Saturday, November 8, 2014

MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal: New York Red Bulls VS. DC United

In MLS, the conference semifinals and finals are played in two game, aggregate goal sets, with a road goals tiebreakers. Here is the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

In Harrison, New Jersey, the goalies are Luis Robles for New York and Bill Hamid for DC. New York opened in the fortieth minute on a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, set up by Thierry Henry and Lloyd Sam. The Red Bulls took a yellow card in the forty-third minute for persistent infringement by Dax McCarty. New York added on with a Peguy Luyindula goal, with an assist by Henry. The Red Bulls had two more yellow cards go to Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo in the eighty-second minute and Roy Miller in the eighty-fourth minute, both for fouls. The final stood at 2-0, and Henry was the man of the match for a pair of assists. 

Moving to DC, the goalies remain the same. DC began in the thirty-seventh minute on a Nick DeLeon goal, passed from Taylor Kemp and Fabian Espindola. New York took a yellow card in the forty-second minute as Roy Miller committed a foul. The Red Bulls tied the game in the fifty-seventh minute on a Peguy Luyindula goal, via Thierry Henry and Bradley Wright-Phillips. United took a yellow card for dissent from Espindola. New York went down a man in the seventy-eighth minute on a straight card to Miller for a bad foul. DC took a yellow card for persistent infringement in the eighty-fifth minute by Kemp. The Red Bulls saw another booking on a yellow card for Wright-Phillips' foul. United took the lead with a stoppage time goal by Steve Birnbaum and DeLeon. DC's Espindola received a straight red card for a fight after the match concluded with a 2-1 score. DeLeon was the man of the match. The Red Bulls won the series on aggregate 3-2.

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NHL November 7th, 2014

Five games on this evening, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Edmonton Oilers. Viktor Fasth and Michal Neuvirth are the mediocre goalies. Buffalo got going in the second period on a Matt Moulson goal, via Brian Gionta and Zemgus Girgensons. Edmonton tied it on an Iiro Pakarinen goal, assisted by Mark Fayne and Teddy Purcell. The Sabres retook the lead in the third period on a Drew Stafford goal, his third of the season, made possible by Nicolas Deslauriers and Rasmus Ristolainen. The Oilers pulled even on a Mark Arcobello goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of David Perron and Nail Yakupov. Edmonton went ahead with a Boyd Gordon goal, his second of the campaign, guided in by Purcell and Matt Hendricks. The three stars in the 3-2 game were Purcell, Pakarinen, and Gordon.

Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Cam Ward draw the starts. Carolina dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Jeff Skinner goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. Columbus tied it on a Scott Hartnell goal, his second of the year, passed from Boone Jenner and Frederic St-Denis. The Blue Jackets took the lead with another Hartnell goal, his second of the game and third of the season, courtesy of Jenner and Cam Atkinson. The Hurricanes tied it on a third period Victor Rask goal, his second of the year, via Nathan Gerbe and Alexander Semin. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime on a power play goal by Elias Lindholm, his fourth of the campaign, powered by Eric Staal and Rask. The three stars were given to Rask, Hartnell, and Jenner.

Northwest to Detroit, as the Red Wings host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Jimmy Howard guard the cages. New Jersey struck first in the first period on a Steve Bernier goal, assisted by Bryce Salvador and Stephen Gionta. Detroit tied it on a Jakub Kindl power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Tomas Tatar and Darren Helm. The Red Wings took the lead with a Brendan Smith goal, coming off of Joakim Andersson and Drew Miller. Detroit added on in the second period with a Johan Franzen power play goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings extended the lead with an unassisted Kronwall goal, his third of the season. The Devils got one back as Jordin Tootoo scored, thanks to Marek Zidlicky. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Kronwall, Franzen, and Smith.

Down in Chicago, the Blackhawks bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford are the solid goalies. Chicago was first to score in the first period on a Brandon Saad goal, his second of the season, coming off of Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw. The Blackhawks added on in the second period with a Duncan Keith goal, his third of the year, a power play goal powered by Brad Richards and Jonathan Toews. Washington got on the board with an Andre Burakovsky goal, his third of the season, made possible by Marcus Johansson. The Capitals tied it on a Johansson goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Matt Niskanen and Burakovsky. Washington took the lead with a Joel Ward goal, his seventh of the campaign, guided in by Niskanen and Karl Alzner. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Holtby (38 for 40 in saves), Burakovsky, and Johansson, while Niskanen gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Frederik Andersen are between the pipes. Anaheim led off in the first period on a Ryan Getzlaf power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Sami Vatanen and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Ducks added on as Matt Beleskey scored his seventh of the year, with the help of Jakob Silfverberg and Ryan Kesler. Arizona got on the board in the second period with a Rob Klinkhammer goal, his third of the season, passed from Martin Hanzal and Martin Erat. The Coyotes tied it on a Shane Doan goal, his fourth of the year, via Antoine Vermette and Keith Yandle. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Arizona won on goals by Sam Gagner and Mikkel Boedker, topping a lone Silfverberg tally. The three stars in the 3-2 game were Silfverberg, Smith (37 for 39 in saves), and Doan.

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Friday, November 7, 2014

KHL November 7th, 2014

Five games today, beginning with...

Amur Khabarovsk hosting Atlant Mytishchi. Dmitry Shikin and Alexei Murygin receive the starting nods. Mytishchi got going in the second period on a power play goal by Konstantin Koltsov, powered by Vitaly Novopashin and Ondrej Nemec. Atlant added on with a Dmitry Korobov goal, guided in by Matthew Gilroy and Artyom Chernov. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars going to Shikin (31 save shutout), Koltsov, and Korobov.

Down in Vladivostok, Admiral welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Ivan Nalimov man the creases. Vladivostok opened in the first period on an Artyom Podshendyalov goal, via Denis Osipov and Niclas Bergfors. Minsk tied it on a power play goal by Nick Bailen, powered by Alexei Kalyuzhny. Admiral took the lead back with a Felix Schutz goal, coming off of Bergfors and Andrei Sigaryov. Dinamo retied it in the second period as Dmitry Meleshko scored, thanks to Paul Szczechura and Alexander Kulakov. Vladivostok pulled ahead again on a Vyacheslav Ushenin power play goal, made possible by Alexander Gorshkov. Minsk got another equalizer with a Ryan Vesce goal, passed from Bailen and Evgeny Nogachyov. Admiral reclaimed the lead in the third period with a Denis Kuzmin goal, with a lone assist by Shaun Heshka. Vladivostok added on as Schutz scored again, with the help of Sigaryov and Bergfors, the latter getting a sock trick. Admiral closed out at 6-3 with a Bergfors goal, assisted by Schutz and Osipov. The three stars went to Bergfors, Schutz, and Bailen, while Osipov and Sigaryov get the honorable mentions.

A little west to Novokuznetsk, as Metallurg hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Owuya and Rafael Khakimov are the unknown goalies. Zagreb dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Andrew Hutchinson goal, passed from Mark Katic. Novokuznetsk tied it on a Sergei Dorofeyev goal, coming off of Alexander Romanov. Medvescak retook the lead on an unassisted Matt Anderson goal. Metallurg tied it again in the third period with a Kirill Kaprizov goal, assisted by Mikhail Plotnikov. Zagreb won 3-2 with ten seconds left in regulation on a James Wright goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Wright, Owuya (24 for 26 in saves), and Anderson.

Southwest to Astana, where Barys brings in Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Jan Laco protect the nets. Astana started in the first period on a power play goal by Roman Savchenko, powered by Konstantin Rudenko and Oskars Bartulis. Barys added on with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Astana extended the lead as Kevin Dallman scored, thanks to Brandon Bochenski and Dustin Boyd. Bratislava got on the board with a Vaclav Nedorost goal, passed from Milan Bartovic and Tomas Surovy. Barys replied on a Rudenko power play goal, courtesy of Savchenko and Roman Starchenko. Astana padded the lead with a Starchenko power play goal in the third period, made possible by Rudenko and Savchenko. Barys iced it at 6-1 with a Konstantin Romanov goal, via Pushkaryov and Evgeny Blokhin. The three stars went to Savchenko, Rudenko, and Starchenko, while Pushkaryov gets an honorable mention.

Finally, we head back east to Novosibirsk, where Sibir hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Mikko Koskinen guard the cages. Novosibirsk began in the second period on a Dmitry Monya goal, assisted by Viktor Bobrov. Sibir added on with a Jonas Enlund goal, courtesy of Renat Mamashev and Artyom Voroshilo. Novosibirsk extended the lead in the third period on an Oleg Gubin goal, with a lone assist by Igor Ozhiganov. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars being Koskinen (25 save shutout), Monya, and Enlund.

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Thursday, November 6, 2014

NHL November 6th, 2014

Ten games on this evening, beginning in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Edmonton Oilers. Ben Scrivens and Tuukka Rask are in the blue paint. Edmonton struck first in the first period on a Boyd Gordon power play goal, powered by Justin Schultz and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Boston tied it on a Reilly Smith goal, his third of the season, guided in by Brad Marchand and David Warsofsky. The Oilers retook the lead in the third period with a Mark Arcobello goal, his third of the year, coming off of Nail Yakupov. The Bruins retied it as Loui Eriksson scored his third of the season, thanks to Dougie Hamilton and Carl Soderberg. Boston took the lead with a power play goal by Soderberg, his fourth of the year, assisted by Patrice Bergeron and Hamilton. The Bruins added on with a Hamilton power play goal, his third of the season, fueled by Eriksson and Smith. Boston finished it at 5-2 on a Milan Lucic empty net goal, his third of the year, set up by David Krejci and Dennis Seidenberg. The three stars were given to Hamilton, Soderberg, and Eriksson, while Smith gets an honorable mention.

Over in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Steve Mason receive the starting nods. Philadelphia led off in the first period on a Sean Couturier goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Brayden Schenn and Matt Read. The Flyers added on with a Michael Del Zotto goal, fueled by Schenn and Couturier. Philadelphia extended the lead in the second period on a Pierre-Edouard Bellemare goal, his third of the year, guided in by Carlo Colaiacovo. Florida got on the board with a Nick Bjugstad power play goal, powered by Jimmy Hayes and Dmitry Kulikov. The Flyers shot back on a Jakub Voracek goal, his sixth of the campaign, assisted by Claude Giroux and Mark Streit. This was all they needed for a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Couturier, Mason (34 for 35 in saves), and Schenn.

Up in Ottawa, the Senators bring in the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom and Craig Anderson are the veteran goalies. Ottawa got going in the second period on a power play goal by Clarke MacArthur, his seventh of the season, powered by Bobby Ryan and Erik Karlsson. The Senators added on with a Mike Hoffman goal, his second of the year, via Eric Gryba and Curtis Lazar. Ottawa extended the lead in the third period on another Hoffman goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, coming off of Mark Stone and Patrick Wiercioch. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars belonging to Hoffman, Anderson (35 save shutout), and MacArthur.

Way south to Florida, as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Calgary Flames. Jonas Hiller is mismatched with Ben Bishop in goal. Tampa Bay began in the first period with a Cedric Paquette goal, via Jonathan Drouin. Calgary tied it on a Jiri Hudler goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano. The Lightning retook the lead in the second period on another Paquette goal, coming off of Vladislav Namestnikov and Jason Garrison. Tampa Bay added on with a shorthanded and unassisted Brian Boyle goal, his fourth of the year. The Flames got one back with a Sean Monahan power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and Giordano. The Lightning shot back in the third period on a Tyler Johnson goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 with an empty net goal by Valtteri Filppula, his third of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Paquette, Giordano, and Boyle.

Northwest to St. Louis, as the Blues welcome the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Jake Allen are the young goalies. St. Louis was first to score in the first period on a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his ninth of the season, courtesy of Jaden Schwartz and Ian Cole. The Blues added on in the second period as Schwartz scored his sixth of the year, thanks to Barret Jackman. St. Louis extended the lead on a third period goal by Alexander Steen, his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Jori Lehtera and Tarasenko. Schneider left the game after this, and was replace by Keith Kinkaid. New Jersey got on the board with a Michael Ryder goal, his third of the year, coming off of Damien Brunner and Tuomo Ruutu. The Blues shot back with a David Backes power play goal, his third of the season, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Devils chipped back on a Marek Zidlicky goal, his third of the year, passed from Mike Sislo and Steve Bernier. New Jersey pulled closer as Ryder scored his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, with the help of Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Tarasenko, Ryder, and Schwartz.

Up in Winnipeg, the Jets bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ondrej Pavelec are the oft-criticized goalies. Winnipeg started in the first period on an Andrew Ladd goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Bryan Little and Zach Bogosian. Pittsburgh tied it on a Simon Despres goal, passed from Brandon Sutter and Steve Downie. The Penguins took the lead in the second period on a Sutter goal, his fourth of the year, via Robert Bortuzzo. Pittsburgh added on with a Downie goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Nick Spaling and Sutter. The Jets got one back with a Jacob Trouba goal, his second of the year, coming off of Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler. Winnipeg tied it in the third period as Kane scored, thanks to Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin topped Wheeler to give the Penguins a 4-3 win. The three stars went to Sutter, Kane, and Downie, while Wheeler got an honorable mention.

Southward to Dallas, as the Stars host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Kari Lehtonen are the Finnish goalies. Nashville dented the scoreboard with a Craig Smith power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the season, powered by Derek Roy and Ryan Ellis. The Predators added on with a power play goal by Filip Forsberg, his fifth of the year, assisted by Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm. Dallas got on the board with an unassisted Trevor Daley goal, his fifth of the season. The Stars tied it on a Patrick Eaves goal, his second of the year, coming off of Tyler Seguin and Antoine Roussel. Nashville regained the lead on a Matt Cullen goal, via Roy and Ekholm. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars handed to Cullen, Roy, and Ekholm.

Continuing to Colorado, as the Avalanche welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier faces a lesser foe in Reto Berra in goal. Colorado opened in the first period with a Nick Holden goal, courtesy of Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog. Toronto tied it on a Phil Kessel goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Cody Franson and Richard Panik. The Maple Leafs took the lead in the second period on a power play goal by Tyler Bozak, his fifth of the year, powered by James van Riemsdyk and Franson. The Avalanche retied it on an Alex Tanguay goal, his fifth of the season, assisted by Zach Redmond and Tyson Barrie. Colorado grabbed the lead with a Matt Duchene goal in the third period, his fourth of the year, guided in by Ryan O'Reilly. Toronto tied it on a Panik goal, his second of the campaign, with helpers provided by Mike Santorelli and Kessel. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the Avalanche won 4-3 with goals by MacKinnon, Duchene, and Tanguay, who were also the three stars, to top a Bozak goal. The honorable mentions were Kessel, Panik, Bozak, and Franson.

Out in Los Angeles, the Kings bring in the New York Islanders. Chad Johnson and Jonathan Quick play goal. Los Angeles led off in the first period with a Dwight King goal, his second of the season, assisted by Mike Richards and Jake Muzzin. New York tied it on a Brock Nelson power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by John Tavares and Ryan Strome. The tie lasted to a shootout, where the Islanders won 2-1 with goals by Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. The three stars went to Johnson (28 for 29 in saves), Quick (25 for 26 in saves), and Nelson.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Miller and Antti Niemi tend the twines. San Jose began in the first period on a James Sheppard goal, his second of the season, coming off of Tomas Hertl and Tyler Kennedy. Vancouver tied it on a Radim Vrbata goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The Sharks took the lead back in the second period as Logan Couture scored a power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau. The Canucks retied it as Alexander Edler scored his third of the year on the power play, with the help of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Vancouver took the lead on a Nick Bonino goal, his seventh of the campaign, via Alexandre Burrows. This held up for a final, with the three stars going to Miller (34 for 36 in saves), Bonino, and Edler.

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KHL November 6th, 2014

Seven games today, with the first from...

Yekaterinburg, as Avtomobilist hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Jakub Kovar are the masked men. Cherepovets was first to score in the first period on a Yury Trubachyov goal, assisted by Gennady Stolyarov. Severstal added on with an Anatoly Nikontsev goal in the second period, fueled by Stolyarov. Cherepovets extended the lead as Pavel Chernov scored, thanks to Dmitry Kagarlitsky and Sergei Monakhov. Severstal padded the lead in the third period on an Evgeny Kovyrshin goal, courtesy of Kagarlitsky and Monakhov. Cherepovets kept going on a Nikontsev power play goal, powered by Kagarlitsky, who got a sock trick, and Chernov. Yekaterinburg got on the board with an Evgeny Solomonov goal, passed from Sergei Yemelin. Avtomobilist pulled closer with a Vladislav Yegin goal, made possible by Alexaner Rybakov. Yekaterinburg chipped closer on an Alexei Mikhnov power play goal, guided in by Sami Lepisto and Jakub Petruzalek. This only made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars going to Nikontsev, Kagarlitsky, and Chernov, while Stolyarov and Monakhov get the honorable mentions.

West to Chelyabinsk, where Traktor welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Michael Garnett are the North American goalies. Yaroslavl opened in the first period on a Sergei Plotnikov goal, via Jonas Holos and Staffan Kronwall. Lokomotiv added on with a Kirill Kapustin goal, coming off of Sergei Konkov. Chelyabinsk got on the board with a power play goal by Dmitry Pestunov, powered by Andrei Popov and Anton Glinkin. Yaroslavl shot back as Plotnikov scored again, with the help of Jiri Novotny and Martin Thornberg. Traktor answered in the second period on a Popov goal in the second period, a power play goal courtesy of Vitaly Atyushov and Glinkin. Chelyabinsk tied it on an Oleg Piganovich goal, assisted by Vyacheslav Osnovin. Lokomotiv won 4-3 in overtime with a Novotny goal, guided in by Plotnikov and Kronwall. The three stars were awarded to Plotnikov, Novotny, and Popov, while Kronwall and Glinkin get the honorable mentions.

Backtracking to Khanty-Mansiysk, Yugra brings in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Kasutin and Stepan Goryachevskikh draw the starts. Khanty-Mansiysk struck first on a first period goal by Lukas Kaspar, going in unassisted. Nizhny Novgorod tied it with a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev power play goal, powered by Nikita Filatov and Vladimir Galuzin. Yugra took the lead back in the third period on a Nikita Gusev goal, passed from Philip Larsen and Toni Rajala. Torpedo tied it again with a power play goal by Sakari Salminen, courtesy of Mikhail Grigoryev. Khanty-Mansiysk won 3-2 in overtime with a Kaspar goal, with a lone assist by Igor Magogin. The three stars went to Kaspar, Gusev, and Goryachevskikh (21 for 23 in saves).

Over to Togliatti, as Lada hosts the Sochi Leopards. Tomas Popperle and Ilya Ezhov are in the creases. Sochi got going in the second period as Mikhail Anisin scored a power play goal, thanks to Clay Wilson and Pavel Koledov. Togliatti tied it on a Semyon Valuisky power play goal, powered by Andrei Nikitenko and Peter Podhradsky. The Leopards took the lead back in the third period on a Roman Lyuduchin goal, with a lone assist by Wilson. Sochi added on with an Alexei Krutov goal, passed from Wilson, who got a sock trick. The final ended up being 3-1, with the three stars going to Wilson, Popperle (27 for 28 in saves), and Lyuduchin.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk brings in Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Ville Kolppanen man the nets. Podolsk started in the first period with an Alexei Makeyev goal, coming off of Alexander Kucheryavenko and Maxim Afinogenov. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a shorthanded Igor Polygalov goal, set up by Maxim Rybin. Neftekhimik took the lead with a Pyotr Khokhryakov goal, via Alexander Korolyuk. Vityaz tied it on a third period goal by Vyacheslav Solodukhin, courtesy of Alexei Semenov and Konstantin Klimontov. Podolsk took the lead on a shorthanded goal by Dmitry Shitikov, with a lone helper by Nikita Vyglazov. This gave them a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Shitikov, Solodukhin, and Makeyev.

Westward to St. Petersburg, as SKA welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Evgeny Ivannikov guard the cages. Magnitogorsk began in the first period on a Maxim Yakutsenya goal, assisted by Viktor Antipin and Rafael Batyrshin. St. Petersburg tied it in the second period with a Roman Cervenka goal, courtesy of Tony Martensson and Patrick Thoresen. Metallurg took the lead back on a Batyrshin goal in the third period, via Danis Zaripov. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Batyrshin, Koshechkin (28 for 29 in saves), and Yakutsenya.

Finally, Dynamo Moscow hosts Avangard Omsk. Konstantin Barulin and Alexander Yeryomenko tend the twines. Omsk led off with a first period Alexander Popov goal, via Alexander Perezhogin and Chad Kolarik. Moscow tied it as Maxim Pestushko scored on a penalty shot he received after being hooked by Denis Kulyash. Dynamo took the lead with a Maxim Karpov power play goal, powered by Konstantin Volkov. Moscow added on as Kaspars Daugavins scored, thanks to Pestushko and Konstantin Gorovikov. Avangard got one back on an unassisted power play goal by Sergei Shirokov. Omsk tied it on a Perezhogin goal, assisted by Kolarik on the power play. Dynamo took the lead back in the third period with an unassisted goal by Denis Mosalyov. Avangard retied it on an Evgeny Mozer goal, guided in by Vladimir Sobotka. Moscow won 5-4 with a Janne Jalasvaara goal, with a lone assist by Karpov in overtime. The three stars were given to Pestushko, Perezhogin, and Karpov, while Kolarik gets an honorable mention.

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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

NHL November 5th, 2014

Three games tonight, beginning with...

The Buffalo Sabres hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Dustin Tokarski and Michal Neuvirth are the backups in goal. Montreal got going in the third period on a P.A. Parenteau goal, his third of the season, assisted by P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov. Buffalo tied it on a power play goal by Drew Stafford, his second of the year, powered by Tyler Myers and Tyler Ennis. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Brian Gionta of the Sabres and Alex Galchenyuk of the Canadiens cancelled each other out before a Parenteau winner for Montreal. The final was 2-1, with the three stars being Parenteau, Tokarski (31 for 32 in saves), and Neuvirth (also 31 for 32 in saves).

Staying in the state, the New York Rangers welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Jonas Gustavsson is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. New York started in the first period with a Rick Nash power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Derick Brassard and Matt Hunwick. The Rangers added on in the second period with a Martin St. Louis goal, his fourth of the year, via Hunwick and Michael Kostka. Detroit got on the board as Jakub Kindl scored a power play goal, thanks to Riley Sheahan and Johan Franzen. The Red Wings tied it with a Daniel Cleary goal, with a lone assist by Drew Miller. New York retook the lead in the third period on a Lee Stempniak goal, his third of the season, coming off of Dominic Moore and Chris Kreider. Detroit retied it as Tomas Tatar potted his fourth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Andrej Nestrasil and Kindl. The Rangers won 4-3 in overtime with a Brassard power play goal, his fifth of the campaign, fueled by Dan Girardi and St. Louis. The three stars went to Brassard, St. Louis, and Kindl, while Hunwick gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Jason LaBarbera receive the starting nods. New York opened in the first period on a John Tavares goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Kyle Okposo power play goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist by Brock Nelson. Anaheim got on the board with a power play goal by Matt Beleskey, his sixth of the season, powered by Ryan Kesler and Sami Vatanen. The Ducks tied it on an Emerson Etem goal, passed from Cam Fowler and Rickard Rakell. New York won 3-2 in overtime on a Tavares power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, via Lubomir Visnovsky and Okposo. The three stars were awarded to Tavares, Halak (32 for 34 in saves), and Okposo.

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KHL November 5th, 2014

Four games today, beginning in the Far East with...

Amur Khabarovsk hosting Dinamo Minsk. Danny Taylor and Alexei Murygin draw the starts. Khabarovsk led off in the first period on an Alexander Ryazantsev goal, via Dmitry Lugin. Minsk tied it with an Alexander Materukhin goal, courtesy of Matt Ellison and Nick Bailen on the power play. Amur took the lead back on a Lugin goal, assisted by Mikhail Fisenko and Marcel Hascak in the second period. Dinamo tied it again with an Alexander Kulakov goal, passed from Ellison. Khabarovsk regained the lead with a Fisenko goal, guided in by Denos Yezhov and Lugin. Amur added on with a Hascak goal, fueled by Fisenko and Alexander Loginov. The final was 4-2, and the three stars went to Lugin, Fisenko, and Hascak, while Ellison gets an honorable mention.

Down in Vladivostok, Admiral welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Dmitry Shikin and Ivan Nalimov are the backups making spot starts. Vladivostok began in the first period with an unassisted goal by Enver Lisin. Mytishchi tied it on a Vitaly Novopashin power play goal, powered by Ondrej Nemec and Nikita Soshnikov. Atlant pulled ahead on an Igor Radulov goal in the second period, via Oleg Yashin. Admiral tied it with an Alexei Ugarov goal, courtesy of Lisin and Denis Kuzmin on the power play. Vladivostok won with an overtime goal by Konstantin Makarov, assisted by Artyom Zemchyonok and Lisin. The final was 3-2, and the three stars went to Lisin, Makarov, and Ugarov.

Southwest to Astana, as Barys brings in Medvescak Zagreb. Mark Dekanich and Jan Laco are the masked men. Astana struck first in the first period on a Kevin Dallman power play goal, powered by Mike Lundin and Dustin Boyd. Barys added on with a shorthanded Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, set up by Andrei Gavrilin. Zagreb got on the board in the second period with a Nathan Perkovich goal, via Geoffrey Kinrade and Mark Popovic. Astana shot back with a Nigel Dawes goal, with a lone assist by Brandon Bochenski. Barys finished it at 4-1 in the third period on a Bochenski goal, coming off of Mikhail Rakhmanov. The three stars belonged to Bochenski, Pushkaryov, and Dawes.

Finally, in Novosibirsk, Sibir hosts Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Mikko Koskinen tend the twines. They did this very well, as the game was scoreless into the shootout. They got a bit generous in the shootout. Sibir saw goals from Alexei Kopeikin and Dmitry Monya twice each, while Slovan got goals from Rok Ticar twice, and one apiece from Michal Vondrka and Tomas Netik. The clincher favored Sibir for a 1-0 win on a Jonas Enlund goal. The three stars went to Koskinen (24 save shutout), Janus (27 save "shutout"), and Enlund.

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