Sunday, May 3, 2015

NHL Division Finals, Day 4

Three games today, beginning in...

Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price are in the blue paint. Montreal struck first in the first period on a Jeff Petry goal, assisted by Torrey Mitchell and Brandon Prust. Tampa Bay tied it on a Valtteri Filppula power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Victor Hedman and Alex Killorn. The Lightning took the lead with a Steven Stamkos goal in the second period, made possible by Jason Garrison and Braydon Coburn. Tampa Bay added on with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Tyler Johnson and Stamkos on the power play. The Lightning extended the lead as Hedman scored a power play goal, with the help Killorn and Filppula. Tampa Bay padded the lead on Kucherov's second of the game and third of the postseason in the third period, a power play goal fueled by Johnson and Stamkos. The Canadiens got one back with a Tom Gilbert goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Alexei Emelin and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Lightning finished it at 6-2 with a J.T. Brown goal, passed from Filppula and Brian Boyle. The three stars went to Stamkos, Kucherov, and Filppula, while Hedman, Killorn, and Johnson get the honorable mentions. The Lightning take a 2-0 series lead with them back home.

Southwest to Chicago, where the Blackhawks welcome the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Corey Crawford are the masked men. Chicago got going in the second period as Jonathan Toews scored his fourth of the postseason, a shorthanded goal set up by Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks added on with a Patrick Kane goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Duncan Keith. Minnesota got on the board in the third period with a power play goal by Matt Dumba, his second of the postseason, powered by Ryan Suter and the goalie Dubnyk. Chicago answered on the fourth of the playoffs by Patrick Sharp, made possible by Teuvo Teravainen. The Blackhawks iced it at 4-1 with a Kane empty net goal, his second of the game and fifth of the postseason, with assists provided by Sharp and Niklas Hjalmarsson. The three stars went to Kane, Crawford (30 for 31 in saves), and Sharp. The Blackhawks travel carrying a 2-0 series lead.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Calgary Flames. Karri Ramo and Frederik Andersen are given the starting nods. Anaheim was first to score in the first period with a Matt Beleskey goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks added on with a Hampus Lindholm goal, assisted by Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Anaheim iced it at 3-0 with a Nate Thompson empty net goal, set up by Perry and Getzlaf. The three stars belonged to Andersen (30 save shutout), Perry, and Getzlaf. The Ducks own a series lead of 2-0 with which they'll travel.

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Major League Soccer Week 9

We begin the week with two games on Friday. I must warn you that tomorrow's coverage is likely to be late due to me packing up and moving back home for the summer, as part of the great college ritual. For the first of the games...

The Houston Dynamo host FC Dallas. Dan Kennedy and Tyler Deric are the solid goalies. In the ninth minute, Dallas began with a Ryan Hollingshead goal, via Fabian Castillo. Dallas added on in the twenty-first minute on a David Texeira goal, passed from Castillo and Mauro Diaz. Houston got one back with a thirty-second minute goal by Giles Barnes. Dallas' Moises Hernandez was assessed a yellow card for his thirty-ninth minute handball. Dallas replied with a goal in the fifty-second minute by Diaz, assisted by Texeira. Dallas extended the lead as Castillo scored, thanks to Diaz and Hollingshead in the fifty-fifth minute. This made it 4-1, the final, with the man of the match being Castillo for assisting the first two goals and adding insurance later.

Closing out Friday, Real Salt Lake welcomes the San Jose Earthquakes. David Bingham and Nick Rimando are the gloved men. Salt Lake had a yellow card given to Kyle Beckerman for a foul in the first minute. San Jose started with a nineteenth minute goal by Chris Wondolowski. In the twenty-first minute, the Earthquakes' Innocent Emeghara took a yellow card for arguing. Real had a yellow card for a forty-eighth minute foul by Jordan Allen. Salt Lake tied the game as Victor Bernardez put the ball in his own net for an own goal in the seventy-first minute. The final stood at 1-1, and the man of the match honors went to Rimando for one save on two shots to give his team a chance at a result.

Five games occurred Saturday, beginning with the Philadelphia Union bringing in Toronto FC. Chris Konopka and John McCarthy are the unknown goalies. Toronto started with a Sebastian Giovinco goal in the thirty-fourth minute. Toronto's Nick Hagglund took a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. Philadelphia had a yellow card given to Raymon Gaddis in the fifty-sixth minute for his foul. The final stood at 1-0, and Giovinco was the man of the match for his winner.

Over in DC, United hosts the Columbus Crew SC. Steve Clark and Bill Hamid are the veteran goalies. DC opened in the fifteenth minute on a Fabian Espindola goal, courtesy of Chris Rolfe. United added on with a Sean Franklin goal in the forty-first minute, set up by Espindola. DC saw a yellow card assessed to Espindola for encroachment in the seventy-first minute. United took another yellow card in the ninetieth minute as Franklin was caught wasting time. The final stood at 2-0 for DC, and Espindola was the man of the match with a goal and an assist.

North a bit to New England, where the Revolution welcome the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Bobby Shuttleworth are the gloved men. New England was first to score on a ninth minute goal by Charlie Davies, set up by London Woodberry. In the thirty-sixth minute, Andy Dorman of the Revolution had a yellow card for a foul. New York took a yellow card on a forty-fifth minute Dane Richards foul. The Red Bulls saw another yellow card go to Karl Ouimette in the fifty-second minute for a foul. New England added onto their lead in the sixtieth minute as Teal Bunbury scored, thanks to Lee Nguyen and Scott Caldwell. In the sixty-second minute, New York's Sacha Kljestan took a yellow card for a foul. The Red Bulls got on the board in the seventy-third minute with a redeeming goal by Kljestan, assisted by Mike Grella. The Revolution saw three more yellow cards, all for fouls, going to Juan Agudelo in the seventy-sixth minute, Chris Tierney in the eighty-seventh minute, and Bunbury in stoppage time. The final stood at 2-1 for the Revolution, and the man of the man was Bunbury for the winner.

Way out west, the Los Angeles Galaxy bring in the Colorado Rapids. Clint Irwin and Jaime Penedo are between the posts. Los Angeles had a yellow card for a Dan Gargan foul in the thirteenth minute. Colorado's Nick LaBrocca took a yellow card his foul in the twenty-fifth minute. The Rapids struck first in the fortieth minute with a Gabriel Torres, goal, courtesy of Michael Harrington. In the forty-ninth minute, Sam Cronin of Colorado took a yellow card for a foul. The Galaxy tied it in the seventy-fifth minute with an Alan Gordon goal, passed from Stefan Ishizaki. Los Angeles' Robbie Rogers took a yellow card for his eighty-second minute foul. The Rapids saw James Riley get booked on a yellow card for time wasting in the eighty-eighth minute.

The last Saturday game has the Portland Timbers hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Adam Larsen Kwarasey are the keepers. Vancouver saw Ethen Sampson take a yellow card for a foul in the nineteenth minute. Portland took a booking for a Rodney Wallace forty-fourth minute foul. The Whitecaps received a yellow card for a foul by Pa Modou Kah in the fifty-seventh minute. The game ended in a scoreless draw, and Kwarasey was the man of the match for a clean sheet with two saves.

On Sunday, we began with Sporting Kansas City welcoming the Chicago Fire. Sean Johnson and Tim Melia are in the six-yard boxes. Chicago had a yellow card for persistent infringement by Adailton in the thirty-second minute. Kansas City saw Seth Sinovic take a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute foul. The Fire had another yellow card in the fifty-eighth minute for time wasting by Chris Ritter. Sporting dented the scoreboard in the seventy-fifth minute on a Paulo Nagamura goal, set up by Jalil Anibaba and Graham Zusi. Chicago went down to ten men in the eighty-ninth minute as David Accam drew a red card for his fight. Kansas City took a yellow card in stoppage time for a Nagamura foul. The final stood at 1-0, with Nagamura being the man of the match.

Finally, New York City FC brings in the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei faces a lesser foe in Josh Saunders in goal. Seattle got going with a twenty-third minute goal by Obafemi Martins, assisted by Marco Pappa. In the twenty-eighth minute, Kwame Watson-Siriboe took a yellow card for his foul for New York City. The Sounders had yellow cards for time wasting by Pappa in the thirty-ninth minute and a forty-fourth minute foul by Tyrone Mears. New York City saw another yellow card on a Mix Diskerud foul in the fiftieth minute. New York City tied it on a Mehdi Ballouchy goal in the fifty-fourth minute, passed from Patrick Mullins. Seattle retook the lead in the fifty-eighth minute as Clint Dempsey scored, thanks to Pappa and Martins. The Sounders added on with a Martins goal, coming off of Dempsey. In the seventy-ninth minute, Seattle's Martins received a yellow card for a dive. New York City's Kwadwo Poku was booked in the eighty-fifth minute on a yellow card for a foul. In the eighty-eighth minute, New York City went down to ten men as Watson-Siriboe took a second yellow card for another foul. The final remained 3-1 for the Sounders, and Martins was the man of the match with a brace and an assist.

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Saturday, May 2, 2015

NHL Division Finals Day 3

Only one game in the NHL playoffs today, as the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist are the masked men. New York opened in the first period with a Chris Kreider goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Jesper Fast and Derek Stepan. The Rangers added on with an unassisted power play goal by Dan Boyle. Washington got on the board in the second period with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Jason Chimera. New York shot back in the third period on a Derick Brassard goal, his fourth of the postseason, fueled by Martin St. Louis and Rick Nash. The Capitals got one back on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Joel Ward and Brooks Orpik. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2. The three stars went to Brassard, Boyle, and Kreider. The series is tied at 1 heading to Washington.

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Friday, May 1, 2015

NHL Division Finals, Day 2

Two more games today, beginning in...

Montreal, as the Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price guard the cages. Tampa Bay dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Tyler Johnson goal, his seventh of the postseason, assisted by Matthew Carle and Andrej Sustr. Montreal tied it on a Max Pacioretty goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by P.K. Subban and Tom Gilbert. The Lightning won in the fifth period, the second overtime, with a Nikita Kucherov goal, coming off of Valtteri Filppula. This made it a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Kucherov, Bishop (43 for 44 in saves), and Johnson. Tampa Bay begins with a 1-0 series lead.

The other game has the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Corey Crawford are the goalies with alliterative names. Chicago was first to score in the first period on a Brandon Saad goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Marian Hossa. The Blackhawks added on with a Patrick Kane goal, his third of the playoffs, fueled by Brad Richards and Antoine Vermette. Chicago extended the lead as Marcus Kruger scored, thanks to Andrew Shaw and Duncan Keith. Minnesota got on the board in the second period with a Jason Zucker goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Thomas Vanek. The Wild pulled closer with a Zach Parise power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Vanek and Mikko Koivu. Minnesota tied it on a Mikael Granlund goal, his second of the postseason, helped along by Parise. The Blackhawks reclaimed the lead with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, passed from Patrick Sharp and Keith. This made it 4-3, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Parise, Keith, and Vanek. Chicago owns a 1-0 series lead.

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

NHL Division Finals, Day 1

It's the first day of the second round, with two of the four series getting going. We begin with...

The Metropolitan Division, as the New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Henrik Lundqvist tend the twines. Washington began in the first period with an Alex Ovechkin power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by John Carlson and the goalie Holtby. New York tied it on a Jesper Fast goal, passed from Kevin Hayes and Carl Hagelin. The Capitals won 2-1 with a Joel Ward goal, his second of the playoffs, coming with two seconds left via Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. The three stars went to Ovechkin, Holtby (31 for 32 in saves), and Ward. Washington takes a thrilling 1-0 series lead.

Out in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks host the Calgary Flames. Jonas Hiller faces his former team and Frederik Andersen in goal. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Matt Beleskey goal, courtesy of Kyle Palmieri and Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks added on with a Patrick Maroon goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Anaheim extended the lead with a Perry goal in the second period, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Simon Despres and Getzlaf. Karri Ramo relieved Hiller in goal. The Ducks padded the lead with an Emerson Etem goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Francois Beauchemin and Lindholm. Anaheim kept going in the third period on Perry's second of the game and sixth of the playoffs, a power play goal powered by Getzlaf, who got a sock trick, and Cam Fowler. The Ducks continued with a Getzlaf power play goal, his second of the postseason, set up by Sami Vatanen and Perry. Calgary avoided the shutout with Sam Bennett's third of the playoffs, assisted by Deryk Engelland. This only made it 6-1, the final, with the three stars going to Perry, Getzlaf, and Lindholm. Anaheim cruised to a 1-0 series lead.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Tampa Bay Lightning VS. Detroit Red Wings Game 7

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs comes down to one game at Amalie Arena, as the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Ben Bishop get the starting nods in goal. Tampa Bay got going in the third period with a Braydon Coburn goal, assisted by Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn. The Lightning finished it at 2-0 with an Anton Stralman empty net goal, set up by the goalie Bishop. The three stars went to Bishop (31 save shutout), Coburn, and Mrazek (15 for 16 in saves). The Lightning are the last team to advance to the second round, and they face their eliminators from last year, the Montreal Canadiens, for the Atlantic Division crown.

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New York Red Bulls VS Colorado Rapids

We have a midweek game this week, with the New York Red Bulls hosting the Colorado Rapids. Clint Irwin and Luis Robles are the solid goalies. Colorado started in the twenty-fifth minute on a Gabriel Torres goal, via Dillon Powers. New York tied it with a Bradley Wright-Phillips penalty kick goal in the thirtieth minute. In the fifty-fourth minute, the Rapids saw a yellow card for a Nick LaBrocca foul. The Red Bulls received a yellow card for a foul by Lloyd Sam in the fifty-seventh minute. Colorado had two yellow cards in stoppage time, going to Bobby Burling for a foul and Lucas Pittinari for encroachment. The final stood at 1-1, with the man of the match being Irwin for his four saves on five shots to preserve the tie.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.