NHL Division Semifinals, Day 7

We're getting to some Game 4s now, but we begin with a straggling Game 3 in...

Detroit, as the Red Wings host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Petr Mrazek are the young goalies. Detroit began in the first period on a Pavel Datsyuk goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Tomas Tatar and Jonathan Ericsson. The Red Wings added on in the third period as Riley Sheahan scored a power play goal, powered by Justin Abdelkader and Henrik Zetterberg. Detroit iced it at 3-0 with a Luke Glendening empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Ericsson and Drew Miller. The three stars went to Mrazek (22 save shutout), Datsyuk, and Ericsson. The Red Wings took a 2-1 series lead.

Over in New York, the Islanders welcome the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jaroslav Halak tend the twines. Washington led off in the first period on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of John Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom. New York tied it with a Casey Cizikas goal, via Cal Clutterbuck and Nick Leddy. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime with a Backstrom goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Joel Ward and Ovechkin. The three stars went to Backstrom, Holtby (36 for 37 in saves), and Ovechkin. The series is now tied at 2 heading back to DC.

Westward to Chicago, as the Blackhawks bring in the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Scott Darling are in the creases. Nashville struck first in the first period on a Colin Wilson power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Ryan Ellis and Seth Jones. Chicago tied it on an Antoine Vermette goal, passed from Michal Rozsival and Patrick Sharp. The Predators regained the lead on a second period goal by James Neal, going in unassisted. The Blackhawks retied it in the third period as Brandon Saad scored his second of the playoffs, thanks to Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith. Chicago won in the sixth period on a Brent Seabrook goal, via Patrick Kane and Bryan Bickell. The three stars were Seabrook, Darling (50 for 52 in saves), and Rinne (45 for 48 in saves). The Blackhawks lead the series 3-1.

Finally, in Calgary, the Flames host the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Jonas Hiller protect the nets. Calgary was first to score in the first period on a Johnny Gaudreau power play goal, powered by Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler. Vancouver tied it with a power play goal by Henrik Sedin, assisted by Alexander Edler and Daniel Sedin. The Flames retook the lead on a Hudler power play goal, coming off of Wideman and Kris Russell. Calgary added on with a Sam Bennett goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by T.J. Brodie and Joe Colborne. This held up for a 3-1 win, with the three stars given to Hudler, Hiller (28 for 29 in saves), and Wideman. The Flames leave home with a 3-1 series lead. 

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

NHL Division Semifinals, Day 6

The league has finally deviated from the four games a day pattern, with just three Game 3s today. We begin with...

The Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Marc-Andre Fleury tend the twines. New York struck first in the first period on a Carl Hagelin goal, via Keith Yandle and Dan Girardi. The Rangers added on in the second period as Chris Kreider scored, thanks to Marc Staal and Girardi. Pittsburgh got on the board with a Patric Hornqvist goal in the third period, made possible by Sidney Crosby and Ian Cole. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars given to Lundqvist (23 for 24 in saves), Kreider, and Girardi. The Rangers retake the series lead at 2-1.

West to Minnesota, as the Wild welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Devan Dubnyk are the masked men. Minnesota got going in the second period on a Jason Pominville goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Zach Parise and Mikael Granlund. The Wild added on with a Parise goal, guided in by Pominville and Granlund. Minnesota iced it at 3-0 with an empty net goal in the third period by Nino Niederreiter, going in unassisted. The three stars were handed to Pominville, Parise, and Dubnyk (17 save shutout), while Granlund gets an honorable mention. The Wild hold a 2-1 series lead.

Finally, in Winnipeg, the Jets bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Ondrej Pavelec draw the starts. Winnipeg was first to score in the first period on a Lee Stempniak goal, assisted by Adam Lowry and Jacob Trouba. Anaheim tied it on a Cam Fowler goal, via Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks took the lead in the second period on a Corey Perry goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Hampus Lindholm and Francois Beauchemin. The Jets retied it with an unassisted power play goal from Tyler Myers. Winnipeg took the lead on a Blake Wheeler goal, coming off of Drew Stafford and Toby Enstrom. Anaheim tied it with a Silfverberg goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Ryan Kesler. The Jets retook the lead on a Bryan Little goal, going in unassisted. The Ducks pulled even in the third period on a Kesler goal, courtesy of Silfverberg and Cogliano. Anaheim won 5-4 in overtime with a Rickard Rakell goal, helped along by Beauchemin and Cogliano, the latter getting a sock trick. The three stars went to Kesler, Cogliano, and Silfverberg, while Beauchemin gets an honorable mention. The Ducks have pushed the Jets to the brink, leading as they do 3-0 in the series.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

NHL Division Semifinals, Day 5

The lesser seeds get their turn to host today, beginning with a Metropolitan Division matinee in...

New York, as the Islanders host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Jaroslav Halak tend the twines. New York got going in the second period on Kyle Okposo's second of the postseason, made possible by Lubomir Visnovsky and Josh Bailey. Washington tied it on a Nicklas Backstrom goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Mike Green and Joel Ward. The Islanders won 2-1 on a John Tavares overtime goal, via Nikolay Kulemin and Nick Leddy. The three stars went to Tavares, Halak (24 for 25 in saves), and Holtby (40 for 42 in saves). The Islanders carry a 2-1 series lead.

Out in Central Division, the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne faces a lesser foe in Scott Darling in goal. Chicago struck first in the first period on an Andrew Desjardins goal, via Marian Hossa and Johnny Oduya. Nashville tied it as Mike Ribeiro scored, with the help of Craig Smith. The Blackhawks retook the lead in the second period with a Jonathan Toews goal, his second of the postseason, courtesy of Hossa and Duncan Keith. The Predators tied it again on a Mattias Ekholm goal, passed from Ryan Ellis and Smith. Chicago retook the lead with a Brandon Saad goal, going in unassisted. The Blackhawks added on with a Brent Seabrook goal, made possible by Toews and Andrew Shaw. This stood for a 4-2 win, with the three stars given to Toews, Hossa, and Smith. The Blackhawks take a 2-1 series lead.

Back in the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Craig Anderson are the masked men. Ottawa was first to score in the first period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson. Montreal tied it in the third period as Dale Weise scored, with the help of Brandon Prust and Torrey Mitchell. The Canadiens won 2-1 in overtime on a Weise goal, his second of the game, via Alexei Emelin and Mitchell. The three stars were handed to Weise, Price (33 for 34 in saves), and Mitchell. The Canadiens have pushed the Senators to the edge with a 3-0 series lead.

Finally, in the Pacific Division, the Calgary Flames host the Vancouver Canucks. Eddie Lack and Jonas Hiller are between the pipes. Calgary started in the first period with a Brandon Bollig goal, assisted by Mason Raymond and T.J. Brodie. Vancouver tied it on a Shawn Matthias goal, fueled by Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino. The Flames retook the lead on a Brodie goal, passed from David Schlemko and Mikael Backlund. Calgary added on in the third period with a Sam Bennett goal, coming off of Joe Colborne. The Flames extended the lead as Sean Monahan scored a power play goal, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and and Kris Russell. The Canucks got one back on a Jannik Hansen goal, guided in by Bo Horvat and Ronalds Kenins. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars handed to Brodie, Bennett, and Monahan. The Flames are now up 2-1 in the series.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Major League Soccer Week 7

Nine games in the rotation this week, beginning with Friday's...

New York Red Bulls hosting the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Luis Robles are the keepers. New York had a yellow card go to Damien Perrinelle in the eleventh minute for a foul. The Red Bulls started on a Sacha Kljestan goal, courtesy of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Felipe. New York added on with a Mike Grella goal, set up by Lloyd Sam. In the thirty-sixth minute, Fatai Atashe of San Jose received a yellow card for his foul. The Earthquakes took a yellow card for a fifty-fourth minute foul by Sanna Nyassi. This made it 2-0, the final, with the man of the match being Kljestan.

The next six games were on Saturday, beginning with DC United welcoming the Houston Dynamo. Tyler Deric faces a lesser foe in Andrew Dykstra in goal. In the ninth minute, Houston's Ricardo Clark took a yellow card for a foul. DC began in the thirty-sixth minute on a Chris Rolfe goal. United saw a yellow card go to Perry Kitchen in the fiftieth minute for a foul. The Dynamo tied it on a sixty-fifth minute goal by Clark. The final stood at 1-1 and the man of the match was Clark.

West to Columbus, as the Crew SC bring in Orlando City SC. Donovan Ricketts and Steve Clark are the gloved men. In the thirty-second minute, Columbus opened with a Federico Higuain goal, passed from Ethan Finlay. In the thirty-fourth minute, the Crew had a yellow card given to Hernan Grana for an argument, while Orlando City's Rafael Ramos was ejected on a straight red card for a foul. Columbus added on in the fifty-fifth minute on a Justin Meram goal, set up by Kei Kamara. Orlando City saw Amobi Okugo take a yellow card for a foul in the fifty-eighth minute. The Crew extended their lead as Kamara scored in the sixtieth minute, thanks to Higuain. The final stood at 3-0, and Higuain was the man of the match with a goal and assist.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas hosts Toronto FC. Joe Bendik and Chris Seitz are in goal. Dallas led off in the first minute on a Fabian Castillo goal, courtesy of Moises Hernandez. Dallas added on with another Castillo goal in the tenth minute, set up by Blas Perez. Dallas extended the lead as Perez scored in the twenty-seventh minute. After a lengthy lightning storm delay, Toronto's Michael Bradley received a yellow card for a foul in the seventieth minute, as did Nick Hagglund in the eightieth minute, also for a foul. Toronto got on the board with an eighty-third minute goal by Sebastian Giovinco, passed from Hagglund. Toronto pulled closer with another Giovinco goal in the eighty-ninth minute. In stoppage time, Damien Perquis of Toronto received a yellow card for a foul. Dallas held on for a 3-2 win in the crazy game, and Castillo was the man of the match for his pre-storm brace.

Northwest to Colorado, as the Rapids welcome the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Clint Irwin are the keepers. Seattle struck first with a Lamar Neagle goal in the fifth minute, coming off of Clint Dempsey. The Sounders saw Chad Marshall take a yellow card for his fourteenth minute foul. Colorado tied it on a twenty-second minute goal by Gabriel Torres, passed from Dillon Powers. Seattle retook the lead on another Neagle goal in the twenty-fifth minute. The Sounders took another yellow card in the sixty-sixth minute for an Andy Rose foul. Seattle added on with an Obafemi Martins goal, fueled by Rose in the seventy-third minute. The Sounders had another yellow card go to Tyrone Mears in the seventy-fourth minute for a foul. This was good for a 3-1 win, with the man of the match being Neagle for his brace.

Over to Salt Lake, where Real brings in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Nick Rimando are in the six-yard boxes. Vancouver's Russell Teibert took a yellow card in the sixth minute for a foul. In the forty-first minute, Salt Lake's Jamison Olave took a yellow card for dissent. Real went down to ten men as Sebastian Saucedo received a straight red card in the seventy-sixth minute for his foul. The Whitecaps struck first in the eightieth minute with a Darren Mattocks goal, set up by Teibert. Vancouver had a yellow card given to Sam Adekugbe for his eighty-third minute foul. Salt Lake went down to nine men as Olave committed a foul in the eighty-ninth minute, earning a second yellow card and an ejection. In stoppage time, Kyle Beckerman of Real took a yellow card for a foul. The final stood at 1-0 for the Whitecaps, Ousted was the man of the match with a four-save clean sheet.

Closing out Saturday, the Los Angeles Galaxy host Sporting Kansas City. Luis Marin and Jaime Penedo are called on for the starts in goal. Los Angeles began in the ninth minute on a Baggio Husidic goal. Kansas City tied it on a Krisztian Nemeth goal in the twenty-second minute, courtesy of Benny Feilhaber and Dominic Dwyer. Sporting's Roger Espinoza took a yellow card in the thirtieth minute for a foul. The Galaxy took a yellow card for a Dan Gargan foul in the thirty-second minute. Los Angeles' Juninho took a yellow card for unsporting behavior in the eighty-third minute, as did Kansas City's Dwyer. In stoppage time, the Galaxy gained the lead with an Omar Gonzalez goal, set up Juninho. This gave them a 2-1 win, with the man of the match being Gonzales for his late winner.

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Union welcome the New England Revolution. Bobby Shuttleworth and John McCarthy are between the posts. New England's Lee Nguyen took a yellow card for a thirty-seventh minute foul. Philadelphia had a yellow card go to Raymon Gaddis in the forty-first minute for a foul. The Union struck first in the forty-second minute on a Cristian Maidana goal. The Revolution tied it in the sixty-fourth minute on a Charles Davies goal, set up by Teal Bunbury. New England took the lead on a Bunbury goal in the seventy-sixth minute, made possible by Diego Fagundez. Philadelphia saw yellow cards go to Conor Casey in the eighty-fourth minute and Sheanon Williams in the ninetieth minute, both for fouls. The Revolution took a yellow card as Bunbury was caught wasting time in stoppage time. New England won 2-1, and Bunbury's goal and assist earned him the man of the match title.

Finally, New York City FC brings in the Portland Timbers. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Josh Saunders man the nets. Portland had a yellow card go to Alvas Powell in the sixty-eighth minute. In the seventy-ninth minute, Dairon Asprilla of the Timbers scored. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the man of the match being Kwarasey for his five-save clean sheet.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. 

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.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

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.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

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.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.