KHL December 9th, 2014

Three games on this afternoon, beginning with...

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosting Jokerit Helsinki. Henrik Karlsson and Jakub Kovar are given the starting nods. Yekaterinburg got going in the second period with an Aaron Palushaj goal, courtesy of Anton Lazarev. Avtomobilist added on with an Alexei Mikhnov goal, passed from Eduard Lewandowski and Viktor Kozlov. Yekaterinburg extended the lead in the third period on an unassisted goal by Artyom Gareyev. Avtomobilist iced it at 4-0 with an empty net goal by Alexei Simakov, set up by Alexander Rybakov while shorthanded. The three stars went to Kovar (33 save shutout), Palushaj, and Mikhnov.

Down in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg welcomes SKA St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Vasily Koshechkin tend the twines. St. Petersburg started in the first period on a power play goal by Artemy Panarin, powered by Ilya Kovalchuk and Vadim Shipachyov. Magnitogorsk tied it with a Chris Lee power play goal in the second period, made possible by Sergei Mozyakin and Jan Kovar. SKA took the lead on a Roman Cervenka goal, fueled by Tony Martensson and Patrick Thoresen. St. Petersburg added on in the third period with an Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, helped along by Panarin and Shipachyov. Metallurg shot back with a Mozyakin goal, with a lone assist by Viktor Antipin. Magnitogorsk tied it on a Danis Zaripov goal, coming off of Tim Brent and Kovar. Metallurg won 4-3 with a Kovar goal, assisted by Mozyakin and Sergei Tereshchenko in overtime. The three stars went to Mozyakin, Kovar, and Panarin, while Shipachyov gets an honorable mention.

Finally, Ak Bars Kazan brings in Dinamo Riga. Jeff Deslauriers and Emil Garipov draw the starts. Riga opened in the first period on a Gints Meija penalty shot goal after he was hooked by Evgeny Medvedev. Kazan tied it on a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, passed from Justin Azevedo and Ilya Nikulin. Dinamo took the lead back in the second period with a Lauris Darzins goal, coming off of Charles Genoway. Ak Bars tied it on a Nikulin power play goal, powered by Oscar Moller. Kazan took the lead with an Artyom Lukoyanov shorthanded goal, set up by Tkachyov and Yakov Rylov. This made it 3-2, the eventual final, with the three stars being Nikulin, Tkachyov, and Lukoyanov.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

NHL December 8th, 2014

Three games on today, beginning in...

Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Cam Ward are set to start in goal. Carolina got going in the second period with a Justin Faulk goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Andrej Nestrasil and Ron Hainsey. New Jersey tied it on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Scott Gomez. The Devils took the lead as Adam Henrique scored his eighth of the campaign, a power play goal powered by Jagr and Gomez. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Jagr, Schneider (39 for 40 in saves), and Gomez.

Up in New York, the Rangers welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Pittsburgh led off in the first period on a Nick Spaling goal, his fourth of the season, fueled by Sidney Crosby and Steve Downie. New York tied it in the second period on a J.T. Miller goal, his second of the year, courtesy of Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore. The Rangers took the lead on a Rick Nash goal, his eighteenth of the season, assisted by Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard. New York added on in the third period with an unassisted Kevin Hayes goal, his fourth of the year. The Penguins got one back on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his fifteenth of the season, passed from Brandon Sutter and Blake Comeau. Pittsburgh tied it on a Downie goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Spaling and Rob Scuderi. The Rangers won 4-3 in overtime with a Kevin Klein goal, his sixth of the campaign, with helpers provided by Ryan McDonagh and Dominic Moore. The three stars went to Spaling, Downie, and Dominic Moore.

The last game has the St. Louis Blues bring in the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur are the veteran starters. St. Louis began in the first period on a Maxim Lapierre goal, his second of the season, guided in by Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves. The Blues added on with an Ian Cole goal, his third of the year, made possible by Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko. Florida got on the board in the second period with a Nick Bjugstad goal, his twelfth of the season, passed from Tomas Fleischmann and Erik Gudbranson. The Panthers tied it in the third period on an Aaron Ekblad goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Jussi Jokinen and Brian Campbell. St. Louis retook the lead on a Porter goal, coming off of Barret Jackman. The Blues iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Paul Stastny, his seventh of the campaign, set up by Jaden Schwartz. The three stars were awarded to Porter, Brodeur (32 for 34 in saves), and Cole.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL December 8th, 2014

Eight games on today, beginning in...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Alexei Murygin are in goal. Nizhnekamsk got going in the third period on an unassisted Yegor Milovzorov power play goal. Neftekhimik added on with an unassisted Igor Makarov empty net goal. This made it 2-0, with the three stars going to Sudnitsin (30 save shutout), Milovzorov, and Murygin (28 for 29 in saves).

Down in Vladivostok, Admiral welcomes Lada Togliatti. Ilya Ezhov and Ivan Nalimov draw the starts in goal. Vladivostok began in the first period with an Oleg Li goal, assisted by Alexander Gorshkov. Admiral added on with a Niclas Bergfors power play goal in the second period, powered by Shaun Heshka. Vladivostok extended the lead as Richard Gynge scored, thanks to Bergfors and Ilya Zubov. This produced the 3-0 final, with the three stars given to Bergfors, Nalimov (24 save shutout), and Li.

Over in Novokuznetsk, Metallurg hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Stepan Goryachevskikh and Rafael Khakimov are the little-known goalies. Khanty-Mansiysk dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Nikita Gusev goal, made possible by Andrei Sergeyev and Artyom Bulyansky. This was all they needed for a 1-0 win, with the three stars going to Goryachevskikh (29 save shutout), Gusev, and Khakimov (25 for 26 in saves).

Staying close by, Sibir Novosibirsk brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Nikita Bespalov are in the blue paint. Chelyabinsk led off in the third period with a Deron Quint goal, via Ilya Davydov and Andrei Popov. This held up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Garnett (35 save shutout), Quint, and Bespalov (22 for 23 in saves).

Out west, Severstal Cherepovets hosts the Sochi Leopards. Tomas Popperle and Jakub Stepanek protect the nets. Cherepovets opened in the first period with a power play goal by Andrei Shefer, powered by Pavel Lukin and Marek Kvapil. Severstal added on in the second period with a Shefer goal, courtesy of Andreas Thuresson. Sochi got on the board in the third period with a power play goal by Andre Petersson, assisted by Clay Wilson and Cory Emmerton. The Leopards tied it with a Emmerton goal, with a lone assist by Petersson. In the shootout, Sochi won 3-2 with goals by Emmerton and Andrei Kostitsyn. The three stars went to Shefer, Emmerton, and Petersson.

Further west to Minsk, where Dinamo welcomes Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Vladimir Sokhatsky and Danny Taylor are in the creases. Minsk struck first in the first period on a Nick Bailen goal, fueled by Charles Linglet and Matt Ellison. Dinamo added on in the second period with a Linglet goal, courtesy of Evgeny Nogachyov and Ellison. Minsk extended the lead as Ellison scored, with the help of Ryan Vesce and Linglet. Dinamo padded the lead with an unassisted power play goal by Alexander Materukhin in the third period. The three stars of the 4-0 game went to Ellison, Linglet, and Taylor (16 save shutout).

In Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb hosts Barys Astana. Alexei Ivanov and Calvin Heeter are given the green light to start in goal. Astana was first to score in the first period with a Nigel Dawes goal, made possible by Dustin Boyd and Mike Lundin. Barys added on with a Dawes goal, his second of the game, via Lundin on the power play. Zagreb got on the board with an Edwin Hedberg goal, passed from Sasa Martinovic and James Wright. Medvescak tied it on a second period power play goal by Pascal Pelletier, powered by Martin St. Pierre and Brock Trotter. Astana took the lead back in the third period with Dawes completing his hat trick, with a lone assist by Boyd. Zagreb retied it with a Pelletier goal, his second of the game, guided in by St. Pierre and Geoffrey Kinrade. Barys shot back on a Brandon Bochenski goal, with assists provided by Lundin, who got a sock trick, and Kevin Dallman. Astana iced it at 5-3 with a Bochenski empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Dawes, Pelletier, and Lundin, while Boyd, Bochenski, and St. Pierre get the honorable mentions.

Finally, Slovan Bratislava brings in Avangard Omsk. Konstantin Barulin and Jaroslav Janus tend the twines. Omsk started in the first period with a Denis Kulyash goal, courtesy of Chad Kolarik. Avangard added on with a Sergei Kalinin power play goal, powered by Denis Parshin. Omsk extended the lead with a Parshin goal, assisted by Vladimir Sobotka. Bratislava got on the board in the second period with a Rok Ticar goal, passed from Michal Sersen. Avangard answered in the third period on an Alexander Perezhogin goal, coming off of Erik Gustafsson and Kolarik. Slovan pulled back with a Tomas Netik goal, guided in by Ticar and Ziga Jeglic. Omsk countered with an unassisted Perezhogin goal. Bratislava took one back with a Matt Murley goal, fueled by Michal Vondrka and Milan Bartovic. This only made it 5-3, with the three stars going to Perezhogin, Parshin, and Ticar, while Kolarik gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Premier League Week 15

There are seven games on this Saturday. We begin with...

Newcastle United hosting Chelsea. Thibaut Courtois and Robert Elliot are the keepers. Newcastle United took the first two yellow cards for a forty-eighth minute Moussa Sissoko foul and a Steven Taylor foul in the fifty-sixth minute. Newcastle United began with a fifty-seventh minute Papiss Demba Cisse close range goal. Chelsea's Andre Schurrle took a yellow card for his sixty-fourth minute foul. Cheick Tiote of Newcastle United had a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-fourth minute. In the seventy-eighth minute, Cisse added on for Newcastle United, with his goal assisted by Sissoko. Chelsea had a pair of yellow cards in the seventy-ninth and eightieth minute to Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. In the eighty-first minute, Newcastle United went down a man when Taylor was shown a second yellow card for a foul and ejected. Chelsea got on the board with a Didier Drogba goal header goal, passed from Fabregas after a set piece. This only made it a 2-1 final in favor of Newcastle United.

Over to Hull City welcoming West Bromwich Albion. Ben Foster and Allan McGregor are in the six-yard boxes. David Meyler of Hull City took the first yellow card of the game in the fifty-sixth minute for his foul. In the ninetieth minute, West Brom had a yellow card go to Youssuf Mulumbu for a foul. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

West to Liverpool bringing in Sunderland. Costel Pantilimon and Simon Mignolet are the gloved men. Sunderland's Santiago Vergini took a yellow card in the forty-first minute for a foul. Liverpool saw a booking on a yellow card for a fifty-first minute Lucas Leiva foul. Liam Bridcutt had a yellow card for Sunderland in the sixtieth minute on his foul, and then Sunderland took another yellow card in the eightieth minute for a William Buckley foul. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

Down to Queens Park Rangers hosting Burnley. Tom Heaton and Robert Green protect the nets. In stoppage time for the first half, Leroy Fer of QPR took a yellow card for a foul. Burnley had a yellow card go to Ashley Barnes in the forty-seventh minute for a foul. QPR led off with a fifty-first minute Fer goal, passed from Charlie Austin. Austin took a yellow card for QPR in the seventy-second minute for his foul. QPR added on as Austin made up for his transgression in the seventy-fourth minute, and his goal was made possible by Mauricio Isla. QPR went down to ten men in the seventy-sixth minute when Austin took a second yellow card and was ejected. QPR held on for a 2-0 win.

Next up, Stoke City welcomes Arsenal. Emiliano Martinez and Asmir Begovic are set to start in goal. Nineteen seconds in, Stoke City had a lead with a Peter Crouch goal, via Mame Biram Diouf. In the thirty-fifth minute, Stoke City added on with a Bojan goal, fueled by Jonathan Walters on the cross. Stoke City took a yellow card in the forty-fourth minute for a Marc Muniesa foul. Stoke City extended the lead in forty-fifth minute on a Walters goal after a corner kick. Stoke City had another yellow card in the forty-sixth minute as Crouch committed a foul. Calum Chambers of Arsenal had a yellow card in the sixty-first minute for his foul. Arsenal got on the board in the sixty-eighth minute with a Santiago Cazorla penalty kick goal. In the seventieth minute, Arsenal pulled closer as Aaron Ramsey scored, thanks to Alexis Sanchez's cross after a corner kick. Arsenal had yellow cards in the seventy-first and seventy-second minutes for Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fouls. Arsenal went to ten men when Chambers was given a second yellow card in the seventy-eighth minute and ejected from the game. Stoke City had a yellow card for an eighty-fourth minute Charlie Adam foul. Stoke City held on for a 3-2 win.

Back to London, where Tottenham Hotspur brings in Crystal Palace. Julian Speroni and Hugo Lloris are the goalies. Tottenham Hotspur had the only yellow card in the eighty-eighth minute for a Christian Eriksen foul. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Finally, Manchester City hosts Everton. Tim Howard and Joe Hart are set to start in goal. Everton's Seamus Coleman took a yellow card in the eleventh minute for a foul. Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City had a yellow card for his foul in the eighteenth minute. Manchester City opened with a twenty-fourth minute penalty kick goal by Yaya Toure. Manchester City had another yellow card in the twenty-sixth minute as Fernando committed a foul. In the fifty-second minute, Everton's Gareth Barry took a yellow card for his foul. In the eighty-eighth minute, Manchester City's Toure took a yellow card for a foul. In the ninetieth minute, Everton saw a booking on a yellow card for a Ross Barkley dive. Manchester City managed to maintain their 1-0 lead for a win.

On Sunday, West Ham United welcomes Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Adrian are in the six-yard boxes. Swansea City led off in the nineteenth minute with a Wilfried Bony goal, passed from Jefferson Montero. West Ham tied it in the forty-first minute on an Andy Carroll header, set up by a Carl Jenkinson cross. In the fiftieth minute, Swansea City's Wayne Routledge took a yellow card for his foul. West Ham took the lead in the sixty-sixth minute on another Carroll header, via Stewart Downing's cross after a corner kick. In the sixty-eighth minute, Swansea City goalie Fabianski was sent off on a straight red card. West Ham wrapped it up at 3-1 in the eighty-seventh minute with a Diafra Sakho goal, courtesy of a Carroll headed pass.

The other Sunday game has Aston Villa bringing in Leicester City. Kasper Schmeichel and Brad Guzan are given the starting nods in goal. Leicester City struck first in the thirteenth minute on a close range goal by Leonardo Ulloa. Aston Villa tied it in the seventeenth minute on a Ciaran Clark header goal, passed from Ashley Westwood after a set piece. In the thirty-fourth minute, Charles N'Zogbia of Aston Villa took a yellow card for his foul. Leicester City saw a yellow card go to Jamie Vardy in the forty-first minute. Leicester City saw a pair of yellow cards for Esteban Cambiasso in the fifty-ninth minute and Jeffrey Schlupp in the sixtieth minute, both for fouls. In the seventy-first minute, Alan Hutton of Aston Villa scored to give his team the lead, with the help of Christian Benteke. Marcin Wasilewski of Leicester City took a yellow card in the same minute. At the seventy-four minute mark, Carlos Sanchez of Aston Villa was given a yellow card. Leicester City went down to ten men in the eightieth minute when Paul Konchesky was sent off for a straight red card foul. Hutton of Aston Villa had a yellow card in the eighty-first minute, followed by a ninetieth minute foul from Gabriel Agbonlahor drawing a yellow card for Aston Villa. They went on to win 2-1.

Monday's game had Southampton host Manchester United to wrap up the week. David de Gea and Fraser Forster are the keepers. Manchester United opened in the twelfth minute on a Robin van Persie goal. Southampton tied it in the thirty-first minute with a Graziano Pelle goal. Manchester United retook the lead on a van Persie goal in the seventy-first minute, assisted by Wayne Rooney on a cross after a set piece. Southampton's Sadio Mane took a yellow card for his foul in the eighty-ninth minute, followed by a stoppage time yellow card going to Rooney of Manchester United. Another stoppage time yellow card went to Jose Fonte of Southampton. The final was 2-1 for Manchester United.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. 

NHL November 7th, 2014

Four games on for today, beginning in...

Winnipeg, where the Jets host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Ondrej Pavelec receive the starting nods. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Rene Bourque power play goal, powered by Patrick Maroon and Ryan Getzlaf. Winnipeg tied it with a power play goal by Dustin Byfuglien, his seventh of the season, assisted by Mathieu Perreault and Andrew Ladd. The Jets took the lead in the second period as Ladd scored his tenth of the year, a power play goal made possible by Blake Wheeler and Jacob Trouba. The Ducks tied it again with a Jakob Silfverberg goal, his third of the season, coming off of Clayton Stoner and Rickard Rakell. Anaheim edged ahead on a power play goal by Ryan Kesler, his ninth of the year, via Getzlaf and Cam Fowler. Winnipeg tied it in the third period with a Trouba goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Adam Lowry and Mark Stuart. The Ducks won 4-3 in overtime on a Kyle Palmieri goal, his fourth of the year, with assists provided by Getzlaf, who got a sock trick, and Hampus Lindholm. The three stars belonged to Getzlaf, Trouba, and Ladd.

Southeast to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Cam Ward are in the blue paint. Detroit began in the first period with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Jonathan Ericsson and Darren Helm. The Red Wings added on with a Tomas Tatar goal, his eleventh of the year, guided in by Datsyuk and Kyle Quincey. Detroit extended the lead as Tatar scored his second of the game and twelfth of the season, passed from Datsyuk and Johan Franzen. Carolina got on the board with a Jay McClement goal, via Tim Gleason. This only made it 3-1, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Datsyuk, Tatar, and Mrazek (34 for 35 in saves).

Up in Ottawa, the Senators bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Craig Anderson are between the pipes. Vancouver opened in the first period with a Radim Vrbata goal, his twelfth of the season, fueled by Ryan Stanton and Daniel Sedin. The Canucks added on with a Kevin Bieksa goal, his second of the year, via Vrbata and Henrik Sedin. Vancouver extended the lead in the second period on the seventh of the season by Brad Richardson, an unassisted goal. Ottawa got on the board with a David Legwand power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Alex Chiasson and Mika Zibanejad. The Senators pulled closer on a Zibanejad goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Bobby Ryan and Eric Gryba. Ottawa tied it with another Zibanejad goal, his second of the game and seventh of the year, assisted by Ryan and Mike Hoffman. The Senators won 4-3 in overtime on Erik Karlsson's seventh of the campaign, passed from Zibanejad and Ryan, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars were awarded to Zibanejad, Ryan, and Vrbata.

Finally, the Edmonton Oilers host the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock and Ben Scrivens are the young goalies. Edmonton started in the second period on a Nail Yakupov power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Jordan Eberle and Jeff Petry. San Jose tied it on a Tye McGinn goal, courtesy of Patrick Marleau and Brent Burns. The Oilers took the lead in the third period with a David Perron goal, his fourth of the year, via Teddy Purcell and Mark Fayne. This gave them a 2-1 lead, which was the final. The three stars went to Scrivens (20 for 21 in saves), Perron, and Yakupov.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

MLS Cup 2014

This year's MLS Cup has the Los Angeles Galaxy hosting the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth and Jaime Penedo are the keepers. In first half stoppage time, Landon Donovan took his final career yellow card for Los Angeles for a foul. In the fifty-second minute, the Galaxy began with a Gyasi Zardes goal, made possible by Stefan Ishizaki. New England's Andrew Farrell took a yellow card for his sixty-second minute foul. The Revolution tied the game with a seventy-ninth minute goal by Chris Tierney, passed from Patrick Mullins and Jose Goncalves. Los Angeles' Robbie Rogers and Robbie Keane had the next two yellow cards in the eighty-second and ninety-second minute, both for fouls. The Galaxy took the lead in the one-hundred-and-eleventh minute with a Keane goal, set up by Marcelo Sarvas. In the one-hundred-and-thirteenth minute, yellow cards went to Los Angeles' Sarvas for a foul and Alan Gordon for an argument, as well as New England's Jermaine Jones for an argument. The final was 2-1 for the Galaxy, giving them the MLS Cup championship. Keane was the man of the match.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL December 7th, 2014

Two games on today, beginning with...

Dynamo Moscow hosting SKA St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Alexander Yeryomenko tend the twines. Moscow struck first in the first period on a power play goal by Kaspars Daugavins, powered by Maxim Pestushko and Filip Novak. St. Petersburg tied it on an Andrei Kuteikin goal in the third period, helped along by Evgeny Dadonov and Yury Alexandrov. Dynamo took the lead back on a power play goal from Gleb Koryagin, assisted by Maxim Karpov and Daugavins. This produced the 2-1 final, with the three stars going to Daugavins, Yeryomenko (41 for 42 in saves), and Koryagin.

The other game has Atlant Mytishchi hosting Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Atte Engren man the creases. Mytishchi was first to score in the first period on an Albert Yarullin goal, via Maxim Potapov and Evgeny Bodrov on the power play. Atlant added on with an unassisted goal by Sergei Shmelyov. Riga got on the board with an Andris Dzerins goal, passed from Krisjanis Redlihs and Oskars Cibulskis. Mytishchi shot back in the second period with an Igor Levitsky goal, made possible by Vyacheslav Kozlov and Yarullin. Atlant iced it at 4-1 in the third period on a Petr Vrana goal, coming off of Nikita Soshnikov and Shmelyov. The three stars belonged to Shmelyov, Engren (21 for 22 in saves), and Yarullin.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.