Premier League Week 33

This week is a bit of a fractured week for league play, with only seven games on. We begin with five on Saturday, beginning in...

London, as Crystal Palace hosts West Bromwich Albion. Boaz Myhill and Julian Speroni are the goalies. West Brom began in the second minute with a header goal by James Morrison, made possible by Chris Brunt on a cross after a corner kick. In the fourteenth minute, West Brom's Gareth McAuley took a yellow card for his foul. West Brom added on in the fifty-third minute with a Craig Gardner goal, coming after a corner kick. Crystal Palace took three straight yellow cards for Scott Dann in the fifty-fourth minute, Jason Puncheon in the sixty-first minute, and Yannick Bolasie in the sixty-ninth minute. The first two were for fouls, while the last was for a dive. West Brom took a yellow card on a seventy-ninth minute Gardner foul. The final stood at 2-0 for West Brom.

Up north, Everton welcomes Burnley. Tom Heaton and Tim Howard protect the nets. In the twenty-third minute, Ashley Barnes of Burnley took a yellow card. Everton struck first in the twenty-ninth minute with a Kevin Mirallas goal, assisted by Arouna Kone. In first half stoppage time, Barnes took another yellow card and Burnley went to ten men with the ejection. Mirallas of Everton had a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-first minute. Burnley took two more yellow cards for Scott Arfield's fifty-third minute foul and Jason Shackell's sixty-first minute foul. Everton cruised to a 1-0 win.

Over to Leicester City bringing in Swansea City. Lukasz Fabianski and Kasper Schmeichel are the keepers. Swansea City took a yellow card for a third minute foul by Jordi Amat. Leicester City opened with a fifteenth minute goal by Leonardo Ulloa, via Wes Morgan. In the eighty-eighth minute, Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey received a yellow card for his foul. Leicester City added on in the eighty-ninth minute as Andy King scored at close range after a set piece. The final stood at 2-0 for Leicester City.

Next up, Stoke City hosts Southampton. Kelvin Davis and Asmir Begovic man the nets. Southampton took a yellow card in the fifteenth minute for a Jose Fonte foul. Southampton was first to score on a twenty-second minute goal by Morgan Schneiderlin goal, passed from Fonte after a corner kick. In the thirty-eighth minute, Southampton took a yellow card for a Nathaniel Clyne foul. Stoke City tied it on a Mame Biram Diouf goal in the forty-seventh minute. In the forty-ninth minute, Toby Alderweireld took a yellow card for his hand ball for Southampton. Stoke City took the lead on an eighty-fourth minute goal by Charlie Adam, coming after a set piece. In the eighty-eighth minute Eljero Elia took a yellow card for Southampton for his foul. Stoke City took the game 2-1.

Finally, Saturday's last game sends us back to London as Chelsea brings in Manchester United. David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois guard the woodwork. Chelsea led off with a thirty-eighth minute goal by Eden Hazard at a difficult angle, set up by Oscar. Chelsea had yellow cards given to Didier Drogba for a fifty-third minute foul, Branislav Ivanovic for a fifty-seventh minute foul, and Oscar for a sixty-third minute foul. Manchester United had a yellow card given to Ander Herrera in stoppage time. Chelsea secured a 1-0 win.

The first Sunday game sees Manchester City welcome West Ham United. Adrian and Joe Hart are the goalies. Manchester City was first to score on a gift of an own goal by James Collins in the eighteenth minute. In the thirty-fifth minute, Jesus Navas of Manchester City took a yellow card for a foul. Manchester City added on in the thirty-sixth minute as Sergio Aguero scored, thanks to Navas after a fast break. Manchester City saw a yellow card given to David Silva in the fifty-eighth minute for a foul. West Ham United took yellow cards for Cheikhou Kouyate in the sixty-seventh minute and Stewart Downing in stoppage time, both for fouls. Manchester City won 2-0.

Wrapping up the light week, Newcastle United hosts Tottenham Hotspur. Michel Vorm and Tim Krul are the gloved men. Tottenham Hotspur began in the thirtieth minute with a Nacer Chadli goal, coming off of Paulinho. In the fortieth minute, Jack Colback of Newcastle United had a yellow card for a foul. Tottenham Hotspur took a yellow cards in the forty-second minute for Paulinho and in the forty-fifth minute for an Erik Lamela foul. In the forty-sixth minute, Colback scored to tie it for Newcastle United. In the fifty-third minute, Tottenham Hotspur retook the lead on an Christian Eriksen free kick goal. In the sixty-second minute, Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur received a yellow card for a foul. Newcastle United's Remy Cabella had a yellow card for his sixty-third minute foul. Tottenham Hotspur's Nabil Bentaleb took a yellow card for an eighty-eighth minute foul. In stoppage time, Harry Kane made it 3-1 for Tottenham Hotspur with his goal, set up by Lamela after a fast break. This was the final score.

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NHL Division Semifinals, Day 4

Four more game 2s for the day, beginning with a pair of noon games, the first in...

St. Louis, as the Blues host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jake Allen man the creases. St. Louis started with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal in the first period, made possible by Alexander Steen and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Blues added on with another Tarasenko power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Steen and Shattenkirk. Minnesota got on the board with a third period goal by Marco Scandella, assisted by Thomas Vanek and Charlie Coyle. St. Louis replied with a Patrik Berglund goal, with a lone helper by Jaden Schwartz. The Blues finished it at 4-1 with a Tarasenko empty net goal, securing a hat trick, set up by Jori Lehtera. The three stars went to Tarasenko, Steen, and Shattenkirk. The series is now tied at 1 and heads to Minnesota.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Ben Bishop are called on to start. Tampa Bay led off in the first period with a Tyler Johnson goal, via Nikita Nesterov and Nikita Kucherov on the power play. The Lightning added on with an Alex Killorn goal in the second period, fueled by Ryan Callahan and Steven Stamkos. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Andrej Suster scored, with the help of Valtteri Filppula and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Lightning padded the lead on Johnson's second of the game, with a lone assist by Victor Hedman. Jimmy Howard replaced Mrazek in the third period. Detroit got on the board in the third period with a Tomas Tatar goal, coming off of Kyle Quincey and Gustav Nyquist. Tampa Bay answered with a Filppula power play goal, powered by Stamkos and Nesterov. The final was 5-1, and the three stars went to Johnson, Filppula, and Nesterov, while Stamkos gets an honorable mention. The series is now tied at 1 heading to Detroit.

Up in New York, the Rangers bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist guard the cages. New York began in the first period with a Derek Stepan goal, assisted by J.T. Miller and Ryan McDonagh. Pittsburgh tied it on a Brandon Sutter power play goal, powered by Steve Downie and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins took the lead with a Sidney Crosby goal, coming off of Patric Hornqvist and Ian Cole. Pittsburgh added on with Crosby's second of the game, via Kunitz and Paul Martin. The Rangers got one back with a Derick Brassard power play goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, made possible by Mats Zuccarello and Keith Yandle. The Penguins replied on a Kunitz power play goal, with helpers provided by Sutter and David Perron. New York got one back with a Rick Nash goal, dished from Stepan and Dan Boyle. The final stood at 4-3, with the three stars going to Crosby, Kunitz, and Sutter, while Stepan gets an honorable mention. The teams travel to Pittsburgh tied at 1 in the series.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Frederik Andersen protect the nets. Winnipeg dented the scoreboard on a second period Adam Pardy goal, coming off of Mathieu Perreault and Adam Lowry. Anaheim tied it on a Patrick Maroon power play goal in the third period, powered by Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf. The Ducks took the lead on a Jakob Silfverberg goal, passed from Ryan Kesler and Simon Despres. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars handed to Silfverberg, Andersen (28 for 29 in saves), and Pavelec (37 for 39 in saves). The Ducks leave home comfortably ahead 2-0 in the series.

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NHL Division Semifinals, Day 3

Four more games going today, all of which are Game 2s in their respective series. We begin with...

The Atlantic Division, as the Montreal Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond and Carey Price are set to start in goal. Ottawa began with a first period Clarke MacArthur goal, fueled by Mark Stone and Cody Ceci. Montreal tied it in the second period on a Max Pacioretty power play goal, powered by David Desharnais and Andrei Markov. The Canadiens took the lead on a P.K. Subban goal, passed from Devante Smith-Pelly and Desharnais. The Senators tied it in the third period as Patrick Wiercioch scored a power play goal, made possible by Stone and Erik Karlsson. Montreal won 3-2 in overtime with an Alex Galchenyuk goal, assisted by Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec. The three stars went to Galchenyuk, Desharnais, and Stone. The Canadiens head to Ontario leading the series 2-0.

For the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak faces a lesser foe in Philipp Grubauer in goal. New York was first to score in the first period on a Cal Clutterbuck goal, with a lone assist by Matt Martin. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Ryan Strome goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by John Tavares and Lubomir Visnovsky. Washington got on the board as Karl Alzner scored, thanks to Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom. New York replied with a Kyle Okposo goal, via Josh Bailey and Calvin de Haan. The Capitals pulled back with an Alex Ovechkin goal, assisted by Matt Niskanen and Backstrom. Washington tied it in the third period on a Backstrom power play goal, powered by John Carlson. The Capitals gained the lead with a Jason Chimera goal, guided in by Niskanen. This stood for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Backstrom, Niskanen, and Chimera. The series heads to Nassau Coliseum tied at 1.

Into the Central Division, with the Nashville Predators bringing in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. Nashville led off in the first period with a Colin Wilson goal, his third of the postseason, coming on the power play from Craig Smith and Mike Ribeiro. Chicago tied it on Patrick Sharp's second of the playoffs, guided in by Niklas Hjalmarsson and Andrew Shaw. The Predators reclaimed the lead on a Roman Josi goal, via Shea Weber. The Blackhawks retied it again on a Patrick Kane goal in the second period, with a lone assist by Brent Seabrook. Nashville pulled ahead as Smith scored, thanks to Cody Franson and Ribeiro. The Predators added on with a Filip Forsberg goal, going in unassisted. Nashville extended the lead with a Smith goal, his second of the game, set up by Forsberg and the goalie Rinne. The Predators padded the lead as Mike Santorelli scored, with the help of Calle Jarnkrok and Viktor Stalberg. This made it 6-2, the final, with the three stars going to Smith, Forsberg, and Ribeiro. The series is now tied at 1 heading to Chicago.

Finally, the Pacific Division has the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Calgary Flames. Jonas Hiller and Eddie Lack are in the creases. Vancouver struck first in the first period on a Daniel Sedin goal, fueled by Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows. The Canucks added on with a power play goal by Chris Higgins, powered by Burrows and Christopher Tanev. Vancouver extended the lead on a third period Ronalds Kenins goal, made possible by Bo Horvat and Luca Sbisa. Calgary got on the board with a power play goal by Kris Russell, his second of the playoffs, assisted by Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. The Canucks iced it at 4-1 with a Radim Vrbata empty net goal, set up by Nick Bonino and Tanev. The three stars went to Lack (22 for 23 in saves), Burrows, and Tanev. The series heads to Alberta tied at 1.

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GAGARIN CUP FINAL 2015: Ak Bars Kazan VS. SKA St. Petersburg

Welcome to the final series of the KHL, the Gagarin Cup Final. This year, Ak Bars Kazan represents the Eastern Conference and has home ice, while SKA St. Petersburg represents the Western Conference. This post will cover the whole series.

Game 1: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. St. Petersburg was first to score in the first period on an Artemy Panarin goal, going in unassisted on the power play. SKA added on in the second period as Patrick Thoresen scored, thanks to Ilya Kovalchuk and Anton Belov. St. Petersburg extended the lead with an Evgeny Dadonov goal, fueled by Vadim Shipachyov. SKA padded the lead in the third period with a Shipachyov goal, made possible by Panarin. Kazan got on the board with a Justin Azevedo power play goal, powered by Igor Mirnov and Oscar Moller. Ak Bars pulled closer with a Stepan Zakharchuk goal, assisted by Mikhail Varnakov and Mikhail Gluhkov. This only made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars given to Panarin, Shipachyov, and Dadonov. SKA owns a 1-0 series lead after the opening game.

Game 2: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period with an Anton Burdasov goal, assisted by Roman Rukavishnikov. This was all SKA needed for a 1-0 win. Koskinen (19 save shutout), Burdasov, and Nilsson (19 for 20 in saves) received the three stars. SKA heads home with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: Ice Palace St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia. In goal: Anders Nilsson for Kazan and Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg started in the first period on a Tony Martensson goal, fueled by Maxim Chudinov. Kazan tied it in the third period as Evgeny Medvedev scored, thanks to Oscar Moller and Justin Azevedo. Ak Bars took the lead with an Alexander Svitov goal, passed from Konstantin Koltsov and Stepan Zakharchuk. The final stood at 2-1 for Kazan, with the three stars given to Nilsson (21 for 22 in saves), Svitov, and Medvedev. The series still favors SKA 2-1.

Game 4: Ice Palace St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia. In goal: Anders Nilsson for Kazan and Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg opened in the first period on a Patrick Thoresen and Ilya Kovalchuk. Kazan tied it on a second period power play goal by Oscar Moller, powered by Justin Azevedo and Ilya Nikulin. SKA took the lead back as Jimmie Ericsson scored, thanks to Kovalchuk and the goalie Koskinen. St. Petersburg added on in the third period on an Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, with a lone assist by Kovalchuk, who got a sock trick. Ak Bars pulled back with an Azevedo goal, fueled by Stepan Zakharchuk and Artyom Lukoyanov. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars given to Kovaclhuk, Azevedo, and Koskinen (28 for 30 in saves with an assist). SKA has a 3-1 series lead and could clinch the cup on the road in Game 5. 

Game 5: TatNeft Arena, Kazan, Russia. In goal: Mikko Koskinen for St. Petersburg and Anders Nilsson for Kazan. St. Petersburg led off in the first period on a Jimmie Ericsson goal, going in unassisted. SKA added on with an Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal, powered by Artemy Panarin and Vadim Shipachyov. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Evgeny Dadonov scored an unassisted goal. SKA padded the lead with an Alexei Ponikarovsky goal, passed from Pyotr Khokhryakov and Anton Belov. Kazan got on the board with a second period goal by Mikhail Glukhov, via Petr Vrana and Evgeny Medvedev. St. Petersburg replied with a Kovalchuk goal, his second of the game, with a lone assist by Patrick Thoresen. Emil Garipov relieved Nilsson a minute later. SKA iced it at 6-1 in the third period on a Roman Cervenka goal, helped along by Panarin and Belov. The three stars went to Kovalchuk, Panarin, and Belov. SKA won the Gagarin Cup in a 4-1 series victory, and they are the new KHL champions.

I will be back next August for all your KHL coverage needs. Until then, check out my NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs posts, and for the soccer fans out there, the Premier League and MLS seasons. As always, follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion, and thanks for all of your support. 

NHL Division Semifinals, Day 2

Four more games as the other half of the series get going tonight. We begin with...

The New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins in a Metropolitan Division battle. Marc-Andre Fleury and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. New York began in the first period on a Derick Brassard goal, made possible by Rick Nash and Dan Girardi. The Rangers added on with a Ryan McDonagh power play goal, powered by Keith Yandle and Mats Zuccarello. Pittsburgh got on the board in the second period with a Blake Comeau goal, fueled by Ben Lovejoy and Nick Spaling. This was as close as it got, with the final being 2-1. The three stars went to Lundqvist (24 for 25 in saves), McDonagh, and Fleury (36 for 38 in saves). The Rangers take a 1-0 series lead.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome Atlantic Division Rivals in the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek is mismatched with Ben Bishop in goal. Detroit led off with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, coming off of Kyle Quincey and Darren Helm. Tampa Bay tied it on a shorthanded and unassisted Brian Boyle goal. The Red Wings took the lead in the second period as Datsyuk scored his second of the game, a power play goal powered by Helm. Detroit added on in the third period with a shorthanded goal by Luke Glendening, going in unassisted. The Lightning got one back as Nikita Nesterov scored, thanks to Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn. The final stood at 3-2, with the three stars going to Datsyuk, Helm, and Glendening. The Red Wings have a 1-0 series lead.

To the Central Division, where the St. Louis Blues bring in the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jake Allen are the young goalies. Minnesota struck first in the first period with a Jason Zucker goal, passed from Justin Fontaine. The Wild added on with a Matt Dumba power play goal, powered by Jared Spurgeon and Chris Stewart. St. Louis got on the board in the third period with a Jaden Schwartz goal, assisted by Kevin Shattenkirk and Patrik Berglund. Minnesota shot back with a Mikael Granlund empty net goal, made possible by Jason Pominville and Zach Parise. The Blues pulled back on a shorthanded goal by Alexander Steen, set up by Vladimir Tarasenko and Shattenkirk. The Wild iced it at 4-2 with a Pominville power play goal into an empty net, via Parise. The three stars were Pominville, Parise, and Shattenkirk.

Finally, in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks host the wild-card Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Frederik Andersen are the masked men. Anaheim was first to score on a Sami Vatanen goal, via Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Winnipeg tied it with an Adam Lowry goal, courtesy of Jacob Trouba and Mark Stuart. The Jets took the lead in the second period as Drew Stafford scored, thanks to Mark Scheifele. The Ducks tied it in the third period on a Perry power play goal, powered by Patrick Maroon and Vatanen. Anaheim took the lead with Perry's second of the game, a shorthanded goal set up by Getzlaf and Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks added on with a Getzlaf power play goal, with assists provided by Perry and Vatanen. The final stood at 4-2 for the Ducks, with the three stars awarded to Perry, Vatanen, and Getzlaf. Anaheim begins with a 1-0 series lead.

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New York City FC VS. Philadelphia Union

Another midweek MLS game, featuring New York City FC hosting the Philadelphia Union. John McCarthy and Josh Saunders are in the six-yard boxes. Philadelphia's Vincent Nogueira took a yellow card for a dive in the twenty-second minute. New York City saw a yellow card given to Ned Grabavoy for dissent in the twenty-fifth minute. New York City had another yellow card for persistent infringement by Javier Calle in the thirty-second minute. The Union took a yellow card for a Sheanon Williams foul in the forty-first minute. New York City began in the fifty-seventh minute on a Mehdi Ballouchy goal, set up by Khiry Shelton. Ballouchy also had a yellow card assessed for excessive celebration. Philadelphia's C.J. Sapong had a yellow card for a sixty-seventh minute foul. New York City's Kwame Watson-Siriboe had a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-third minute. The Union tied it on a Sapong goal in the eighty-sixth minute, coming off of Maurice Edu and Christian Maidana. New York City took a yellow card for an Andrew Jacobson foul in the eighty-seventh minute. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Saunders for six saves on seven shots to earn a point for NYCFC.

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NHL Divisional Semifinals, Day 1

Four games on to open the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We begin with...

The Montreal Canadiens hosting the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond and Carey Price are in the creases. Ottawa opened with a first period Milan Michalek goal, going in unassisted. Montreal tied it in the second period on a Torrey Mitchell goal, coming off of Brian Flynn and P.K. Subban. The Canadiens took the lead with a Tomas Plekanec goal, via Alex Galchenyuk and Subban. The Senators retied it on a Kyle Turris power play goal, powered by Erik Karlsson and Patrick Wiercioch. Montreal gained the lead back with a shorthanded goal by Lars Eller, set up by Flynn. Ottawa retied it with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, helped along by Wiercioch and Karlsson. The Canadiens regained the lead with a Flynn goal, passed from Brandon Prust and Nathan Beaulieu. This held up for a 4-3 win, with the three stars going to Flynn, Subban, and Karlsson, while Wiercioch gets an honorable mention. Montreal has a 1-0 series lead in the Atlantic Division series.

Over in the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals welcome the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Braden Holtby guard the cages. New York started in the first period on a Brock Nelson goal, guided in by Josh Bailey and Johnny Boychuk. Washington tied it with a Marcus Johansson goal, via Brooks Laich. The Islanders retook the lead in the second period as Ryan Strome scored, with a lone assist by John Tavares. New York added on as Bailey scored, thanks to Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. The Islanders iced it at 4-1 in the third period on a Nelson empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Anders Lee and Michael Grabner. The three stars were handed to Nelson, Bailey, and Halak (24 for 25 in saves). The Islanders take a 1-0 series lead.

West to the Central Division series between the hosting Nashville Predators and visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Pekka Rinne tend the twines. Nashville led off in the first period with an unassisted Colin Wilson goal. The Predators added on with a Viktor Stalberg goal, coming off of Calle Jarnkrok and Matt Cullen. Nashville extended the lead on Wilson's second of the game, a power play goal, powered by Seth Jones and Ryan Ellis. Chicago got on the board with a Niklas Hjalmarsson goal in the second period, guided in by Teuvo Teravainen and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks pulled closer on a Patrick Sharp power play goal, fueled by Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. Chicago tied it with a Toews power play goal, assisted by Kane and Duncan Keith. The Blackhawks won in the fifth period, second overtime, on an unassisted Keith goal for a 4-3 final. The three stars went to Keith, Toews, and Wilson, while Kane gets an honorable mention. Chicago owns a 1-0 series lead.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Calgary Flames for a Pacific Division series. Jonas Hiller and Eddie Lack are between the pipes. Vancouver got going in the second period as Bo Horvat scored, thanks to Jannik Hansen and Alexander Edler. Calgary tied it in the third period on a David Jones goal, via Michael Ferland. The Flames won 2-1 on a Kris Russell goal, courtesy of Dennis Wideman and Sam Bennett. The three stars went to Russell, Jones, and Hiller (29 for 30 in saves). Calgary owns a 1-0 series lead.

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