play goal powered by Joe Pavelski and Dan Boyle. Columbus retied it with a James Wisniewski goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Dubinsky and Matt Calvert. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Pavelski's lone tally gave the Sharks a 4-3 win. The three stars went to Marleau, Couture, and Pavelski, while Dubinsky gets an honorable mention.

South to Florida, where the Tampa Bay Lightning host their in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers. Dan Ellis is mismatched with Ben Bishop in goal. Florida opened in the first period with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his seventh of the season, coming on the power play from Dmitry Kulikov and Nick Bjugstad. Tampa Bay tied it on a Sami Salo goal, his third of the year, with a lone helper from Valtteri Filppula. The Panthers retook the lead with a Quinton Howden goal, made possible by Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri. The Lightning retied it with a Mike Kostka goal, his third of the season, via Teddy Purcell. Tampa Bay pulled ahead on a Ryan Callahan goal in the second period, his twelfth of the year, assisted by Ondrej Palat and Filppula. The Lightning added on with a Tyler Johnson goal, his twenty-first of the season, guided in by Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Stamkos, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Filppula, who got a sock trick, and Victor Hedman. Florida responded with a Scottie Upshall goal, his twelfth of the season, with assists provided by Bjugstad and Brad Boyes. The Panthers chipped closer with a Pirri goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Alex Petrovic and Brian Campbell. This only made it 5-4, the final, with Stamkos, Filppula, and Pirri getting the three stars, while Bjugstad gets an honorable mention.

Northwest to St. Louis, where the Blues bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Ben Scrivens and Ryan Miller are the masked men. Edmonton led off in the first period with a David Perron goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, guided in by Taylor Hall and Andrew Ference. St. Louis tied it on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his eighth of the year, passed from Vladimir Tarasenko and T.J. Oshie. The Blues added on with a Tarasenko goal in the second period, his twentieth of the season, from Oshie and Sobotka. The Oilers replied on a Mark Fraser goal, via Boyd Gordon and Jesse Joensuu. St. Louis retook the lead with a third period goal by Alex Pietrangelo, his eighth of the year, with a lone helper by Sobotka. The Blues added on with a Jaden Schwartz goal, his twentieth of the season, assisted by David Backes and Alexander Steen. St. Louis extended the lead with an Oshie power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Blues finished it at 6-2 with Schwartz's second of the game and twenty-first of the campaign, helped along by Maxim Lapierre and Magnus Paajarvi. The three stars were given to Sobotka, Oshie, and Schwartz, while Steen and Tarasenko get the honorable mentions.

Up in Minnesota, the Wild welcome the New York Rangers. Cam Talbot and Darcy Kuemper have the green light to start. Minnesota began in the first period with a Nino Neiderreiter goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Kyle Brodziak. New York tied it on a second period Derek Stepan power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Ryan McDonagh and Rick Nash. The Wild retook the lead in the third period on a Zach Parise goal, his twenty-third of the campaign, fueled by Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund. This stood up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Kuemper (29 for 30 in saves), Parise, and Neiderreiter.

Finally, in Los Angeles, the Kings host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick tend the twines. Los Angeles got going in the first period with a Marian Gaborik goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Drew Doughty and Justin Williams. The Kings added on with a power play goal by Anze Kopitar, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Doughty and Gaborik. Toronto got on the board with a Dion Phaneuf power play goal, his seventh of the season, guided in by Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly. Bernier was pulled for James Reimer at the start of the second period. The Maple Leafs tied it on a Carl Gunnarsson goal, his second of the year, fueled by Cody Franson and Kadri. Toronto took the lead in the third period as Mason Raymond scored his nineteenth of the campaign, a shorthanded goal set up by James van Riemsdyk. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Reimer (31 for 31 in saves in a relief win), Gaborik, and Kadri, while Doughty gets an honorable mention.

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KHL Western Conference Quarterfinals Day 5 2014

Two games on today, beginning in...

Moscow, as Dynamo hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Alexander Yeryomenko tend the twines. It took until the second overtime for a goal to be scored, and it came from Konstantin Volkov of Moscow, via Yury Babenko and Denis Kokarev. This made it a 1-0 final, with Yeryomenko (33 save shutout), Volkov, and Sanford (40 for 41 in saves) earning the three stars. Dynamo will look to finish the series on Saturday, currently holding a 3-2 series lead.

Out in Ukraine, Donbass Donetsk hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Jan Laco make the starts. Riga started in the first period with a Gints Meija power play goal, powered by Lauris Darzins. Dinamo added on in the second period as Darzins scored, thanks to Sandis Ozolins and Paul Szczechura. Donetsk got on the board with a Tuomas Kiiskinen goal, guided in by Petteri Wirtanen and Teemu Laine on the power play. They failed to tie it, losing 2-1, with the three stars being Darzins, Sedlacek (35 for 36 in saves), and Meija. Donbass still has a 3-2 series lead.

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NHL Day 163 2013-2014

Four games on tonight, a slow Wednesday for the NHL. We begin with a rivalry game in...

Montreal, where the Canadiens host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask faces a lesser foe in Peter Budaj in goal. Boston got going in the second period with a Carl Soderberg goal, his twelfth of the season, going in unassisted. The Bruins added on with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his nineteenth of the year, guided in by Brad Marchand and Matt Bartkowski. Boston extended the lead with a Milan Lucic goal, his twentieth of the season, via Jarome Iginla and David Krejci. The Bruins padded the lead in the third period as Zdeno Chara scored his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Bergeron and Marchand. Montreal got on the board with a David Desharnais goal, his twelfth of the campaign, fueled by Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Bergeron, Rask (35 for 36 in saves), and Marchand.

West to Winnipeg, where the Jets welcome the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Ondrej Pavelec are the inconsistent goalies. Winnipeg dented the scoreboard in the second period with an Andrew Ladd goal, his eighteenth of the season, via Bryan Little and Jacob Trouba. Vancouver tied it on an Alexandre Burrows goal, coming off of Jason Garrison and Jordan Schroeder. The Jets retook the lead in the third period with a Michael Frolik goal, his thirteenth of the year, passed from Olli Jokinen and Keaton Ellerby. The Canucks retied it as Burrows scored his second of the game, thanks to Jannik Hansen. In the shootout, Chris Higgins scored the only tally for a 3-2 Canucks win. Burrows, Higgins, and Lack (32 for 34 in saves) get the honorable mentions.

Down in Colorado, the Avalanche bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Antti Raanta is mismatched with Semyon Varlamov in goal. Colorado opened in the first period with a Brad Malone goal, fueled by Tyson Barrie and the goalie Varlamov. The Avalanche added on in the second period with a Matt Duchene goal, his twenty-second of the season, assisted by Jamie McGinn and Ryan O'Reilly. Chicago got on the board with a Patrick Kane goal, his twenty-ninth of the year, passed from Patrick Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Colorado shot back in the third period on an O'Reilly power play goal, his twenty-fifth of the season, powered by Duchene and Erik Johnson. The Blackhawks got one back as Brandon Saad scored his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Andrew Shaw and Duncan Keith. This made it 3-2, the final, with Duchene, O'Reilly, and Varlamov (37 for 39 in saves earning the three stars).

Finally, in Calgary, the Flames host the Anaheim Ducks. Jonas Hiller and Joni Ortio are in the blue paint. Calgary started in the first period with a Mark Giordano goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by T.J. Brodie. The Flames added on with a T.J. Galiardi goal, his third of the year, going in shorthanded via Paul Byron and Brodie. Calgary extended the lead as Michael Cammalleri potted his seventeenth of the season, a power play goal, powered by Mikael Backlund and Giordano. Hiller was pulled for Frederik Andersen. The Flames padded the lead as Backlund scored his fifteenth of the year, thanks to Lance Bouma and the goalie Ortio. Calgary struck again in the second period on another Backlund goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Kris Russell. Anaheim got on the board with an Andrew Cogliano goal, his twentieth of the year, assisted by Jakob Silfverberg and Francois Beauchemin. The Flames shot back with a Ladislav Smid goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Byron and Bouma. The Ducks got one back in the third period on a Nick Bonino goal, his seventeenth of the year, with assists provided by Cam Fowler and Luca Sbisa. Calgary answered on a Corban Knight goal, made possible by Kevin Westgarth and Ben Hanowski. This made it 7-2, the final, with the three stars going to Backlund, Giordano, and Brodie, while Byron and Bouma get the honorable mentions.

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KHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Day 4 2014

Four more games today. We begin in...

Vladivostok, as Admiral hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Evgeny Ivannikov are given the starting nods. Magnitogorsk led off in the first period with an unassisted goal by Francis Pare. Vladivostok tied it in the second period with a Michael Commodore goal, going in unassisted. Admiral took the lead with an Ilya Zubov goal, assisted by Igor Bortnikov and Richard Gynge. Metallurg retied it in the third period as Jan Kovar scored, thanks to Sergei Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk won in the third overtime with a Danis Zaripov goal, made possible by Kovar and Mozyakin. The three stars of the 3-2 game were Kovar, Zaripov, and Mozyakin. Metallurg goes home with a 3-1 series lead.

West to Novosibirsk, as Sibir welcomes Ak Bars Kazan. Emil Garipov and Mikko Koskinen are in the blue paint. Kazan got going in the second period with an unassisted goal by Ilya Nikulin. Ak Bars added on with a power play goal by Mikhail Varnakov, powered by Nikulin and Shaun Heshka. Kazan extended the lead on a power play goal by Janne Pesonen, fueled by Heshka and Alexander Svitov. Novosibirsk got on the board with a Jarno Koskiranta goal, going in unassisted. Ak Bars shot back in the third period with an unassisted goal from Nikolai Belov. Kazan padded the lead on a Heshka power play goal, via Svitov and Nikulin. Ak Bars kept going with a Tomas Vincour goal, passed from Alexei Tereshchenko and Kirill Petrov. Sibir got one back with a Jonas Enlund goal, with a lone assist by Dmitry Monya. Novosibirsk pulled closer on a power play goal by Ivan Lekomtsev, helped along by Monya. This only made it 6-3, the final, with Nikulin, Heshka, and Svitov getting the three stars, while Monya gets an honorable mention. The series heads west tied at 2.

Further to the west, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg brings in Barys Astana. Vitaly Yeremeyev and Jakub Kovar are between the pipes. Astana dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Roman Savchenko goal, via Fyodor Polishchuk. Barys added on with a Konstantin Romanov goal, with a lone assist by Talgat Zhailauov. Yekaterinburg got on the board with a power play goal by Fyodor Malykhin, powered by Tobias Viklund and the goalie Kovar. They failed to tie the game, losing 2-1, with the three stars being Yeremeyev (29 for 30 in saves), Romanov, and Savchenko. Barys sweeps Avtomobilist out of the playoffs, advancing to the semifinals.

Finally, in Nizhny Novgorod, Torpedo hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Andrei Vasilevsky and Ivan Kasutin are the masked men. Nizhny Novgorod began in the second period with a Vladimir Galuzin goal, helped along by Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev. Ufa tied it on a power play goal by Ivan Vishnevsky, powered by Kirill Koltsov and Alexei Kaigorodov. Salavat Yulaev took the lead on an Igor Mirnov goal, with a lone assist by Kaigorodov. Ufa added on with an Arturs Kulda goal, fueled by Brent Sopel and Teemu Hartikainen. Georgy Gelashvili relieved Kasutin for the third period. Torpedo got one back in the third period on a Jarkko Immonen goal, passed from Mikhail Grigoryev and Evgeny Skachkov. Salavat Yulaev iced it at 4-2 with an unassisted empty net goal by Yegor Dubrovsky. The three stars were Kaigorodov, Kulda, and Vishnevsky. The series is now tied at 2.

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NHL Day 162 2013-2014

Nine games on tonight, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Nashville Predators. Carter Hutton and Jhonas Enroth are set to start. Buffalo was first to score in the first period with a Drew Stafford power play goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis. Nashville tied it on a power play goal by Nick Spaling, his thirteenth of the year, powered by Shea Weber and Roman Josi. The Predators took the lead in the second period as Weber scored his sixteenth of the season, thanks to Colin Wilson and Craig Smith. Nashville added on with a Smith goal, his twentieth of the year, guided in by Wilson and Gabriel Bourque. The Predators iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Paul Gaustad, his ninth of the campaign, set up by Spaling and Mike Fisher. The three stars were Weber, Smith, and Hutton (24 for 25 in saves), while Spaling and Wilson get the honorable mentions.

Down in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the New Jersey Devils. Martin Brodeur and Steve Mason are in the blue paint. New Jersey led off in the first period with a Travis Zajac goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Jaromir Jagr and Tuomo Ruutu. Philadelphia tied it in the second period with a Nicklas Grossman goal, coming off of Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. The Devils retook the lead on a third period Jagr goal, his twenty-first of the year, guided in by Marek Zidlicky and Ruutu. This was good for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Jagr, Brodeur (30 for 31 in saves), and Ruutu.

Further south to Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Ward are the veteran goalies. Carolina got going in the second period with a Jiri Tlusty goal, his eleventh of the season, via Jordan Staal and Andrej Sekera. New York tied it on a Kevin Klein goal, his second of the year, passed from Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot. The Hurricanes retook the lead with a Jordan Staal goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Tlusty and Alexander Semin. Carolina added on in the third period as Elias Lindholm scored his sixth of the year, thanks to Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal. This made it a 3-1 game, and the three stars went to Jordan Staal, Tlusty, and Ward (24 for 25 in saves).

Backtracking to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets host the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek is mismatched with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Detroit began in the first period with a Danny DeKeyser goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by David Legwand. Columbus tied it with a Nick Foligno goal, his seventeenth of the year, coming off of Nick Schultz and Nathan Horton. The Blue Jackets took the lead in the third period with an unassisted goal by Boone Jenner, his twelfth of the season. Columbus added on with a Brandon Dubinsky goal, his thirteenth of the year, guided in by Matt Calvert and Horton. The Blue Jackets extended the lead on Derek MacKenzie's seventh of the campaign, fueled by Mark Letestu and Blake Comeau. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 4-1, and the three stars went to Bobrovsky (39 for 40 in saves), Jenner, and Horton.

South again to Florida, where the Panthers welcome the Phoenix Coyotes. Mike Smith and Roberto Luongo are in the creases. Phoenix struck first in the first period on a Mike Ribeiro power play goal, his fifteenth of the season, powered by Keith Yandle and Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes added on in the second period with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Vrbata and Lauri Korpikoski. Phoenix extended the lead in the third period on a Vrbata goal, his nineteenth of the season, fueled by Antoine Vermette and Mikkel Boedker. Florida got on the board with a Brandon Pirri goal, his seventh of the year, a power play goal made possible by Dmitry Kulikov and Nick Bjugstad. This only made it 3-1, with the three stars going to Vrbata, Smith (31 for 32 in saves), and Ekman-Larsson.

Back in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the Washington Capitals. Jaroslav Halak and Marc-Andre Fleury guard the cages. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Jussi Jokinen goal, his seventeenth of the season, coming off of Matt Niskanen and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on in the third period with a Sidney Crosby goal, his thirty-first of the year, guided in by Lee Stempniak. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars going to Fleury (32 save shutout), Jokinen, and Stempniak.

Southwest to St. Louis, where the Blues host the Dallas Stars. Tim Thomas and Ryan Miller have the green light to start. St. Louis started in the first period with an Alex Pietrangelo goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Magnus Paajarvi and Maxim Lapierre. Dallas tied it on a Colton Sceviour power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Alex Goligoski and Ray Whitney. The Stars took the lead in the third period with an Antoine Roussel goal, his eleventh of the season, guided in by Jamie Benn. The Blues tied it on a Roman Polak goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrik Berglund. Dallas won 3-2 in overtime with a Jamie Benn goal, his twenty-sixth of the campaign, with assists provided by Trevor Daley and Tyler Seguin. The three stars were Jamie Benn, Roussel, and Sceviour.

North to Minnesota, where the Wild welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Viktor Fasth and Darcy Kuemper are the relatively unknown goalies. Minnesota dented the scoreboard in the first period with a Zach Parise power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville. The Wild added on with a Jared Spurgeon goal, his third of the year, guided in by Erik Haula and Dany Heatley. Minnesota extended the lead as Pominville scored his twenty-fourth of the season, courtesy of Granlund and Parise. Edmonton got on the board with a Jeff Petry goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers pulled closer in the third period with a David Perron goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, assisted by Andrew Ference and Sam Gagner. Edmonton tied it with an Eberle goal, his twenty-first of the year, passed from Ference and Oscar Klefborn. In the shootout, Parise and Eberle traded goals, followed by Mikko Koivu doing the same with Perron, and then Taylor Hall scored the game winner. The three stars of the 4-3 Oilers victory were Eberle, Ference, and Parise, while Pominville and Granlund get the honorable mentions.

Finally, in San Jose, the Sharks bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Antti Niemi are in goal. San Jose led off in the first period with a Marc-Edouard Vlasic goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Matthew Nieto. Toronto tied it on a Jake Gardiner goal, his seventh of the year, with a lone helper by Mason Raymond. The Sharks retook the lead on a Brent Burns goal, his eighteenth of the season, via Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. San Jose added on in the second period with a Tommy Wingels goal, his fifteenth of the year, coming off of Justin Braun and James Sheppard. The Sharks extended the lead on a Pavelski goal, his thirty-third of the season, fueled by Thornton and Dan Boyle. San Jose padded the lead in the third period with Pavelski's second of the game and thirty-fourth of the year, coming off of Jason Demers and Thornton, the latter getting a sock trick. The Maple Leafs got one back as Gardiner scored his second of the game and eighth of the season, a shorthanded goal set up by Raymond and James van Riemsdyk. The Sharks shot back on a Martin Havlat goal, his sixth of the year, helped along by Sheppard and Wingels. This was it for the scoring, with the final being 6-2. The three stars were given to Pavelski, Thornton, and Wingels, while Gardiner, Sheppard, and Raymond get the honorable mentions.

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