Wednesday, October 14, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 8

Four games on for this Wednesday, beginning in...

Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Sergei Bobrovsky make the starts. Columbus was first to score in the first period on a Brandon Saad power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen. Ottawa tied it with a Marc Methot goal, guided in by Mika Zibanejad and Erik Karlsson. The Blue Jackets took the lead back on a Boone Jenner goal, his second of the year, fueled by Johansen and Dalton Prout. The Senators tied it again in the second period with a Milan Michalek power play goal, his second of the season, made possible by Bobby Ryan and Karlsson. Columbus gained the lead with a Brandon Dubinsky goal, coming off of Cam Atkinson. Ottawa tied it as Kyle Turris scored his fourth of the year, thanks to Mark Stone. The Senators took the lead on a Zibanejad goal, helped along by Ryan and Karlsson, the latter getting a sock trick. Ottawa added on with a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal in the third period, his second of the season, with helpers from Mark Borowiecki and Jared Cowen. The Senators extended the lead as Mike Hoffman scored, with the help of Stone and Turris. Ottawa padded the lead on a Ryan empty net goal, set up by Zibanejad and Karlsson. This finished it at 7-3, with the three stars going to Karlsson, Zibanejad, and Ryan, while Stone, Turris, and Johansen get the honorable mentions.

East to Philadelphia, where the Flyers welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Michal Neuvirth receive the starting nods. Philadelphia got going in the second period on a Sam Gagner power play goal, powered by Michael Del Zotto and Brayden Schenn. The Flyers added on with a Claude Giroux goal, assisted by Michael Raffl and Jakub Voracek. Philadelphia iced it at 3-0 with a Matt Read goal in the third period, his second of the campaign, fueled by Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier. The three stars went to Neuvirth (30 save shutout), Gagner, and Giroux.

Way out west, the Colorado Avalanche bring in the Boston Bruins. Jonas Gustavsson is mismatched with Semyon Varlamov in goal. Boston struck first in the first period on a Kevan Miller goal, assisted by Zdeno Chara and Brett Connolly. The Bruins added on with a Jimmy Hayes goal, passed from Chara and Colin Miller. Boston extended the lead as Tyler Randell scored in the second period, thanks to Adam McQuaid. The Bruins padded the lead on a Chris Kelly goal, via Ryan Spooner and Hayes. Boston chased Varlamov with a Spooner goal, coming off of Hayes. Reto Berra came on in relief. Colorado got on the board with an unassisted Gabriel Landeskog power play goal, his fourth of the season. The Avalanche pulled closer in the third period on a John Mitchell goal, his third of the year, made possible by Nikita Zadorov and Tyson Barrie. The Bruins iced it at 6-2 with a David Krejci empty net goal, his third of the campaign, set up by Hayes, who got a sock trick. The three stars went to Hayes, Spooner, and Chara.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Anton Khudobin man the creases. Arizona drew first blood on an Anthony Duclair goal in the first period, coming off of Martin Hanzal. The Coyotes added on with another Duclair goal, a power play goal powered by Max Domi and Hanzal. Arizona extended the lead on a Domi goal, his second of the season, guided in by Mikkel Boedker and Zbynek Michalek. Frederik Andersen replaced Khudobin in goal. The Coyotes padded the lead in the second period when Duclair completed his hat trick, with the help of Tobias Rieder and Hanzal, the latter getting a sock trick. The score leveled off at 4-0, the eventual final, with the three stars awarded to Duclair, Smith (37 save shutout), and Hanzal, while Domi gets an honorable mention.

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MLS Midweek Games October 14, 2015

Three games on this Wednesday, beginning with...

Toronto FC hosting the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Chris Konopka are in goal. In the twenty-sixth minute, Jackson of Toronto took a yellow card for dissent. Toronto's Jozy Altidore was ejected from the game in the thirty-fourth minute from the bench, for abusive language. In the fortieth minute, Kemar Lawrence of New York took a yellow card for his foul. Toronto was first to score in the fifty-first minute on a Herculez Gomez goal, via Jackson. Toronto's Benoit Cheyrou took a yellow card for his sixty-second minute foul. The Red Bulls saw a yellow card for dissent in the seventieth minute by Dax McCarty. Toronto added on with a Sebastian Giovinco goal in the seventy-eighth minute, via Jonathan Osorio. New York got on the board with an eighty-sixth minute goal from Shaun Wright-Phillips. This only made it 2-1, the final, with Giovinco named man of the match for his winner.

Down in Texas, FC Dallas welcomes the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Jesse Gonzalez are in the six-yard boxes. Dallas started in the thirty-second minute on a Michael Barrios goal, fueled by Mauro Diaz and Ryan Hollingshead. Vancouver took a yellow card for a Pa Modou Kah foul in the forty-sixth minute. Dallas added on with a Diaz goal in the fifty-second minute. The Whitecaps' Jordan Harvey received a yellow card for his fifty-fifth minute foul. Dallas had a yellow card for a Tesho Akindele foul in the sixty-fourth minute. In the eightieth minute, Je-Vaughn Watson of Dallas took a yellow card for time wasting. Dallas won 2-0, with Diaz's goal and assist making him the man of the match.

Finally, Real Salt Lake brings in the Portland Timbers. Adam Larsen Kwarasey and Nick Rimando are the gloved men. Portland had a yellow card go to Alvas Powell in the twenty-eighth minute for a foul. Salt Lake went down to ten men in the fifty-second minute when Jamison Olave got a red card for denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The Timbers cashed in with a Fanendo Adi penalty kick goal in the fifty-fourth minute. George Fochive of Portland had a yellow card for his seventy-second minute foul. Real had a yellow card given to Justen Glad in the eighty-first minute for a foul. The Timbers saw a yellow card assessed to Maximiliano Urruti in the eighty-ninth minute for time wasting. The final remained at 1-0, with the man of the match being Adi.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

2015/16 KHL Season - Day 51

Seven more games go today, beginning with...

Avangard Omsk hosting Admiral Vladivostok. Ivan Nalimov and Dominik Furch are in the creases. Omsk led off with a Denis Parshin power play goal, powered by Ilya Zubov and Denis Kulyash. Vladivostok tied it on an Alexander Kuznetsov goal, going in unassisted. Admiral took the lead in the second period with a shorthanded and unassisted Kuznetsov goal, his second of the game. Avangard retied it on a Sergei Shirokov power play goal, helped along by Vladimir Sobotka and Nikolai Lemtyugov. Omsk took the lead on Parshin's second of the game, an unassisted goal. Vladivostok retied it on an Oskars Bartulis goal, via Konstantin Makarov and Kuznetsov. Avangard regained the lead in the third period on a Sobotka goal, assisted by Zubov and Alexander Perezhogin. Omsk added on with a Shirokov goal, with a lone assist from Zubov, who got a sock trick with his power play assist. Admiral pulled back on a Stanislav Alshevsky goal, passed from Dmitry Sayustov. Vladivostok tied it with a Makarov goal, courtesy of Artyom Podshendyalov. The tie went to a shootout, where Artur Lauta and Sobotka sealed a 6-5 win for Avangard. The three stars went to Parshin, Sobotka, and Kuznetsov, while Zubov, Shirokov, and Makarov all get honorable mentions.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Jan Laco protect the nets. Khabarovsk started in the first period on an Oleg Li goal, coming off of Vitaly Shulakov and Vyacheslav Ushenin. Astana tied it with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Brandon Bochenski and Dustin Boyd. Amur took the lead back as Vyacheslav Ushenin scored, thanks to Vladislav Ushenin. Barys retied it in the second period on a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, with a lone assist by Konstantin Romanov. Khabarovsk took the lead in the third period on an Artyom Zub goal, via Shulakov and Vladimir Pervushin. This made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Vyacheslav Ushenin, Shulakov, and Metsola (26 for 28 in saves).

Back north, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vasily Demchenko and Vitaly Kolesnik are in goal. Yaroslavl got going in the second period with a Daniil Apalkov goal, via Mikhail Grigoryev and Yegor Averin. Lokomotiv added on with a Petri Kontiola goal, with a lone assist by Averin. Yaroslavl extended the lead as Yegor Korshkov scored in the third period, thanks to Kontiola. The final held at 3-0, with the three stars given to Kolesnik (18 save shutout), Averin, and Kontiola.

Continuing to Helsinki, where Jokerit hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Henrik Karlsson tend the twines. Helsinki dented the scoreboard on a second period goal by Topi Jaakola, helped along by Mathis Olimb on the power play. Jokerit added on with a Jesper Jensen goal, courtesy of Philip Larsen. Helsinki extended the lead on another Jaakola goal, passed from Brandon Kozun and Tommi Huhtala. Magnitogorsk got on the board with a third period goal from Vladislav Kaletnik, going in unassisted. Metallurg pulled closer with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, assisted by Danis Zaripov and Jan Kovar. Jokerit replied with a Huhtala goal, coming off of Niko Kapanen. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars awarded to Jaakola, Huhtala, and Jensen.

Out in Latvia, Dinamo Riga brings in Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Niklas Svedberg and Joacim Eriksson are between the pipes. Riga opened in the first period on a Kaspars Saulietis goal, assisted by Kristaps Sotnieks and Guntis Galvins. Ufa tied it on an Andreas Engqvist power play goal, powered by Sami Lepisto and Linus Omark. Dinamo took the lead with a Steven Seigo power play goal, helped along by Tomas Kundratek and Miks Indrasis. Riga added on in the second period with a Mikelis Redlihs goal, with a lone assist by Krisjanis Redlihs. Salavat Yulaev got one back on an Igor Grigorenko goal, made possible by Denis Bodrov and Lepisto. Ufa tied it on a Dmitry Makarov goal, passed from Teemu Hartikainen and Kirill Tsulygin. Salavat Yulaev gained the lead on an Engqvist goal, his second of the game, fueled by Grigorenko and Omark. Ufa extended the lead as Lepisto scored, thanks to Omark, who got a sock trick, and Grigorenko. The final held at 5-3, with the three stars being Engqvist, Lepisto, and Grigorenko, while Omark gets an honorable mention.

Back in Russia, Spartak Moscow welcomes SKA St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Evgeny Ivannikov draw the starts in goal. St. Petersburg drew first blood in the second period on an Alexander Barabanov power play goal, powered by Joakim Lindstrom and Yegor Yakovlev. Moscow tied it on a Charles Genoway goal, made possible by Konstantin Glazachev and Lukas Radil. SKA took the lead back in the third period on a Dmitry Kalinin power play goal, with a lone assist by Lindstrom. St. Petersburg added on with a Jarno Koskiranta goal, helped along by Roman Rukavishnikov. The final remained at 3-1 for SKA, with the three stars going to Koskinen (18 for 19 in saves), Lindstrom, and Kalinin.

Finally, the Sochi Leopards host Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Konstantin Barulin are the veteran goalies. Sochi began in the first period with an Ilya Krikunov power play goal, powered by Andrei Kostitsyn and Clay Wilson. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a Pavel Zdunov goal, coming off of Evgeny Grigorenko. The Leopards won 2-1 in the shootout on tallies by Ben Maxwell and Kostitsyn. The three stars were Kostitsyn, Barulin (29 for 30 in saves), and Sudnitsin (25 for 26 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 7

As the first full week of the season comes to a close, we get nine games. We begin with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. Al Montoya and Eddie Lack are the backups in goal. Florida led off in the first period on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his second of the season, coming off of Brian Campbell and Brandon Pirri. Carolina tied it with an Elias Lindholm goal in the second period, via Brad Malone and Justin Faulk. The Panthers retook the lead in the third period as Connor Brickley scored, thanks to Dmitry Kulikov and Derek MacKenzie. Florida added on with an Aleksander Barkov goal, passed from Jaromir Jagr and Erik Gudbranson. The Panthers finished it at 4-1 on a Jussi Jokinen empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Reilly Smith. The three stars went to Brickley, Barkov, and Montoya (22 for 23 in saves).

Up in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne faces a lesser foe in Keith Kinkaid in goal. Nashville struck first in the first period on a Roman Josi power play goal, powered by Shea Weber and Filip Forsberg. The Predators added on with a Josi shorthanded empty net goal, set up by Paul Gaustad and the goalie Rinne. New Jersey got on the board with a power play goal from Kyle Palmieri, made possible by Andy Greene and Jacob Josefson. Nashville replied on an unassisted empty net goal by Eric Nystrom. This made it 3-1, the final, with Josi, Rinne (22 for 23 in saves), and Kinkaid (17 for 18 in saves) receiving the three stars.

Nearby, the New York Rangers bring in the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Henrik Lundqvist are in goal. New York started in the first period on a Mats Zuccarello goal, his third of the season, fueled by Derick Brassard and Rick Nash. Winnipeg tied it on a Nikolaj Ehlers power play goal, with helpers provided by Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford. The Jets took the lead in the second period on a Bryan Little shorthanded goal, set up by Jacob Trouba. Winnipeg added on in the third period on a Little power play goal, powered by Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler. The Jets extended the lead on a Mark Stuart empty net goal, with a lone assist by Adam Lowry. This gave them a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Little, Hutchinson (40 for 41 in saves), and Ehlers.

West to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury guard the cages. Montreal was first to score in the first period on a Max Pacioretty goal, his third of the season, coming off of Brendan Gallagher and Andrei Markov. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on an unassisted goal by Beau Bennett. The Canadiens took the lead back on Pacioretty's second of the game and fourth of the year, a power play goal powered by Jeff Petry and Nathan Beaulieu. The Penguins tied it again with a Kris Letang goal, helped along by Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. Montreal took the lead back on a third period goal by Tomas Fleischmann, via David Desharnais and Dale Weise. They held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Pacioretty, Price (31 for 33 in saves), and Fleischmann.

Backtracking to DC, as the Washington Capitals welcome the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Braden Holtby are in the blue paint. San Jose began in the first period on a Joe Thornton goal, his second of the season, assisted by Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski on the power play. The Sharks added on in the second period with a Mike Brown goal, passed from Chris Tierney and Barclay Goodrow. San Jose extended the lead as Tomas Hertl scored his second of the year, thanks to Tommy Wingels and Matt Nieto. The Sharks padded the lead on an unassisted Nieto empty net goal in the third period. San Jose finished it at 5-0 with a Tierney empty net goal, set up by Goodrow. The three stars went to Jones (31 save shutout), Tierney, and Nieto, while Goodrow gets an honorable mention.

Out west, the Detroit Red Wings bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Jimmy Howard protect the nets. Detroit got going in the second period on a Gustav Nyquist power play goal, powered by Niklas Kronwall and Henrik Zetterberg. The Red Wings added on with a Zetterberg goal in the third period, his second of the season, made possible by Dylan Larkin and Kyle Quincey. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Ryan Callahan goal, his second of the year, via Jonathan Drouin and Anton Stralman. Detroit iced it at 3-1 with a Quincey empty net goal, set up by Drew Miller and Brad Richards. The three stars belonged to Zetterberg, Howard (20 for 21 in saves), and Quincey.

Down in Dallas, the Stars host the Edmonton Oilers. Anders Nilsson and Kari Lehtonen are between the pipes. Dallas opened in the first period on a Jason Spezza goal, guided in by Mattias Janmark and John Klingberg. The Stars added on with a Jamie Benn goal in the second period, his second of the season, assisted by Jykri Jokipakka and Tyler Seguin. Edmonton got on the board with an Oscar Klefbom goal, via Benoit Pouliot and Nail Yakupov. The Oilers tied it on a Connor McDavid goal, passed from Andrej Sekera. Dallas took the lead back on a Spezza goal, his second of the game, in the third period, coming off of Antoine Roussel and Ales Hemsky. The Stars iced it at 4-2 with a Spezza empty net goal, set up by Lehtonen. The three stars went to Spezza, Nilsson (48 for 51 in saves), and Lehtonen (26 for 28 in saves).

Up in Alberta, the Calgary Flames welcome the St. Louis Blues. Brian Elliott and Jonas Hiller are the veteran goalies. Calgary drew first blood in the first period on a Mason Raymond goal, assisted by Dennis Wideman and Michael Frolik. St. Louis tied it with a Scottie Upshall goal, made possible by Paul Stastny and Troy Brouwer. The Flames took the lead back on a Jiri Hudler power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and Wideman. The Blues retied it with a second period goal by Brouwer, his second of the year, with a lone assist by David Backes. St. Louis took the lead on a Colton Parayko power play goal, guided in by Jori Lehtera and Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues added on with a Parayko goal, his second of the game, fueled by Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko. Calgary got one back in the third period on a David Jones goal, courtesy of Frolik. They failed to tie it, losing 4-3, with the three stars being Parayko, Brouwer, and Wideman, while Frolik gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick are the American goalies. Vancouver dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Adam Cracknell goal, his second of the season, fueled by Brandon Prust and Matt Bartkowski. The Canucks added on with an Alexander Edler goal, via Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows. Vancouver finished it at 3-0 with a Derek Dorsett empty net goal in the third period, set up by Jannik Hansen. The three stars were Miller (15 save shutout), Cracknell, and Edler.

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2015/16 KHL Season - Day 50

We're already fifty days in now, and we have five games to play today. We begin with...

Lada Togliatti hosting Medvescak Zagreb. Danny Taylor and Edgars Masalskis are in goal. Togliatti opened with a Stanislav Bocharov goal, courtesy of Alexander Streltsov and Alexei Volgin. Zagreb tied it with a Marek Kvapil power play goal, powered by Milan Jurcina. Lada took the lead back in the third period with an Anton Shenfeld goal, via Dmitry Vorobyov and Georgy Belousov on the power play. Togliatti added on with an Anton Krysanov power play goal, assisted by Shenfeld and Belousov. Lada extended the lead as Alexei Mastryukov scored, thanks to Yefim Gurkin. Togliatti padded the lead on another Bocharov goal, going in unassisted. Medvescak got one back with a Gilbert Brule goal, made possible by Radek Smolenak and Kvapil. The final held at 5-2, with the three stars going to Bocharov, Shenfeld, and Kvapil, while Belousov gets an honorable mention.

Along to Kazan, where Ak Bars welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Barry Brust and Emil Garipov man the nets. Bratislava dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Ladislav Nagy goal, fueled by Lukas Kaspar. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Brust (33 save shutout), Nagy, and Garipov (25 for 26 in saves).

Next up, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Dinamo Minsk. Kevin Lalande and Mikhail Biryukov receive the starting nods. Nizhny Novgorod started on a first period goal from Vyacheslav Kulyomin, coming off of Dmitry Semin. Torpedo added on with a Vladimir Galuzin goal in the third period, going in unassisted. Minsk got on the board with an Alexander Materukhin goal, guided in by Nick Bailen and Andrei Mikhalyov. They failed to tie the game, losing 2-1. The three stars were Biryukov (16 for 17 in saves), Galuzin, and Kulyomin.

To the west, Vityaz Podolsk brings in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Vladislav Fokin and Harri Sateri are the masked men. Podolsk got going in the second period on an Igor Golovkov unassisted goal. Vityaz ran this all the way, winning 1-0, with the three stars awarded to Sateri (39 save shutout), Fokin (43 for 44 in saves), and Golovkov.

Finally, Dynamo Moscow hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Alexander Lazushin tend the twines. Moscow struck first in the first period on an Ilya Nikulin goal, passed from Alexei Tsvetkov and Konstantin Gorovikov. Yekaterinburg tied it on a Nikolai Timashov goal, assisted by Nikita Tryamkin and Artyom Gareyev in the second period. Avtomobilist took the lead with an Eero Elo goal, via Alexei Simakov and Dmitry Megalinsky in the third period on the power play. Dynamo retied it on an Alexei Tereshchenko goal, made possible by Daniil Tarasov. Moscow won 3-2 in overtime on an Ansel Galimov goal, with assists provided by Tereshchenko and Alexander Osipov. The three stars went to Tereshchenko, Galimov, and Elo.

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2015-16 NHL Season - Day 6

Five games on today, three of which are matinees. We begin with...

The Boston Bruins hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Tuukka Rask guard the cages. Boston struck first in the first period on a David Krejci goal, his second of the season, assisted by Torey Krug and Patrice Bergeron on the power play. The Bruins added on with a Loui Eriksson power play goal, powered by Krug and Krejci. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Brian Boyle goal, made possible by Victor Hedman and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Lightning tied it on an Ondrej Palat power play goal, passed from Tyler Johnson and Anton Stralman. Tampa Bay took the lead in the second period on a Boyle goal, his second of the game, going in unassisted. Boston retied it on an Eriksson goal, via Krejci and Krug on the power play, with the latter getting a sock trick. The Lightning regained the lead on a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his second of the year, fueled by Stralman and Johnson. Tampa Bay extended the lead in the third period as Jonathan Drouin scored, thanks to Erik Condra and Hedman. The Lightning padded the lead with a Valtteri Filppula goal, coming off of Alex Killorn and J.T. Brown. The final stayed at 6-3, with the three stars being Boyle, Eriksson, and Krejci, while Krug, Johnson, Hedman, and Stralman take the honorable mentions.

Along to Brooklyn, where the New York Islanders welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec and Thomas Greiss receive the starting nods in goal. New York was first to score in the first period on a Ryan Strome goal, with assists provided by Kyle Okposo and John Tavares on the power play. The Islanders added on with a Brock Nelson goal, via Tavares and Johnny Boychuk in the second period. New York extended the lead on a Tavares power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Anders Lee and Marek Zidlicky. Winnipeg got on the board with a Mark Scheifele goal, his third of the year, fueled by Nikolaj Ehlers and Mathieu Perreault. The Jets pulled closer on a third period goal by Dustin Byfuglien, courtesy of Perreault and Blake Wheeler on the power play. The Islanders iced it at 4-2 with an empty net goal by Josh Bailey, set up by Frans Nielsen and Okposo. The three stars were Tavares, Okposo, and Perreault.

The last of the matinees has the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Chad Johnson are in the creases. Buffalo got going in the second period on a Rasmus Ristolainen goal, coming off of Marcus Foligno and Evander Kane on the power play. The Sabres added on with a Ryan O'Reilly power play goal, powered by Matt Moulson and Jamie McGinn in the third period. Columbus got on the board with an unassisted Brandon Saad power play goal, his second of the season. Buffalo replied with a Jack Eichel goal, his second of the year, assisted by Moulson and McGinn. The Blue Jackets shot back on a Scott Hartnell power play goal, passed from Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno. The Sabres answered with a Moulson power play goal, with helpers from O'Reilly and Ristolainen. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars going to Moulson, Ristolainen, and O'Reilly, while McGinn gets an honorable mention.

At the regular time, the Philadelphia Flyers bring in the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Michal Neuvirth occupy the creases. Philadelphia started in the first period on a Brayden Schenn goal, his second of the season, made possible by Sam Gagner and Sean Couturier. This was the game's only goal, with the Flyers taking a 1-0 win. The three stars went to Neuvirth (31 save shutout), Schenn, and Luongo (32 for 33 in saves).

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Miller and Frederik Andersen man the nets. Anaheim dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Sami Vatanen goal, coming off of Andrew Cogliano and Mike Santorelli. Vancouver tied it on an Adam Cracknell goal, via Brandon Prust and Jannik Hansen. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Jakob Silfverberg of the Ducks got matched by Radim Vrbata and topped by Alexandre Burrows of the Canucks, who took the game 2-1. The three stars went to Miller (28 for 29 in saves), Cracknell, and Andersen (24 for 25 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Monday, October 12, 2015

2015/16 KHL Season - Day 49

Seven games to cover today, beginning with...

Avangard Omsk hosting Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Dominik Furch are the goalies. Khabarovsk got going in the second period with a Dmitry Tarasov goal, fueled by Jan Kolar. Omsk tied it in the third period as Yury Alexandrov scored, thanks to Michal Kempny and Denis Parshin. In the shootout, Artur Lauta scored for Avangard, giving them a 2-1 win. The three stars went to Metsola (42 for 43 in saves), Furch (19 for 20 in saves), and Alexandrov.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Ivan Nalimov and Jan Laco are set to start in goal. Astana led off in the first period on a Mike Lundin goal, passed from Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. Vladivostok tied it on an Artyom Zemchyonok goal, via Dmitry Sayustov. Barys took the lead with a Dawes power play goal in the second period, powered by Lundin and Martin St. Pierre. Admiral retied it on a Mikhail Fisenko goal, coming off of Jonathon Blum and Oskars Bartulis. Astana edged ahead again on a Dawes goal, assisted by Alexei Litvinenko and the goalie Laco. Vladivostok tied it on a third period Bartulis goal, made possible by Fisenko and Kirill Voronin. Barys again took a lead on a St. Pierre goal, with assists provided by Keaton Ellerby and Talgat Zhailauov. Astana finished it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Dawes to complete his hat trick, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Dawes, St. Pierre, and Lundin, while Bartulis and Fisenko get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, Traktor Chelyabinsk brings in Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Vasily Demchenko protect the nets. Chelyabinsk dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Martin Ruzicka goal, via Artyom Borodkin and Dmitry Pestunov. Nizhnekamsk tied it with a Mikhail Zhukov goal, guided in by Evgeny Lapenkov. Neftekhimik took the lead with a Lapenkov goal in the third period, assisted by Alexander Kitarov. Nizhnekamsk finished it at 3-1 on a Yegor Milovzorov empty net goal, set up by Zhukov. The three stars went to Zhukov, Lapenkov, and Sudnitsin (24 for 25 in saves).

Northwest to Finland, with Jokerit Helsinki hosting Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Niklas Svedberg and Henrik Karlsson are between the pipes. Helsinki began in the first period on a Ville Lajunen goal, passed from Mathis Olimb and Juhamatti Aaltonen on the power play. Ufa tied it on a Sami Lepisto goal, coming off of Alexander Loginov and Alexander Nesterov. Salavat Yulaev took the lead in the second period with an Igor Grigorenko goal, made possible by Loginov and Linus Omark. Ufa added on with an Anton Lazarev goal, courtesy of Nesterov and Denis Bodrov. Salavat Yulaev extended the lead as Teemu Hartikainen scored, with the help of Enver Lisin and Dmitry Makarov. Ufa padded the lead in the third period with a Nesterov goal, via Loginov, who got a sock trick, and Lazarev. This stood for a 5-1 win, with the three stars being Loginov, Lazarev, and Nesterov.

Southwest to Riga, where Dinamo brings in Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ilya Samsonov and Joacim Eriksson handle the goaltending duties. Magnitogorsk drew first blood in the second period on a Wojtek Wolski power play goal, powered by Sergei Mozyakin and Chris Lee. Riga tied it on a Lauris Darzins power play goal in the third period, assisted by Steven Seigo and Miks Indrasis. Metallurg took the lead on a Danis Zaripov goal, helped along by Oskar Osala. This held for a 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Zaripov, Samsonov (19 for 20 in saves), and Eriksson (45 for 47 in saves).

Returning to Russia, Spartak Moscow welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Atte Engren and Alexei Murygin are the masked men. Yaroslavl started in the first period on an Andrei Loktionov goal, with a lone assist by Daniil Apalkov. Lokomotiv added on in the second period with a Mikhail Pashnin goal, going in unassisted. The scoring ended here at 2-0, with the three stars going to Murygin (28 save shutout), Loktionov, and Pashnin.

Finally, SKA St. Petersburg hosts the Sochi Leopards. Andrei Gavrilov is mismatched with Mikko Koskinen in goal. St. Petersburg opened with a Jarno Koskiranta goal, assisted by Alexander Barabanov and Ilya Kovalchuk. Sochi tied it on an Evgeny Skachkov goal, guided in by Alexei Semenov. The Leopards took the lead with a Renat Mamashev power play goal, powered by Semenov. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Mamashev, Semenov, and Gavrilov (26 for 27 in saves).

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