NHL March 6th, 2015

Six games on tonight, beginning in...

Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Anton Khudobin are in the creases. Minnesota opened in the first period on a Charlie Coyle goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund. Carolina tied it in the second period as Riley Nash scored his eighth of the year, with a lone assist by Jeff Skinner. The Wild retook the lead in the third period on a Granlund goal, his seventh of the season, passed from Jason Pominville and Zach Parise. Minnesota added on with a Parise goal, his twenty-sixth of the year, via Pominville. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars given to Dubnyk (37 for 38 in saves), Granlund, Parise, while Pominville gets the honorable mention.

Up in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Cory Schneider guard the cages. Columbus led off in the first period on a Justin Falk goal, made possible by Cody Goloubef and Brandon Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period with a Dubinsky goal, his ninth of the year, coming off of Nick Foligno. New Jersey got on the board with a Jordin Tootoo power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson. Columbus shot back on a Marko Dano goal, his fourth of the year, via Alexander Wennberg and Falk. The Devils replied in the third period with a Peter Harrold goal, his third of the season, passed from Andy Greene and Tuomo Ruutu. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Falk, Dubinsky, and Dano.

West to Detroit, as the Red Wings bring in the Calgary Flames. Jonas Hiller and Jimmy Howard are the masked men. Detroit began in the first period on a Justin Abdelkader goal, his fifteenth of the season, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Erik Cole. The Red Wings added on with an Abdelkader goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the year, a power play goal powered by Zetterberg and Cole. Calgary got on the board with a Sean Monahan power play goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, courtesy of Kris Russell and Dennis Wideman. The Flames tied it in the second period on a Matt Stajan goal, his fifth of the year, passed from Brandon Bollig. Calgary took the lead on a Jiri Hudler goal, his twenty-second of the season, via Monahan and Wideman. The Flames extended the lead in the third period with a Mason Raymond goal, his twelfth of the year, with assists provided by Drew Shore and Josh Jooris. Calgary iced it at 5-2 on a Hudler empty net goal, his second of the game and twenty-third of the campaign, set up by Johnny Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund. The three stars were named as Hudler, Abdelkader, and Monahan, while Zetterberg, Cole, and Wideman get the honorable mentions.

Into Ottawa, where the Senators host the Buffalo Sabres. Anders Lindback and Andrew Hammond are the little-known goalies. Buffalo started in the first period on a Philip Varone goal, his third of the season, coming off of Matt Moulson and Andre Benoit. The Sabres added on with a Tyler Ennis goal, his sixteenth of the year, assisted by Varone and Zach Bogosian. Ottawa got on the board in the second period on an Erik Karlsson goal, his sixteenth of the season, made possible by Milan Michalek and Mark Stone. The Senators tied it in the third period as Mika Zibanejad scored, his seventeenth of the year, with the help of Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman. Ottawa took the lead on a Stone goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, helped along by Marc Methot and Michalek. The final stood at 3-2, with the three stars handed to Stone, Varone, and Michalek.

Back stateside, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Ben Scrivens and Corey Crawford are in the blue paint. Edmonton struck first in the first period on a Derek Roy goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Nail Yakupov. Chicago tied it on a third period with a Brent Seabrook goal, his eighth of the year, helped along by Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Antoine Vermette scored to give the Blackhawks a 2-1 win. The three stars went to Crawford (46 for 47 in saves), Scrivens (38 for 39 in saves), and Seabrook.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thomas Greiss and Frederik Andersen are set to start in goal. Pittsburgh was first to score in the second period with a Blake Comeau goal, his fifteenth of the season, assisted by Derick Pouliot and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his twentieth of the year, passed from David Perron and Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh extended the lead as Hornqvist scored his second of the game and twenty-first of the season, thanks to Ian Cole and Paul Martin. The Penguins padded the lead in the third period on a Malkin goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, fueled by Chris Kunitz and Comeau. Anaheim got on the board with a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his eighth of the season, guided in by Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks pulled closer on a Corey Perry goal, his twenty-eighth of the year, made possible by Rickard Rakell and Emerson Etem. Pittsburgh iced it at 5-2 with a Sidney Crosby empty net goal, his twenty-first of the campaign, set up by Brandon Sutter and Kris Letang. The three stars belonged to Hornqvist, Malkin, and Comeau, while Crosby gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Ak Bars Kazan VS. Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg

Welcome to the eastern conference quarterfinal round for the 2015 Gagarin Cup Playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series between Ak Bars Kazan and Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.

Game 1: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Jakub Kovar for Yekaterinburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. Yekaterinburg started in the first period on a Tobias Viklund power play goal, powered by Anton Lazarev and Alexei Simakov. Kazan tied it on an Alexander Svitov goal, passed from Artyom Lukoyanov. Ak Bars took the lead on an Igor Mirnov power play goal, courtesy of Yakov Rylov and Petr Vrana. Avtomobilist retied it in the second period on an Anatoly Golyshev goal, made possible by Artyom Gareyev and Sergei Yemelin. Kazan won 3-2 in overtime on an Oscar Moller power play goal, via Sergei Kostitsyn. The three stars went to Moller, Mirnov, and Svitov. Ak Bars leads 1-0 in the series.

Game 2: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Jakub Kovar for Yekaterinburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. Yekaterinburg dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Eduard Lewandowski power play goal, powered by Alexei Mikhnov and Dmitry Kagarlitsky. Avtomobilist added on in the third period as Artyom Gareyev scored, with the help of Sergei Yemelin and Anatoly Golyshev. Kazan got on the board with an Artyom Lukoyanov goal, assisted by Damir Musin and Yakov Rylov. Ak Bars tied it with a Justin Azevedo goal, going in unassisted. Kazan won 3-2 in overtime with an Oscar Moller power play goal, helped along by Igor Mirnov and Mikhail Varnakov. The three stars went to Moller, Azevedo, and Lukoyanov. Ak Bars heads east holding a 2-0 series lead.  

Game 3: KRK Uralets, Yekaterinburg, Russia. In goal: Anders Nilsson for Kazan and Jakub Kovar for Yekaterinburg. Yekaterinburg led off in the first period on an Alexander Nesterov goal, guided in by Alexei Mikhnov. Avtomobilist added on in the third period as Alexander Rybakov scored a power play goal, powered by Alexei Simakov and Tobias Viklund. The final was 2-0, and the three stars went to Kovar (34 save shutout), Nesterov, and Rybakov. Avtomobilist got a game back to cut the series deficit to 2-1.

Game 4: KRK Uralets, Yekaterinburg, Russia. In goal: Anders Nilsson for Kazan and Jakub Kovar for Yekaterinburg. Kazan got going in the second period with a Dmitry Obukhov goal, passed from Alexander Burmistrov and Kirill Petrov. Ak Bars added on with a power play goal by Justin Azevedo, powered by Ilya Nikulin. Yekaterinburg got on the board in the third period on an unassisted goal by Alexei Simakov. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars belonging to Nilsson (18 for 19 in saves), Azevedo, and Obukhov. Ak Bars heads home holding a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Jakub Kovar for Yekaterinburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. Kazan opened in the first period on an Oscar Moller goal, helped along by Justin Azevedo. Yekaterinburg tied it on a Vitaly Popov goal, going in unassisted. Ak Bars retook the lead on a Moller goal, via Vladimir Denisov. Kazan added on in the second period with a Kirill Petrov goal, coming off of Dmitry Obukhov and Alexander Burmistrov. Avtomobilist got one back in the third period on a power play goal by Tobias Viklund, powered by Alexei Simakov. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2. The three stars were Moller, Petrov, and Nilsson (21 for 23 in saves). Ak Bars wins the series 4-1.

KHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Metallurg Magnitogorsk VS. Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Welcome to the western conference quarterfinal round for the 2015 Gagarin Cup Playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series between Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Game 1: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Vladimir Sokhatsky of Ufa and Vasily Koshechkin of Magnitogorsk. Magnitogorsk dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Sergei Mozyakin power play goal, powered by Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Metallurg added on with a Tim Stapleton power play goal, with a lone assist by Tim Brent. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Koshechkin (24 save shutout), Mozyakin, and Stapleton. Metallurg owns a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Vladimir Sokhatsky of Ufa and Vasily Koshechkin of Magnitogorsk. Ufa began in the first period with a Teemu Hartikainen goal, courtesy of Dmitry Makarov and Anton Slepyshev. Magnitogorsk tied it in the third period on a Danis Zaripov goal, made possible by Viktor Antipin and Jan Kovar. Salavat Yulaev took the lead back as Antti Pihlstrom scored, thanks to Makarov and Hartikainen. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Hartikainen, Sokhatsky (35 for 36 in saves), and Makarov. The series is tied at 1.

Game 3: Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Vladimir Sokhatsky for Ufa. Ufa led off in the first period on an Alexander Stepanov goal, coming off of Alexei Glukhov and Andrei Zubarev. Magnitogorsk tied it on a shorthanded and unassisted Oskar Osala goal in the second period. Metallurg took the lead with a Viktor Antipin power play goal, powered by Sergei Mozyakin and Jan Kovar. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars given to Antipin, Koshechkin (29 for 30 in saves), and Osala. Metallurg regains a series lead of 2-1.

Game 4: Ufa Arena, Ufa, Russia. In goal: Vasily Koshechkin for Magnitogorsk and Vladimir Sokhatsky for Ufa. Ufa opened in the first period with an unassisted goal by Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on with a Denis Khlystov goal, fueled by Anton Slepyshev and Dmitry Makarov. Magnitogorsk got on the board with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, passed from Jan Kovar and Chris Lee. Ufa replied on an Ivan Vishnevsky power play goal, powered by Alexei Kaigorodov. Metallurg pulled back on a power play goal by Mozyakin, his second of the game, assisted by Kovar and Danis Zaripov. Magnitogorsk tied it in the second period with a Vladislav Kamenev goal, guided in by Bogdan Potekhin. Metallurg took the lead with a Zaripov goal, made possible by Viktor Antipin and Mozyakin. Magnitogorsk extended the lead as Tim Stapleton scored an unassisted goal. Salavat Yulaev pulled back on a Vishnevsky goal, with assists provided by Makarov and Hartikainen. Metallurg finished it at 6-4 on a Mozyakin goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Mozyakin, Zaripov, and Vishnevsky, while Hartikainen, Makarov, and Kovar get the honorable mentions. Metallurg holds a 3-1 series lead, looking to advance at home.

Game 5: Arena Metallurg, Magnitogorsk, Russia. In goal: Vladimir Sokhatsky of Ufa and Vasily Koshechkin of Magnitogorsk. Ufa started in the first period with a power play goal by Antti Pihlstrom powered by Ivan Vishnevsky and Alexei Kaigorodov. Magnitogorsk tied it on a Viktor Antipin goal, fueled by Danis Zaripov and Evgeny Biryukov. Metallurg took the lead on a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Jan Kovar and Sergei Tereshchenko. Magnitogorsk iced it at 3-1 in the third period as Tim Stapleton scored an empty net goal, set up by Oskar Osala and Mikhail Yunkov. The three stars belonged to Koshechkin (31 for 32 in saves), Mozyakin, and Antipin. Metallurg wins the series 4-1 to advance to the conference semifinals.

NHL March 5th, 2015

Eight games tonight, beginning in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Tuukka Rask are the Finnish goalies. Boston led off in the first period with a Brad Marchand goal, his nineteenth of the season, via Patrice Bergeron and Dougie Hamilton. Calgary tied it on a Sean Monahan power play goal, his twenty-third of the year, powered by Jiri Hudler and Kris Russell. The Bruins took the lead back in the second period as Milan Lucic scored his fourteenth of the season, with the help of Ryan Spooner and David Pastrnak. The Flames tied it again with a Hudler goal, his twenty-first of the year, coming off of Mikael Backlund and Dennis Wideman. Calgary took the lead in the third period on a Johnny Gaudreau power play goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Russell and Wideman. Boston retied it with a Loui Eriksson goal, his fifteenth of the year, with assists provided by Chris Kelly and Carl Soderberg. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Bergeron was topped by Josh Jooris and David Schlemko for a 4-3 Flames win. The three stars went to Hudler, Wideman, and Russell.

Down in Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Steve Mason are the average goalies. St. Louis began in the first period on a Jaden Schwartz goal, his twenty-first of the season, courtesy of Vladimir Tarasenko. Philadelphia tied it in the third period on a Michael Del Zotto goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Matt Read and Luke Schenn. The Flyers took the lead with a Wayne Simmonds goal, his twenty-sixth of the season, made possible by Mark Streit and Read. Philadelphia iced it at 3-1 on an empty net goal by Michael Raffl, his fifteenth of the year, set up by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Schenn. The three stars went to Mason (28 for 29 in saves), Read, and Simmonds, while Schenn gets an honorable mention.

Further along, the Washington Capitals host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Braden Holtby are in the blue paint. Washington struck first in the first period on a Curtis Glencross power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Matt Niskanen. Minnesota tied it in the third period on a Jason Pominville goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. The Wild took the lead on another Pominville goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the campaign, with a lone helper from Parise. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars given to Pominville, Parise, and Dubnyk (24 for 25 in saves).

Way south to Tampa Bay, as the Lightning bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Ben Bishop are the reliable goalies. Tampa Bay opened in the first period on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, coming off of Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. The Lightning added on with a Ryan Callahn goal, his twenty-first of the year, with a lone assist from Steven Stamkos. Toronto got on the board with a David Booth goal in the second period, his second of the season, fueled by Peter Holland. Tampa Bay shot back in the third period as Vladislav Nemestnikov scored his fourth of the year, with the help of Andrej Sustr and Victor Hedman. The Lightning extended the lead with an Alex Killorn goal, his thirteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Stamkos and Jason Garrison. The Maple Leafs got one back on a Richard Panik goal, his tenth of the year, helped along by Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri. This produced the 4-2 final, with the three stars going to Stamkos, Nemestnikov, and Killorn.

Staying in the state, the Florida Panthers host the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen faces a lesser foe in Dan Ellis in goal. Dallas dented the scoreboard in the first period on a Curtis McKenzie goal, his third of the season, via Jason Demers and Shawn Horcoff. The Stars added on with a Horcoff goal, his ninth of the year, going in unassisted. Florida got on the board with a Brandon Pirri goal, his thirteenth of the season, fueled by Vincent Trocheck. The Panthers tied it in the second period on a Dmitry Kulikov goal, his third of the year, guided in by Jussi Jokinen. Florida took the lead with a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, his tenth of the season, assisted by Nick Bjugstad and Kulikov. Dallas retied it in the third period as Alex Goligoski scored his third of the year, with a lone helper from John Klingberg. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Colton Sceviour scored to give the Stars a 4-3 win. The three stars belonged to Horcoff, Kulikov, and Goligoski.

Northwest to Nashville, where the Predators welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. New York was first to score in the first period on a John Tavares goal, his thirty-first of the season, coming off of Josh Bailey and Lubomir Visnovsky. The Islanders added on with an Anders Lee goal, his twenty-second of the year, a power play goal powered by Nick Leddy and Tavares. Nashville got on the board with a Colin Wilson goal, his twentieth of the season, with a lone assist by Mike Fisher. New York shot back in the third period on a Leddy goal, his ninth of the year, passed from Frans Nielsen and Johnny Boychuk. The Predators got one back as Mike Ribeiro scored his thirteenth of the season, with the help of Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi. Nashville tied it on a Craig Smith goal, his twenty-first of the year, guided in by Filip Forsberg. The Islanders took the lead back on a Brock Nelson goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, made possible by Michael Grabner and Boychuk. This made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars being Tavares, Leddy, and Boychuk.

Out west, the Arizona Coyotes host the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Mike Smith are between the pipes. Arizona got going in the first period on a Tobias Rieder goal, his tenth of the season, courtesy of Sam Gagner and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes added on in the third period with a B.J. Crombeen goal, his second of the year, passed from Tye McGinn and Joe Vitale. Vancouver got on the board with a Chris Higgins goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Jannik Hansen and Luca Sbisa. The Canucks tied it on a Radim Vrbata goal, his twenty-third of the year, via Dan Hamhuis and Nick Bonino. The Coyotes won 3-2 in the shootout as Gagner potted the only tally. The three stars went to Gagner, Crombeen, and Rieder.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Dustin Tokarski is mismatched with Jonathan Quick in goal. Los Angeles started in the first period on a Marian Gaborik power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Brayden McNabb and Jake Muzzin. The Kings added on with a Jeff Carter goal, his twenty-second of the year, via Dustin Brown and Justin Williams. Montreal got on the board in the second period as Tom Gilbert scored his third of the season, thanks to David Desharnais. The Canadiens tied it on a Brendan Gallagher goal, his eighteenth of the year, passed from Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban. Montreal took the lead in the third period on a Max Pacioretty goal, his thirty-first of the season, helped along by Desharnais and Dale Weise. Los Angeles retied it on a Gaborik power play goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, fueled by Anze Kopitar and Muzzin. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Gaborik, Carter, and Kopitar topped Desharnais and Pacioretty to give the Kings a 4-3 win. The three stars went to Gaborik, Muzzin, and Desharnais.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

KHL Western Conference Quarterfinal: SKA St. Petersburg VS. Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod

Welcome to the western conference quarterfinal round for the 2015 Gagarin Cup Playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series between SKA St. Petersburg and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

Game 1: Ice Palace St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia. In goal: Mikhail Biryukov for Nizhny Novgorod and Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg opened in the first period on a Vadim Shipachyov goal, via Andrei Kuteikin and Evgeny Dadonov. SKA added on with a Tony Martensson power play goal, powered by Patrick Thoresen. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Ilya Kablukov scored, thanks to Anton Burdasov. Ivan Kasutin relieved Biryukov in goal. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board with a Jarkko Immonen power play goal, fueled by Wojtek Wolski and Sakari Salminen. SKA shot back in the second period with a Roman Cervanka power play goal, with a lone assist by Martensson. St. Petersburg padded the lead with a Jimmie Ericsson power play goal, guided in by Cervenka and Maxim Chudinov. SKA continued with a Dadnov goal, going in unassisted. Torpedo got one back in the third period with a Wolski goal, passed from Immonen and Alexander Makarov. Nizhny Novgorod pulled closer on an unassisted Immonen goal, his second of the game. The three stars of the 6-3 game belonged to Cervenka, Martensson, and Immonen, while Dadonov and Wolski get the honorable mentions. SKA owns a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Ice Palace St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia. In goal: Ivan Kasutin for Nizhny Novgorod and Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg. Nizhny Novgorod began in the first period on an Evgeny Mozer goal, fueled by Dmitry Kazionov. Torpedo added on with an Artyom Blazhiyevsky goal, made possible by Vladimir Malevich and Gennady Stolyarov. St. Petersburg got on the board with a Roman Rukavishnikov goal, with a lone assist by Evgeny Ketov. This only made it 2-1, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Kasutin (29 for 30 in saves), Blazhiyevsky, and Mozer. The series heads east tied at 1.

Game 3: Trade Union Sport Palace, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. In goal: Mikko Koskinen of St. Petersburg and Ivan Kasutin of Nizhny Novgorod. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period on an Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, assisted by Artemy Panarin and Vadim Shipachyov. SKA added on with a power play goal by Ilya Kovalchuk, powered by Patrick Thoresen and Maxim Chudinov. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board with a power play goal in the second period by Wojtek Wolski, made possible by Jarkko Immonen and Alexei Pepelyaev. Torpedo tied it on a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev goal, via Nikita Filatov on the power play. St. Petersburg retook the lead on a power play goal from Kovalchuk, his second of the game, made possible by Jimmie Ericsson and Chudinov. SKA extended the lead as Dadonov scored, thanks to Shipachyov. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Kovalchuk, Dadonov, and Chudinov, while Shipachyov gets an honorable mention. SKA has a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4:  Trade Union Sport Palace, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. In goal: Mikko Koskinen of St. Petersburg and Mikhail Biryukov of Nizhny Novgorod. St. Petersburg was first to score in the first period on a Tony Martensson goal, helped along by Patrick Thoresen. SKA added on in the second period as Ilya Kovalchuk scored, thanks to Jimmie Ericsson and Nikolai Belov. St. Petersburg extended the lead with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, coming off of Artemy Panarin and Vadim Shipachyov. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board in the third period with an Alexei Potapov goal, via Alexei Pepelyaev. This only got them to a 3-1 loss, with the three stars being Koskinen (28 for 29 in saves), Kovalchuk, and Dadonov. SKA also took a 3-1 lead, and they look to close out the series at home.

Game 5: Ice Palace St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia. In goal: Ivan Kasutin for Nizhny Novgorod and Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg started in the first period with a Tony Martensson goal, helped along by Patrick Thoresen and Yury Alexandrov. SKA added on with a Thoresen power play goal, powered by Roman Cervenka and Maxim Chudinov. This held up for a 2-0 win, with the three stars belonging to Koskinen (22 save shutout), Thoresen, and Martensson. SKA won the series 4-1, and will advance to the conference semifinals. 

KHL Western Conference Quarterfinal: Jokerit Helsinki VS. Dinamo Minsk

Welcome to the western conference quarterfinal round for the 2015 Gagarin Cup Playoffs. This post will act as a reference for the entire series between Jokerit Helsinki and Dinamo Minsk.

Game 1: Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. In goal: Lars Haugen for Minsk and Henrik Karlsson for Helsinki. Helsinki struck first in the first period on an Atte Ohtamaa goal, passed from Riku Hahl and Eetu Poysti. Jokerit added on in the second period as Petr Koukal scored, thanks to Linus Omark. Minsk got on the board in the third period with a Ryan Vesce power play goal, powered by Matt Ellison. Dinamo tied it with a Charles Linglet goal, fueled by Jonathan Cheechoo and Nick Bailen. Minsk won 3-2 in overtime on an Ellison goal, assisted by Linglet and Bailen. The three stars went to Ellison, Linglet, and Bailen. Minsk has a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. In goal: Dmitry Milchakov for Minsk and Henrik Karlsson for Helsinki. Helsinki got going in the second period on a Steve Moses goal, via Petr Koukal and Atte Ohtamaa. Minsk tied it on a Nick Bailen goal, courtesy of Charles Linglet and Ryan Vesce. Jokerit retook the lead on an Oskari Korpikari goal, assisted by Daine Todd and Linus Omark. Helsinki added on with a Tommi Huhtala goal, going in unassisted. Jokerit finished it at 4-1 in the third period on a Tomi Maki empty net goal, set up by Petteri Wirtanen. The three stars were Korpikari, Karlsson (18 for 19 in saves), and Huhtala. The series heads to Belarus tied at 1.

Game 3: Minsk-Arena, Minsk, Belarus. In goal: Henrik Karlsson for Helsinki and Lars Haugen for Minsk. Helsinki dented the scoreboard in the second period on an unassisted power play goal by Linus Omark. Jokerit added on with an Omark power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Petr Koukal. Helsinki extended the lead as Tommi Huhtala scored, thanks to Ossi Vaananen and Omark. Jokerit padded the lead with a Juhamatti Aaltonen goal, going in unassisted. Helsinki scored again with a Steve Moses goal, with a lone assist by Omark. This made it 5-0, the final, with the three stars going to Omark, Karlsson (27 save shutout), and Huhtala. Jokerit has a 2-1 series lead now.

Game 4: Minsk-Arena, Minsk, Belarus. In goal: Riku Helenius for Helsinki and Dmitry Milchakov for Minsk. Minsk was first to score in the second period on a Lukas Krajicek power play goal, powered by Paul Szczechura and Alexei Kalyuzhny. Helsinki tied it on a Juhamatti Aaltonen goal, with a lone assist by Niko Kapanen. Jokerit took the lead with a Niklas Hagman goal, fueled by Kapanen and Tommi Huhtala on the power play. This was all they needed for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Helenius (17 for 18 in saves), Kapanen, and Hagman. Jokerit heads home carrying a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5: Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland. In goal: Dmitry Milchakov for Minsk and Henrik Karlsson for Helsinki. Helsinki began in the first period on a Steve Moses goal, coming off of Linus Omark and Riku Hahl. Jokerit added on with a Tomi Maki goal, fueled by Oskari Korpikari and Ryan Gunderson. Helsinki extended the lead with a Jere Sallinen goal, passed from Petr Koukal and Atte Ohtamaa. Lars Haugen came on for Milchakov in the second period. Jokerit padded the lead in the second period as Moses scored his second of the game, thanks to Omark and Gunderson. Helsinki kept going on a Juhamatti Aaltonen power play goal, powered by Gunderson, who got a sock trick. Jokerit continued with a Tommi Huhtala goal, via Sallinen and Daine Todd. Helsinki struck again in the third period as Koukal scored, with the help of Moses and Gunderson. Minsk avoided the shutout on a Charles Linglet goal, courtesy of Ryan Vesce and Nick Bailen. The final was a brutal 7-1, with the three stars going to Moses, Gunderson, and Sallinen, while Koukal and Omark get the honorable mentions. Jokerit advances to the conference semifinals on a 4-1 series win. 

NHL March 4th, 2015

Four games on tonight, beginning with...

The Winnipeg Jets hosting the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond and Michael Hutchinson are the young goalies. Ottawa began on a Kyle Turris goal, his sixteenth of the season, assisted by Cody Ceci and Milan Michalek in the first period. The Senators added on in the second period with a Bobby Ryan power play goal, his seventeenth of the year, powered by Mika Zibanejad and Erik Karlsson. Ottawa extended the lead with an Erik Condra goal, his eighth of the season, coming off of Mark Stone and Turris. Ondrej Pavelec replaced Hutchinson in goal. Winnipeg got on the board in the third period on a Michael Frolik goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Lee Stempniak and Tyler Myers. This produced the 3-1 final, with the three stars going to Turris, Hammond (35 for 36 in saves), and Ryan.

Stateside, the Detroit Red Wings welcome the New York Rangers. Cam Talbot and Jimmy Howard are in the creases. Detroit led off in the first period on a Justin Abdelkader goal, his fourteenth of the season, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Jonathan Ericsson. New York tied it on a Dan Girardi goal, his third of the year, a power play goal made possible by Rick Nash and Dan Boyle. The Red Wings won 2-1 in overtime on a Marek Zidlicky power play goal, his fifth of the campaign, powered by Pavel Datsyuk and Zetterberg. The three stars were Howard (39 for 40 in saves), Zidlicky, and Zetterberg.

West to Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Semyon Varlamov guard the cages. Colorado got going in the second period on a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his twentieth of the season, powered by Gabriel Landeskog and Tyson Barrie. The Avalanche added on with a Nathan MacKinnon goal, his fourteenth of the year, via Jan Hejda and Landeskog. Pittsburgh got on the board in the third period on an Evgeni Malkin goal, his twenty-seventh of the season, going in unassisted. Colorado finished it at 3-1 on a Landeskog goal, his seventeenth of the year, helped along by Ryan O'Reilly. The three stars were Landeskog, Varlamov (28 for 29 in saves), and MacKinnon.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and John Gibson are given the starting nods. Anaheim opened in the first period on a Francois Beauchemin goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Kyle Palmieri and Nate Thompson. The Ducks added on in the second period as Rickard Rakell scored his sixth of the year, with the help of Jiri Sekac and Hampus Lindholm. Anaheim extended the lead with a shorthanded empty net goal by Cam Fowler, his sixth of the season, set up by Ryan Kesler. Montreal got on the board with a power play goal by Alex Galchenyuk, his nineteenth of the year, powered by Andrei Markov and David Desharnais. This made it a 3-1 final, with the three stars given to Gibson (37 for 38 in saves), Rakell, and Fowler.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.