KHL February 3rd, 2015

Seven games on in what is going to be a mild week for Russian hockey. We begin with...

Avangard Omsk hosting SKA St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Konstantin Barulin tend the twines. Omsk led off in the first period on an Igor Musatov goal, coming off of Kirill Semyonov. St. Petersburg tied it on a Vadim Shipachyov goal, fueled by Ilya Kablukov and Artemy Panarin. SKA took the lead on an unassisted goal by Panarin. St. Petersburg added on in the second period on a power play goal by Evgeny Dadonov, powered by Panarin and Shipachyov. Avangard got one back with a Vadim Khomitsky goal, guided in by Kirill Rasskazov and Ivan Nepryayev. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Panarin, Shipachyov, and Dadonov.

Over to Chelyabinsk, where Traktor welcomes Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Michael Garnett are the masked men. Nizhnekamsk was first to score in the first period on a power play goal by Yegor Milovzorov, powered by Andrei Ivanov. Neftekhimik added on in the second period with a Dan Sexton power play goal, with a lone assist Georgijs Pujacs. Chelyabinsk got on the board with a Yegor Martynov goal, assisted by Semyon Kokuyov and Francis Pare. Traktor tied it on a Deron Quint power play goal, made possible by Martynov and Dmitry Pestunov. Nizhnekamsk took the lead in the third period on an Igor Polygalov goal, fueled by Maxim Berezin and Ivanov. The three stars were Martynov, Polygalov, and Ivanov.

Back east, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg brings in Lada Togliatti. Evgeny Ivannikov and Jakub Kovar are in the blue paint. Togliatti struck first in the first period on a Jiri Hunkes goal, coming off of Stanislav Bocharov. Yekaterinburg tied it on a Semi Lepisto power play goal, powered by Alexander Rybakov and Alexei Simakov. Lada won 2-1 in the shootout with a Semyon Valuisky goal. The three stars were Ivannikov (34 for 35 in saves), Kovar (25 for 26 in saves), Valuisky.

Into Moscow, where CSKA hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Kevin Lalande are the North American goalies. Yaroslavl began in the first period on a Sergei Konkov goal, assisted by Emil Galimov and Mikhail Pashnin. Moscow tied it on a Simon Hjalmarsson goal, with a lone assist by Jan Mursak. CSKA took the lead with a Nikita Kvartalnov goal in the second period, courtesy of Evgeny Artyukhin and Mikhail Naumenkov. Moscow added on with an Igor Volkov goal, via Alexander Radulov and Nikita Zaitsev. Lokomotiv got on the board with a power play goal in the third period by Staffan Kronwall, powered by Geoff Platt. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Volkov, and Kvartalnov, and Hjalmarsson.

Heading over to Kazan, where Ak Bars brings in Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Anders Nilsson are in the creases. Kazan opened in the first period on an Oscar Moller power play goal, powered by Ilya Nikulin. Moscow tied it on a Nikolai Zherdev goal, made possible by Maxim Solovyov. Dynamo took the lead with a second period goal by Alexander Budkin, guided in by Yegor Dugin. Moscow added on with a Konstantin Glazachev goal, fueled by Dugin. Dynamo iced it at 4-1 in the third period on a Martins Karsums goal, with a lone assist by Alexander Osipov. The three stars went to Lazushin (38 for 39 in saves), Budkin, and Dugin.

Westward to Minsk, where Dinamo welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Calvin Heeter and Lars Haugen. Minsk started in the first period on a Nick Bailen power play goal, powered by Charles Linglet and Matt Ellison. Dinamo added on in the second period with an Andrei Stepanov goal, coming off of Alexander Materukhin and Lukas Krajicek. Zagreb got on the board in the third period as Bill Thomas scored, thanks to Brandon Segal. Medvescak tied it with a power play goal by Ville Leino, with a lone assist by Patrick Bjorkstrand. Minsk regained the lead with another Stepanov goal, helped along by Krajicek and Paul Szczechura. This held up for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Stepanov, Krajicek, and Bailen.

Finally, Atlant Mytishchi hosts Slovan Bratislava. Johan Backlund and Atte Engren receive the starting nods. Mytishchi dented the scoreboard in the first period on a Vyacheslav Leshchenko goal, passed from Sergei Shmelyov and Vitaly Novopashin. Atlant added on with an Anton Babchuk power play goal, powered by Novopashin and Evgeny Bodrov. Mytishchi extended the lead in the second period as Artyom Chernov scored, thanks to Albert Yarullin and Vyacheslav Kozlov. Bratislava got on the board with an Andrej Kudrna goal, coming off of Michal Sersen and Tomas Surovy. Slovan pulled closer with a Libor Hudacek goal, with a lone assist by Matt Murley. Bratislava tied it on a Surovy goal, helped along by Kudrna. Atlant took the lead again with a Bodrov goal, courtesy of Matthew Gilroy. This made it 4-3, the eventual final, with the three stars given to Bodrov, Surovy, and Kudrna, while Novopashin gets an honorable mention.

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NHL February 2nd, 2015

Three games on tonight, beginning in...

New York, as the Rangers host the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Florida led off in the first period on an Aleksander Barkov goal, his sixth of the season, via Brad Boyes. New York tied it on a shorthanded and unassisted Rick Nash goal, his thirtieth of the year. The Rangers took the lead with a Kevin Hayes power play goal in the second period, his seventh of the season, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Ryan McDonagh. New York added on with a Marc Staal goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Jesper Fast and Carl Hagelin. The Panthers pulled back on a Dave Bolland goal, his second of the season, assisted by Sean Bergenheim and Jussi Jokinen. Florida tied it with a Brandon Pirri power play goal, his seventh of the year, guided in by Bolland and Boyes. The Rangers retook the lead in the third period with an unassisted Dan Boyle goal, his sixth of the season. New York extended the lead as Zuccarello scored his eighth of the year, made possible by Chris Kreider and Derick Brassard. The Rangers iced it at 6-3 on a Nash goal, his second of the game and thirty-first of the campaign, an empty net goal set up by Derek Stepan. The three stars went to Nash, Zuccarello, and Bolland, while Boyes gets an honorable mention.

West to Calgary, where the Flames welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Jonas Hiller draw the starts. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Blake Wheeler goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd. Calgary tied it on a David Jones goal, his eighth of the year, with a lone assist by Mark Giordano. The Flames took the lead in the second period on a Mason Raymond goal, his seventh of the season, helped along by Sven Baertschi. Calgary added on in the third period with a power play goal by Raphael Diaz, powered by Lance Bouma and Joe Colborne. The Flames extended the lead on a Brandon Bolling goal, guided in by Colborne and Paul Byron. The Jets got one back as Little scored, his nineteenth of the year, thanks to Ladd and Ben Chiarot. Calgary iced it at 5-2 on a Sean Monahan empty net goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, set up by Johnny Gaudreau and Kris Russell. The three stars belonged to Little, Colborne, and Ladd.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Viktor Fasth and Antti Niemi are in the blue paint. San Jose opened in the first period on a power play goal by Joe Pavelski, his twenty-sixth of the season, powered by Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton. Edmonton tied it on a Jordan Eberle goal, his fourteenth of the year, coming off of Taylor Hall and Oscar Klefbom. The Oilers took the lead in the second period on an Eberle goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the season, courtesy of Justin Schultz and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Edmonton added on with a Derek Roy goal, his fifth of the year, with a lone assist by Nail Yakupov. The Sharks got one back in the third period on a Scott Hannan goal, via Thornton and Pavelski. San Jose tied it on a Matt Tennyson goal, his second of the season, assisted by Tyler Kennedy and Matthew Nieto. The Sharks took the lead on Pavelski's second of the game and twenty-seventh of the year, helped along by Brent Burns and Thornton, the latter getting a sock trick. The Oilers retied it on a Schultz goal, his fourth of the season, with helpers provided by Teddy Purcell and Anton Lander. In the shootout, Burns and Nugent-Hopkins cancelled each other out, before a Rob Klinkhammer goal in the thirteenth round sealed a 5-4 Oilers victory. The three stars went to Eberle, Pavelski, and Schultz, while Thornton gets an honorable mention.

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KHL February 2nd, 2015

Two games on for today, both in the Far East, with...

Amur Khabarovsk hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Rafael Khakimov and Alexander Pechursky are set to start in goal. Novokuznetsk dented the scoreboard on an Alexei Kosourov goal in the second period, helped along by Denis Kurepanov and Vladimir Malinovsky. Khabarovsk tied it on a Ruslan Bashkirov goal, coming off of Rafael Akhmetov and Vyacheslav Litovchenko. Amur took the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Mikhail Fisenko, powered by Rastislav Spirko and Dmitry Lugin. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Fisenko, Pechursky (34 for 35 in saves), and Bashkirov.

The other game was down in Vladivostok, where Admiral hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Alexander Salak and Ilya Proskuryakov protect the nets. Vladivostok got going in the second period on an Alexander Kuznetsov goal, fueled by Fyodor Belyakov and Konstantin Sokolov. Novosibirsk tied it on a Patrik Hersley power play goal, powered by Maxim Shalunov and Dmitry Kugryshev. Sibir pulled ahead on a Dmitry Monya goal, with a lone assist by Alexei Kopeikin. Novosibirsk added on in the third period as Sergei Shumakov scored, thanks to Kugryshev. Sibir extended the lead on an unassisted goal by David Ullstrom. Admiral got one back with a Vladislav Ushenin goal, made possible by Vyacheslav Ushenin. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars going to Shumakov, Kugryshev, and Ullstrom.

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NHL February 1st, 2015

Four games on pre-Super Bowl today, beginning in...

Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Arizona Coyotes. Louis Domingue and Dustin Tokarski are the backups making spot starts. Montreal opened in the first period on an Alex Galchenyuk goal, his fourteenth of the season, via Brendan Gallagher and Tom Gilbert. The Canadiens added on with a Galchenyuk goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, coming off of David Desharnais and Jiri Sekac. Arizona got on the board in the second period on a Lauri Korpikoski power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Martin Erat and Keith Yandle. The Coyotes tied it in the third period on an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his fourteenth of the year, going in unassisted. Arizona took the lead on a power play goal by Korpikoski, his second of the game and sixth of the campaign, assisted by Sam Gagner and Yandle. The three stars were handed to Korpikoski, Galchenyuk, and Yandle.

Down in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott faces a lesser foe in Justin Peters in goal. St. Louis led off in the first period on an Alexander Steen goal, his sixteenth of the season, a power play goal made possible by Jaden Schwartz and T.J. Oshie. Washington tied it on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his thirtieth of the year, a power play goal powered by Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom. The Blues took the lead in the second period on Steen's second of the game and seventeenth of the season, fueled by Oshie and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Capitals tied it on another Ovechkin goal, his second of the game and thirty-first of the year, guided in by Backstrom. St. Louis regained the lead as Dmitrij Jaskin scored his fifth of the season, thanks to Schwartz and Paul Stastny. The Blues added on in the third period with a Tarasenko goal, his twenty-fifth of the year, coming off of Steen and Oshie, the latter getting a sock trick. Washington got one back on a Karl Alzner goal, his fourth of the campaign, with assists provided by Green and Ovechkin. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars awarded to Steen, Ovechkin, and Oshie, while Tarasenko, Schwartz, Green, and Backstrom get the honorable mentions.

West to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins bring in the Nashville Predators. Carter Hutton is mismatched with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal. Nashville began in the first period on a Roman Josi goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by Filip Forsberg and Shea Weber. The Predators added on with a Gabriel Bourque goal, his third of the year, going in unassisted. Nashville extended the lead as Eric Nystrom scored his sixth of the season in the second period, thanks to Taylor Beck. The Predators wrapped it up at 4-0 on a third period goal by Mike Fisher, his twelfth of the year, a power play goal powered by Forsberg and Josi. The three stars went to Hutton (21 save shutout), Josi, and Forsberg.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Ryan Miller are the masked men. Minnesota got going in the second period on a Zach Parise goal, his twenty-first of the season, going in unassisted. The Wild added on with a Jared Spurgeon power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund. Minnesota extended the lead in the third period on a Thomas Vanek goal, his tenth of the season, via Granlund. Vancouver got on the board with a Ronalds Kenins goal, made possible by Bo Horvat and Alexander Edler. The Canucks pulled closer on a Daniel Sedin goal, his tenth of the year, helped along by Radim Vrbata. The Wild iced it at 4-2 with a Jason Zucker empty net goal, his seventeenth of the campaign, set up by Ryan Suter. The three stars were Vanek, Granlund, and Spurgeon.

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KHL February 1st, 2015

Thirteen games on today, with the first in...

Vladivostok, as Admiral hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Alexander Salak and Ilya Proskuryakov are in the blue paint. Vladivostok got going in the second period on a Tom Wandell goal, fueled by Niclas Bergfors and Jan Kolar. Admiral added on with a Konstantin Sokolov goal, passed from Konstantin Makarov. Novosibirsk got on the board with a goal by Stepan Sannikov, courtesy of Vyacheslav Belov and David Ullstrom. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Proskuryakov (29 for 30 in saves), Sokolov, and Wandell.

North to Khabarovsk, where Amur welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Rafael Khakimov and Alexander Pechursky draw the starts. Novokuznetsk began in the first period on a Dmitry Maltsev power play goal, coming off of Nikita Kamalov. Metallurg added on in the second period with a Mikhail Plotnikov goal, via Cade Fairchild. Novokuznetsk extended the lead as Alexander Komaristy scored in the third period, thanks to Nikita Popov. This was good for a 3-0 win, with the three stars handed to Khakimov (28 save shutout), Maltsev, and Plotnikov.

Westward to Omsk, where Avangard brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Sergei Magarilov and Denis Kostin are the inexperienced goalies. Cherepovets led off in the first period on an Anatoly Nikontsev goal, via Vadim Berdnikov and Ilya Khokhlov. Severstal added on in the second period with a Pavel Chernov goal, with a lone assist by Pavel Buchnevich. Omsk got on the board in the third period with a power play goal by Alexander Popov, powered by Sergei Kalinin and Evgeny Kulik. Avangard tied it on a Kulik goal, courtesy of Alexander Perezhogin and Popov. Cherepovets won 3-2 in overtime on a Dmitry Kagarlitsky goal, passed from Chernov. The three stars went to Chernov, Popov, and Kulik.

Up to Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev hosts CSKA Moscow. Kevin Lalande and Leland Irving are the goalies. Moscow dented the scoreboard on a shorthanded goal in the second period by Jan Mursak, set up by Vladimir Zharkov. Ufa tied it on an Ivan Vishnevsky power play goal, powered by Dmitry Makarov and Andrei Zubarev. CSKA took the lead back with a power play goal by Alexander Radulov, with a lone assist by Stephane Da Costa. This made it a 2-1 final, with the three stars being Lalande (25 for 26 in saves), Radulov, and Mursak.

Continuing to Yekaterinburg, where Avtomobilist welcomes Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Barry Brust and Jakub Kovar are the masked men. Yekaterinburg struck first in the second period with an Alexander Nesterov goal, with a lone helper from Sergei Gusev. Avtomobilist added on in the third period with a Dmitry Megalinsky goal, helped along by Nesterov and Artyom Gareyev on the power play. This gave them a 2-0 win, with the three stars handed to Kovar (28 save shutout), Nesterov, and Megalinsky.

Back south, Metallurg Magnitogorsk brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Vasily Koshechkin tend the twines. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the second period as Chris Lee scored an unassisted goal. Metallurg added on in the third period with a Maxim Yakutsenya goal, assisted by Mikhail Yunkov. this produced the 2-0 final, with the three stars given to Koshechkin (23 save shutout), Lee, and Yakutsenya.

A little to the west, Lada Togliatti hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Evgeny Ivannikov are in the creases. Nizhnekamsk opened in the first period on an Evgeny Grigorenko goal, going in unassisted. Togliatti tied it in the second period as Martin Zatovic scored, thanks to Alexander Sharov. Lada took the lead with an Anton Shenfeld goal, coming off of Andrei Nikitenko. Togliatti added on with a power play goal by Georgy Belousov, powered by Dmitry Ogurtsov. Lada extended the lead as Vitaly Shulakov scored, with the help of Dmitry Vorobyov. Togliatti padded the lead on a Peter Podhradsky power play goal, fueled by Nikitenko and Shenfeld. Neftekhimik took one back in the third period on a power play goal by Maxim Rybin, guided in by Dmitry Kosmachyov and Mikhail Zhukov. Lada finished it at 6-2 with a Belousov goal, his second of the game, made possible by Shenfeld and Nikitenko, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars were handed to Shenfeld, Belousov, and Nikitenko.

Over in Moscow, Dynamo welcomes Vityaz Podolsk. Ivan Lisutin and Alexander Yeryomenko receive the starting nods. Podolsk started in the first period on a Mario Kempe goal, with a lone assist by Robert Kousal. Moscow tied it on a Gleb Koryagin goal, going in unassisted. Vityaz retook the lead in the second period with an unassisted goal by Dmitry Tsyganov. Dynamo tied it on a power play goal by Kaspars Daugavins, powered by Mat Robinson and Nikolai Zherdev. Moscow took the lead in the third period with a Denis Kokarev goal, fueled by Sergei Soin. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Kokarev, Daugavins, and Koryagin.

Back to Kazan, where Ak Bars brings in Dinamo Minsk. Dmitry Milchakov and Anders Nilsson are set to start. Kazan led off in the first period on a Justin Azevedo goal, guided in by Oscar Moller and Vladimir Denisov. Ak Bars added on in the second period with a Dmitry Obukhov goal, going in unassisted. Minsk got on the board with a power play goal by Matt Ellison, via Charles Linglet and Paul Szczechura. This was as close as it got, and the final stood at 2-1. The three stars were given to Nilsson (29 for 30 in saves), Obukhov, and Azevedo.

Northwest to St. Petersburg, where SKA hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Calvin Heeter and Igor Shestyorkin are the little-known goalies. St. Petersburg began in the first period on a power play goal by Evgeny Dadonov, powered by Ilya Kovalchuk and Vadim Shipachyov. SKA added on with a Jimmie Ericsson goal, fueled by Artemy Panarin and Roman Cervenka. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Maxim Chudinov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov and Dinar Khafizullin. Zagreb got on the board with a Brandon Segal goal in the second period, with a lone assist by Andrew Hutchinson. Medvescak pulled closer on a Bill Thomas goal in the third period, helped along by Geoffrey Kinrade. SKA shot back with a Dadonov goal, his second of the game, guided in by Panarin and Shipachyov. St. Petersburg finished it with an unassisted Panarin goal. The final was 5-2, and the three stars were Dadonov, Panarin, and Shipachyov.

Down to Sochi, where the Leopards welcome Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Vitaly Kolesnik and Andrei Gavrilov are the backups in goal. Yaroslavl struck first in the first period on a Geoff Platt goal, courtesy of Martin Thornberg and Kirill Kapustin. Sochi tied it in the second period on a Mikhail Anisin goal, fueled by Pyotr Schastlivy. The Leopards took the lead with a Roman Lyuduchin goal, coming off of Ryan Whitney and Nikita Shchitov. Sochi added on in the third period as Ilya Krikunov scored a power play goal, powered by Shchitov and Andrei Kostitsyn. The Leopards wrapped it up at 4-1 with an Alexei Krutov goal, with a lone assist by Lyuduchin. The three stars were Lyuduchin, Gavrilov (28 for 29 in saves), and Shchitov.

Into Finland, where Jokerit Helsinki brought in Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren and Henrik Karlsson are between the pipes. Helsinki got going in the third period on a Jere Sallinen goal, assisted by Ryan Gunderson and Ossi Vaananen. Jokerit added on with a Petr Koukal power play goal into an empty net, powered by Niko Kapanen and Topi Jaakola. The final score was 2-0, and the three stars were handed to Karlsson (22 save shutout), Sallinen, and Koukal.

Finally, Dinamo Riga hosts Slovan Bratislava. Johan Backlund and Jakub Sedlacek are the reliable goalies. Riga was first to score in the first period on a Roberts Bukarts goal, coming off of Mikelis Redlihs and Linus Videll. Dinamo added on with a Kaspars Saulietis goal, fueled by Aleksandrs Jerofejevs. Denis Godla replaced Backlund. Riga extended the lead on a Videll goal, with a lone assist by Bukarts. Dinamo padded the lead in the second period as Lauris Darzins scored, thanks to Miks Indrasis and Kyle Wilson. Riga continued on a Krisjanis Redlihs power play goal, powered by Bukarts and Mikelis Redlihs. Dinamo finished it at 6-0 on an Indrasis goal in the third period, helped along by Darzins. The three stars were given to Bukarts, Videll, and Indrasis, while Mikelis Redlihs, Darzins, and Sedlacek (22 save shutout) received the honorable mentions.

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Premier League Week 23

Another ten games on for the next two days. The first of eight on Saturday features...

Hull City hosting Newcastle United. Tim Krul and Allan McGregor are the goalies. Hull City took the first yellow card in the twenty-fifth minute for a David Meyler foul. In the twenty-ninth minute, Newcastle United's Vurnon Anita received a yellow card. Newcastle United started the scoring with a fortieth minute Remy Cabella goal. Hull City took another yellow card for a first-half stoppage time hand ball by Ahmed Elmohamady. Newcastle United added on in the fiftieth minute with a Sammy Ameobi goal, passed from Jack Colback. In the sixty-fourth minute, Andrew Robertson of Hull City was shown a yellow card for his foul. Newcastle United extended their lead with a Yoan Gouffran goal, coming off of Massadio Haidara. Hull City had a yellow card for a Jake Livermore foul in the eighty-ninth minute. The final favored Newcastle United 3-0.

Down in London, Crystal Palace welcomes Everton. Joel Robles and Julian Speroni draw the starts. Everton began in the second minute with a Romelu Lukaku goal from close range. Everton saw yellow cards for Bryan Oviedo in the eightieth minute and Robles in stoppage time for time wasting. Everton took the game 1-0.

Back north, Liverpool brings in West Ham United. Adrian and Simon Mignolet protect the nets. Liverpool led off in the fifty-first minute on a Raheem Sterling goal, coming off of Philippe Coutinho. In the sixtieth minute, Andy Carroll of West Ham received a yellow card. Liverpool added on in the eightieth minute on a Daniel Sturridge goal, passed from Coutinho. Liverpool's Sterling received a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Continuing to Manchester United hosting Leicester City. Mark Schwarzer is mismatched with David de Gea in goal. In the twenty-seventh minute, Manchester United got going on a Robin van Persie goal, made possible by Daley Blind with the through ball. Manchester United added on in the thirty-second minute with a Falcao goal from close range. Leicester City took a yellow card for a thirty-fourth minute Daniel Drinkwater foul. Manchester United got a gift with an own goal by Leicester City's Wes Morgan in the forty-fourth minute. Leicester City got one back in the eightieth minute with a Marcin Wasilewski header goal on a cross after a corner kick by Marc Albrighton. Manchester United won 3-1.

Over to Stoke City welcoming the Queens Park Rangers. Robert Green and Asmir Begovic are between the posts. Stoke City struck first in the twenty-first minute on a Jonathan Walters goal, courtesy of Stephen Ireland. QPR had a yellow card for Mauricio Isla's foul in the twenty-fourth minute. In the thirty-fourth minute Ireland set up another Walters goal to extend the Stoke City lead. In the thirty-sixth minute, Niko Kranjcar got QPR on the board with an unassisted goal. Victor Moses of Stoke City took a yellow card in the fifty-eighth minute. QPR's Joey Barton received a yellow card for his sixty-eighth minute foul. In the eighty-fifth minute, Walters of Stoke City took a yellow card for a foul. Stoke City iced it at 3-1 as Walters completed his hat trick on a header goal after a set piece.

Next up, Sunderland brings in Burnley. Tom Heaton and Costel Pantilimon draw the starts in goal. Sunderland opened with a Connor Wickham goal in the twentieth minute, via Anthony Reveillere on a cross. Sunderland added on with a Jermain Defoe goal in the thirty-fourth minute, made possible by Patrick van Aanholt. Sunderland saw yellow cards for an Adam Johnson foul in the sixty-ninth minute, a Sebastian Larsson foul in the eighty-ninth minute, and time wasting in stoppage time by Pantilimon. Dean Marney of Burnley received a yellow card in stoppage time as well. Sunderland cruised to a 2-0 win.

Along the line, West Bromwich Albion hosts Tottenham Hotspur. Hugo Lloris and Ben Foster are the keepers. Tottenham Hotspur was first to score with a sixth minute Christian Eriksen goal on a free kick. In the fifteenth minute, Harry Kane scored for Tottenham Hotspur, with the help of Mousa Dembele. In the fifty-fifth minute, West Brom's Saido Berahino received a yellow card. Tottenham Hotspur extended the lead with a sixty-fourth minute Kane penalty kick goal. In the eightieth minute Claudio Yacob of West Brom took a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur saw a yellow card for Erik Lamela's foul in stoppage time. Tottenham Hotspur claimed a 3-0 victory.

Closing out Saturday, Chelsea welcomes Manchester City in a battle at the top of the table. Joe Hart and Thibaut Courtois guard the woodwork. Chelsea dented the scoreboard with a forty-first minute goal by Loic Remy, via Eden Hazard. Manchester City tied it as David Silva scored in the forty-fourth minute, thanks to Sergio Aguero. Silva took a yellow card in the fifty-second minute for Manchester City. In the seventy-fourth minute, Fernando of Manchester City had a yellow card for his foul. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Sunday's first game had Arsenal bringing Aston Villa. Brad Guzan and David Ospina are in the six-yard boxes. Arsenal struck first in the eighth minute with a goal by Olivier Giroud, passed from Mesut Ozil on a through ball. In the fifty-sixth minute, Ozil scored on a pass from Giroud on a through ball. Aston Villa took a yellow card for a fifty-seventh minute foul by Ciaran Clark. Arsenal extended the lead on a Theo Walcott goal in the sixty-third minute, coming off of Santiago Cazorla. In the sixty-eighth minute, Aston Villa took a yellow card for a Carles Gil foul. Arsenal padded the lead on a Cazorla penalty kick goal in the seventy-fifth minute. Arsenal iced it at 5-0 with a stoppage time goal by Hector Bellerin, made possible by Cazorla.

Finally, Southampton hosts Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Fraser Forster draw the starts in goal. In the forty-fourth minute, Neil Taylor of Swansea City took a yellow card for a foul. Southampton saw a yellow card go to Maya Yoshida in the sixty-fourth minute for his foul. Swansea City opened the scoring in the eighty-third minute on a Jonjo Shelvey goal, via Modou Barrow. Southampton went down a man in the eighty-ninth minute when Ryan Bertrand received a red card for a foul. Swansea City won 1-0.

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NHL January 31st, 2015

Eleven games on for today, beginning with three matinees, the first of which is in...

Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Carey Price guard the cages. Montreal won the game 1-0 in overtime on a Max Pacioretty goal, his twenty-third of the campaign, assisted by Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban. The three stars were awarded to Price (36 save shutout), Pacioretty, and Holtby (29 for 30 in saves).

Over to Detroit, where the Red Wings welcome the New York Islanders. Chad Johnson and Petr Mrazek are given the starting nods. Detroit opened in the first period on a Tomas Tatar power play goal, his twenty-second of the season, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Danny DeKeyser. The Red Wings added on with a Brendan Smith goal, his third of the year, coming off of Tomas Jurco and Riley Sheahan in the second period. New York got on the board in the third period with a Lubomir Visnovsky power play goal, his fourth of the season, made possible by Frans Nielsen and Brock Nelson. Detroit answered on an unassisted Jonathan Ericsson goal, his third of the year. The Red Wings iced it at 4-1 with a Gustav Nyquist power play goal, his twentieth of the campaign, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The three stars went to Smith, Mrazek (22 for 23 in saves), and Ericsson.

Back in Canada, the Ottawa Senators bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Robin Lehner are in the creases. Arizona started in the first period on a Zbynek Michalek goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. Ottawa tied it on an unassisted Mike Hoffman goal, his seventeenth of the year. The Senators took the lead in the second period with a Milan Michalek goal, his seventh of the campaign, courtesy of David Legwand and Marc Methot. Ottawa added on with a Mark Stone goal, his twelfth of the season, made possible by Methot and Legwand. The Senators extended the lead in the third period as Bobby Ryan scored his fourteenth of the year, thanks to Clarke MacArthur and Mika Zibanejad. Ottawa padded the lead on a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal, his second of the campaign, via Erik Karlsson. Louis Domingue replaced Smith in goal. The Coyotes got one back on a Sam Gagner goal, his ninth of the season, passed from Lauri Korpikoski and Keith Yandle. The Senators replied with a Karlsson goal, his twelfth of the year, assisted by Stone and Methot, the latter getting a sock trick. Ottawa finished it at 7-2 with a Zibanejad goal, his thirteenth of the campaign, with a lone assist by Ryan. The three stars were Methot, Stone, and Karlsson, while Legwand, Ryan, and Zibanejad get the honorable mentions.

At the regular time, the Boston Bruins hosted the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Tuukka Rask tend the twines. Boston got going in the second period as Brad Marchand scored his fourteenth of the season, thanks to Zdeno Chara and Gregory Campbell. Los Angeles tied it on a third period goal by Jordan Nolan, his second of the year, courtesy of Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. The Bruins took the lead back with a Chris Kelly goal, his sixth of the season, passed from Carl Soderberg and Torey Krug. Boston iced it at 3-1 with an unassisted empty net goal by Marchand, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year. The three stars were Marchand, Rask (30 for 31 in saves), and Kelly.

Down in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Keith Kinkaid are set to start in goal. New Jersey struck first in the first period on a Jaromir Jagr goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Dainius Zubrus and Michael Cammalleri. The Devils added on with a Cammalleri goal, his sixteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Steve Bernier and Scott Gomez. New Jersey extended the lead in the third period on a Bernier empty net goal, his eighth of the season, set up by Adam Henrique. Florida avoided the shutout with a Brandon Pirri goal, his sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Brian Campbell. The final was 3-1, with the three stars going to Cammalleri, Kinkaid (26 for 27 in saves), and Bernier.

Over to New York, where the Rangers bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Henrik Lundqvist are the veteran goalies. New York was first to score in the first period on a Rick Nash goal, his twenty-ninth of the season, going in unassisted. The Rangers added on with a shorthanded goal by Dominic Moore, his fourth of the year, set up by Ryan McDonagh. Carolina got on the board in the second period with a Brad Malone goal, his fourth of the season, via Ryan Murphy and Patrick Dwyer. New York shot back in the third period on a Chris Kreider goal, his eleventh of the year, coming off of Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello. The Rangers finished it at 4-1 with a Dan Boyle goal, his fifth of the campaign, helped along by Carl Hagelin and Jesper Fast. The three stars belonged to Lundqvist (31 for 32 in saves), Moore, and Kreider.

West a little to Philadelphia, where the Flyers host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Steve Mason are the masked men. Philadelphia led off in the first period on a Michael Del Zotto goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Petr Straka and Wayne Simmonds. This held up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars given to Mason (30 save shutout), Del Zotto, and Reimer (17 for 18 in saves).

Northwest to Winnipeg, where the Jets welcome the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen and Michael Hutchinson are the goalies. Dallas began in the first period on a Patrick Eaves power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg. Winnipeg tied it on an Andrew Ladd goal, his eighteenth of the year, coming off of Mark Stuart and Jacob Trouba. The Stars took the lead back with a Shawn Horcoff power play goal, his seventh of the season, via Trevor Daley and Ales Hemsky. Dallas added on with a Jason Spezza power play goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Seguin and Klingberg. The Stars extended the lead in the third period as Klingberg scored his eighth of the season, with the help of Vernon Fiddler and Colton Sceviour. Dallas padded the lead on Klingberg's second of the game and ninth of the year, a power play goal fueled by Seguin, who got a sock trick, and Jamie Benn. The Jets got one back on a Toby Enstrom goal, his second of the campaign, with assists provided by Blake Wheeler and Ladd. This only made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars being Klingberg, Seguin, and Ladd.

Backtracking to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Curtis McElhinney and Ben Bishop are in the blue paint. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the first period on a Brett Connolly goal, his ninth of the season, via Brenden Morrow and Jason Garrison. The Lightning added on in the third period on a Cedric Paquette goal, his tenth of the year, assisted by Jonathan Drouin and Alex Killorn. Tampa Bay extended the lead on a Valtteri Filppula goal, his tenth of the season, going in unassisted. Columbus got on the board with a Ryan Johansen goal, his nineteenth of the year, guided in by David Savard and Ryan Murray. This only made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars going to Bishop (34 for 35 in saves), Paquette, and Filppula.

Very far to the northwest, the Calgary Flames host the Edmonton Oilers for a Battle of Alberta. Ben Scrivens and Jonas Hiller are the journeymen goalies. Edmonton opened in the first period on a Jordan Eberle goal, his thirteenth of the season, guided in by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers added on with a Benoit Pouliot goal, his eleventh of the year, passed from Eberle and Jeff Petry. Calgary got on the board in the third period with a Paul Byron goal, his sixth of the season, coming off of Mason Raymond and Josh Jooris. The Flames tied it on a Lance Bouma goal, his seventh of the year, via David Jones and Mikael Backlund. Calgary took the lead with a Sean Monahan power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, powered by Mark Giordano and Dennis Wideman. The Flames iced it at 4-2 on another Bouma goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, with helpers from Backlund and Jones. The three stars were Bouma, Eberle, and Backlund, while Jones gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Chicago Blackhawks. Antti Raanta and Antti Niemi are the Finnish netminders. San Jose started with a first period goal by Melker Karlsson, his eighth of the season, coming off of Matt Irwin and Joe Thornton. The Sharks made it 2-0 in the third period on a Thornton empty net goal, his eleventh of the year, set up by Karlsson and Matt Tennyson. The three stars belonged to Niemi (31 save shutout), Karlsson, and Thornton.

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