Monday, November 23, 2015

2015/16 KHL Season - Day 81

Just two games today, with the first in...

Novosibirsk, as Sibir welcomes Avangard Omsk. Dominik Furch and Alexander Salak are the goalies. Omsk got going in the second period on a Sergei Shirokov power play goal, powered by Martin Erat. Novosibirsk tied it in the third period on an Oleg Gubin goal, assisted by Ivan Vereshchagin and Damir Zhafyarov. Sibir won 2-1 in overtime on Gubin's second of the game, via Alexei Kopeikin. The three stars went to Gubin, Salak (31 for 32 in saves), and Furch (28 for 30 in saves).

The other game has Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg bring in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Georgy Gelashvili and Jakub Kovar make the starts in goal. Khanty-Mansiysk was first to score in the first period on a Pavel Varfolomeyev goal, courtesy of Andrei Ivanov and Evgeny Lapenkov. Yekaterinburg tied it with an Alexei Mikhnov goal, with a lone assist by Vitaly Popov. Avtomobilist took the lead in the third period on a power play goal by Alexander Pankov, powered by Petr Koukal and Eero Elo. Yekaterinburg iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Nikita Tryamkin, set up by the goalie Kovar. The three stars went to Kovar (18 for 19 in saves), Pankov, and Mikhnov.

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Sunday, November 22, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 47

Four games throughout the day today, beginning with a matinee in...

Raleigh, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Cam Ward are the veterans in goal. Carolina was first to score in the first period on a Brett Pesce goal, passed from Brad Malone. The Hurricanes added on in the second period on a Jeff Skniner goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Kris Versteeg and Pesce. Carolina extended the lead as Justin Faulk scored his seventh of the year, a power play goal powered by Elias Lindholm and Versteeg. Los Angeles got on the board with a Dustin Brown penalty shot goal, his second of the season, coming after Noah Hanifin fell on the puck in the crease. The Kings got closer with an Anze Kopitar goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes fired back on Faulk's second of the game on the power play, his eighth of the season made possible by Hanifin and Victor Rask. Jhonas Enroth played the third period in lieu of Quick. Los Angeles got one back on a Kopitar power play goal in the third period, his second of the game and seventh of the year, helped along by Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. This made it 4-3, the eventual final, with the three stars going to Faulk, Kopitar, and Pesce, while Versteeg gets an honorable mention.

Up in Columbus, the Blue Jackets welcome the San Jose Sharks. Alex Stalock is mismatched with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. San Jose struck first in the first period on a Patrick Marleau goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Joonas Donskoi and Joel Ward. Columbus tied it in the second period on a Ryan Johansen goal, his fourth of the year passed from Kerby Rychel and Josh Anderson. The Blue Jackets took the lead on a Boone Jenner goal, his eleventh of the season, assisted by William Karlsson and Brandon Saad. Columbus added on in the third period with a Cam Atkinson goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Nick Foligno and Scott Hartnell. The Sharks pulled back on a Joe Pavelski goal, his eleventh of the season, coming off of Justin Braun and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. San Jose tied it on a Brent Burns power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Ward and Marleau. The Sharks took the lead on a Brenden Dillon goal, via Chris Tierney. San Jose iced it at 5-3 with a Pavelski empty net goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Pavelski, Marleau, and Ward.

North to Montreal, with the Canadiens bringing in the New York Islanders. Thomas Greiss and Carey Price are the goalies with rhyming names. New York dented the scoreboard in the first period on a John Tavares goal, his tenth of the season, made possible by Kyle Okposo and Travis Hamonic. Montreal tied it with a David Desharnais power play goal in the second period, his seventh of the year, powered by Dale Weise and P.K. Subban. The Canadiens took the lead on a Tomas Fleischmann shorthanded goal, his seventh of the season, going in unassisted. The Islanders retied it in the third period on an Anders Lee goal, his fourth of the year, via Josh Bailey and Mikhail Grabovski. Montreal took the lead on an Alex Galchenyuk goal, his third of the season, coming on the power play from Subban and Andrei Markov. The Canadiens iced it at 4-2 with a power play empty net goal by Max Pacioretty, his eleventh of the year, set up by Tomas Plekanec. The three stars went to Subban, Galchenyuk, and Fleischmann.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks host the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider faces his former team and Jacob Markstrom in goal. New Jersey got going in the second period on a Mike Cammalleri goal, his seventh of the season, fueled by Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. The Devils added on in the third period with an Andy Greene power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Vancouver got on the board with a Henrik Sedin shorthanded goal, his seventh of the season, set up by Daniel Sedin. New Jersey answered on an Adam Henrique goal, his ninth of the year, courtesy of Cammalleri and Adam Larsson. The Canucks got one back late on a Radim Vrbata power play goal, his fourth of the campaign, with helpers from Alexander Edler and Yannick Weber. The three stars in the 3-2 game were Cammalleri, Henrique, and Greene.

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MLS Conference Finals, First Legs

The two conferences are down to their last two teams each to determine who will go to MLS Cup. The first games in each two-leg series are today, beginning with...

The Columbus Crew SC hosting the New York Red Bulls. Luis Robles and Steve Clark protect the nets. Columbus started in the first minute with a Justin Meram goal, actually coming only nine seconds into the match. In the forty-sixth minute, the Crew had a yellow card given to Tyson Wahl. In the eighty-fifth minute, Columbus added on with a Kei Kamara goal. This made it 2-0, the final, with the man of the match being Meram for his quick winner. The Crew will take a 2-0 lead into the second leg next weekend.

The other game has the Portland Timbers hosting FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Adam Larsen Kwarasey are in goal. Portland opened in the twenty-third minute with a Liam Ridgewell goal, via Dairon Asprilla and Darlington Nagbe. Jorge Villafana of the Timbers took a yellow card for a thirty-eighth minute foul. Portland added on with an Asprilla goal in the fifty-third minute. Dallas got on the board with a sixty-second minute goal by David Texeira, set up by Je-Vaughn Watson and Mauro Diaz. Diego Chara of the Timbers took a yellow card for a foul in the seventy-eighth minute. Dallas saw a yellow card given to Kellyn Acosta in the eighty-sixth minute for his foul. Portland made it 3-1 with a Nat Borchers stoppage time goal. This was the final, with Asprilla as the man of the match. Portland has a 3-1 advantage to travel with.

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2015/16 KHL Season - Day 80

Three games for today, beginning with...

Dynamo Moscow hosting Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Mikhail Biryukov and Alexander Yeryomenko protect the nets. Moscow began in the first period on an Alexei Tereshchenko goal, with a lone assist by Dmitry Vishnevsky. Nizhny Novgorod tied it on a Nikita Dvurechensky goal, passed from Yury Sergiyenko and Carl Klingberg on the power play. Torpedo took the lead with a Kaspars Daugavins power play goal, powered by Vladimir Galuzin and Dmitry Semin. Dynamo retied it on a Daniil Tarasov goal in the second period, made possible by Denis Kokarev and Konstantin Gorovikov. Nizhny Novgorod won 3-2 in overtime on an Andrei Kostitsyn goal, courtesy of Carter Ashton. The three stars were Kostitsyn, Daugavins, and Dvurechensky.

Down in Podolsk, Vityaz welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Jeff Glass and Harri Sateri protect the nets. Podolsk led off in the first period on a Mario Kempe goal, via Roman Horak and Teemu Eronen. Minsk tied it on a Ryan Vesce goal, passed from Sergei Drozd and Jonathan Cheechoo. Vityaz took the lead back in the second period on a Maxim Afinogenov power play goal, powered by Dmitry Tsyganov and Alexei Makeyev. Dinamo retied it on a Paul Szczechura goal, going in unassisted. Minsk took the lead on a Ryan Gunderson goal in the third period, assisted by Nikita Komarov and Dmitry Meleshko. Dinamo iced it at 4-2 on a Vesce power play goal, helped along by Gunderson and Matt Ellison. The three stars were Gunderson, Vesce, and Szczechura.

The last game has Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk bringing in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Pavel Francouz and Alexander Sudnitsin are the masked men. Nizhnekamsk drew first blood in the first period on a Jeff Taffe goal, courtesy of Dan Sexton and Nikita Shchitov on the power play. Neftekhimik added on with a Maxim Rybin goal, coming off of Maxim Berezin and Mikhail Zhukov. Nizhnekamsk extended the lead as Pavel Kulikov scored in the second period, with the help of Alexander Kitarov and Denis Kuzmin while shorthanded. This held up for a 3-0 win, with the three stars handed to Sudnitsin (37 save shutout), Taffe, and Kulikov.

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Saturday, November 21, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 46

Eleven games on for today, beginning with...

The Boston Bruins hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Tuukka Rask draw the starts. Boston dented the scoreboard in the third period on a Zdeno Chara goal, his third of the season, via Zach Trotman and Matt Beleskey. The Bruins added on with a Brad Marchand empty net goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Loui Eriksson and Patrice Bergeron. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars going to Chara, Rask (22 save shutout), and Reimer (35 for 36 in saves).

Up in Ottawa, the Senators welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Craig Anderson are the inconsistent goalies. Ottawa was first to score in the first period on a Mika Zibanejad goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Cody Ceci and Mike Hoffman. The Senators added on in the second period on a Hoffman goal, his sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Bobby Ryan. Ottawa extended the lead as Milan Michalek scored his fourth of the season, thanks to Zack Smith and Curtis Lazar. The Senators padded the lead in the third period on a Kyle Turris power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Ryan and Erik Karlsson. This produced the 4-0 final, with the three stars awarded to Hoffman, Anderson (36 save shutout), and Ryan.

Back stateside, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the San Jose Sharks. Martin Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury are in the blue paint. San Jose struck first in the first period on a Brent Burns goal, his sixth of the season, helped along by Joel Ward and Patrick Marleau. Pittsburgh tied it in the second period on a Phil Kessel power play goal, his seventh of the year, powered by Patric Hornqvist and Sidney Crosby. The Sharks took the lead on a Burns goal, his second of the game and seventh of the season, coming off of Paul Martin and Marleau. San Jose iced it at 3-1 in the third period on a Martin goal, made possible by Joonas Donskoi. The three stars were given to Burns, Martin, and Jones (38 for 39 in saves), while Marleau gets an honorable mention.

South to Tampa Bay, where the Lightning host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Ben Bishop are the good goalies. Tampa Bay got going in the second period on a Nikita Kucherov goal, his sixth of the season, via Andrej Sustr and Joel Vermin. The Lightning added on with a Steven Stamkos goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Ryan Callahan and Alex Killorn. Tampa Bay extended the lead on another Stamkos goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, assisted by Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov on the power play. The Lightning padded the lead in the third period on a Brian Boyle goal, his fourth of the year, with a lone helper by J.T. Brown. Tampa Bay finished it at 5-0 on a Jonathan Marchessault power play goal, powered by Kucherov and Stamkos. The three stars were awarded to Stamkos, Kucherov, and Bishop (30 save shutout).

Back north, the Washington Capitals welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Reto Berra is mismatched with Braden Holtby in goal. Washington led off in the first period on a Justin Williams goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Jason Chimera and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Capitals added on with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his tenth of the year, passed from Nicklas Backstrom and Taylor Chorney. Washington extended the lead as John Carlson scored his fourth of the season, thanks to Kuznetsov and Marcus Johansson. The Capitals padded the lead with an unassisted Nate Schmidt goal. Calvin Pickard took over for Berra in goal. Colorado got on the board in the second period with a Cody McLeod goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Blake Comeau and Carl Soderberg. The Avalanche got closer with a Nathan MacKinnon power play goal, his ninth of the season, powered by Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene. Washington fired back in the third period with a Kuznetsov power play goal, his seventh of the year, fueled by Chimera and Matt Niskanen. The Capitals kept going on a Dmitry Orlov goal, helped along by Chimera, who got a sock trick, and Jay Beagle. Colorado got one back on an Andreas Martinsen goal, with helpers from Zach Redmond and Mikhail Grigorenko. Washington finished it at 7-3 with a Karl Alzner goal, his second of the campaign, with assists provided by T.J. Oshie and Ovechkin. The three stars were handed to Kuznetsov, Chimera, and Ovechkin.

Returning to Florida, we have the Panthers bringing in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Roberto Luongo tend the twines. New York began in the first period on a Rick Nash goal, his third of the season, coming off of Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello. Florida tied it in the second period on a Nick Bjugstad goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Brandon Pirri and Jussi Jokinen. The Rangers took the lead back as Nash scored his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, helped along by Zuccarello and Marc Staal. The Panthers tied it again with a Jokinen power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Pirri and Reilly Smith. New York took the lead again in the third period on a Zuccarello goal, his tenth of the year, with a lone assist by Derek Stepan. The Rangers added on with a Viktor Stalberg goal, his second of the campaign, assisted by Oscar Lindberg and J.T. Miller. Florida answered with an Aleksander Barkov power play goal, his fifth of the season, guided in by Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad. The Panthers tied it with a Jaromir Jagr goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Barkov and Ekblad. New York won 5-4 in overtime on Nash's fifth of the campaign, completing his hat trick with the help of Derick Brassard and Dan Boyle on the power play. The three stars went to Nash, Zuccarello, and Jokinen, while Barkov, Ekblad, and Pirri get the honorable mentions.

Way north to Winnipeg, with the Jets hosting the Arizona Coyotes. Anders Lindback and Ondrej Pavelec are the unproven goalies. Winnipeg started in the first period on a Mark Scheifele goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. Arizona tied it with a Shane Doan goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Mikkel Boedker and Antoine Vermette. The Coyotes took the lead on a Connor Murphy power play goal, powered by Michael Stone and Anthony Duclair. The Jets retied it in the second period on a Dustin Byfuglien goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone assist by Andrew Copp. Pavelec came out injured, with Michael Hutchinson replacing him for the third period. Winnipeg took the lead on a third period shorthanded goal by Chris Thorburn, his third of the year, set up by Drew Stafford and Adam Pardy. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Thorburn, Byfuglien, and Scheifele.

Southward again to Dallas, with the Stars welcoming the Buffalo Sabres. Chad Johnson and Antti Niemi are between the pipes. Dallas opened in the first period on an Antoine Roussel goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by John Klingberg and Cody Eakin. The Stars added on in the third period on a Jamie Benn goal, his thirteenth of the year, courtesy of Jason Spezza and Tyler Seguin on the power play. Dallas extended the lead as Benn scored his second of the game and fourteenth of the campaign, thanks to Seguin and Patrick Sharp. This held up for a 3-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Benn, Niemi (22 save shutout), and Seguin.

Backtracking to St. Louis, with the Blues bringing in the Detroit Red Wings. Jimmy Howard and Jake Allen guard the cages. Detroit drew first blood in the first period on a Pavel Datsyuk goal, assisted by Brad Richards and Teemu Pulkkinen. St. Louis tied it on a Kyle Brodziak goal, his second of the season, via Kevin Shattenkirk and Joel Edmundson. The Blues took the lead back with a Jori Lehtera goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Jay Bouwmeester and Vladimir Tarasenko. The Red Wings retied it on a Luke Glendening goal, guided in by Darren Helm and Brendan Smith. Detroit took the lead in the second period on a Dylan Larkin goal, his eighth of the season, helped along by Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader. St. Louis tied it again in the third period as Tarasenko scored his thirteenth of the year, with the help of Shattenkirk. The Red Wings won 4-3 in overtime on a Pulkkinen power play goal, his sixth of the campaign, powered by Richards and Tomas Tatar. The three stars were given to Pulkkinen, Tarasenko, and Richards, while Shattenkirk gets an honorable mention.

Further to the north, the Minnesota Wild welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Devan Dubnyk protect the nets. Minnesota led off in the first period on a Ryan Suter power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Mikael Granlund and Thomas Vanek. The Wild added on in the second period with a Granlund goal, his third of the year, via Christian Folin and Jason Pominville. Minnesota extended the lead as Jonas Brodin scored, with the help of Suter and Mikko Koivu. The Wild iced it at 4-0 in the third period on a Vanek power play goal, his eighth of the campaign, assisted by Pominville and Suter. The three stars were named as Dubnyk (23 save shutout), Suter, and Granlund, while Vanek and Pominville get the honorable mentions.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Ryan Miller occupy the creases. Chicago began in the first period on a Jonathan Toews power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Marian Hossa and Trevor Daley. Vancouver tied it on a Henrik Sedin power play goal, his sixth of the year, via Daniel Sedin and Alexander Edler. The Canucks took the lead with a Jannik Hansen goal, his sixth of the season, courtesy of Henrik Sedin and Matt Bartkowski. The Blackhawks retied it on a Ryan Garbutt goal, made possible by Toews. Vancouver reclaimed the lead in the second period on a Daniel Sedin power play goal, his eighth of the year, with a lone helper by Henrik Sedin. Chicago tied it in the third period on an Artem Anisimov goal, his ninth of the season, fueled by Daley and Patrick Kane. The Canucks took the lead again on Daniel Sedin's second of the game and ninth of the year, assisted by Henrik Sedin, who got a sock trick, and Edler. Vancouver added on with another Daniel Sedin goal to complete his hat trick, his tenth of the season, guided in by Henrik Sedin and Hansen. The Canucks iced it at 6-3 with a power play empty net goal by Alexandre Burrows, his fifth of the year, set up by Dan Hamhuis and Bo Horvat. The three stars were Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, and Toews, while Hansen, Edler, and Daley get the honorable mentions.

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2015/16 KHL Season - Day 79

Eight more games for today, with the first in...

Metallurg Magnitogorsk hosting Lada Togliatti. Ivan Kasutin and Ilya Samsonov are in goal. Togliatti got going in the second period on an Alexander Streltsov goal, via Yefim Gurkin and Stanislav Bocharov. Magnitogorsk tied it on a Tomas Filippi goal, courtesy of Rafael Batyrshin. Metallurg took the lead in the third period on an Oskar Osala goal, made possible by Sergei Tereshchenko and Bogdan Potekhin. Lada tied it again on an Anton Krysanov goal, assisted by Dmitry Vorobyov and Alexei Mastryukov. Metallurg won 3-2 in the shootout with goals by Danis Zaripov and Sergei Mozyakin, topping an Igor Magogin tally from Lada. The three stars went to Mozyakin, Osala, and Filippi.

Up in Ufa, Salavat Yulaev welcomes Ak Bars Kazan. Jusssi Rynnas and Niklas Svedberg are in the creases, but Emil Garipov came on for Rynnas after two and a half minutes. Ufa opened in the first period on a Linus Omark power play goal, powered by Andreas Engqvist. Salavat Yulaev added on with an Engqvist power play goal, with a lone assist by Igor Grigorenko. Ufa extended the lead on a second period shorthanded goal by Anton Lazarev, set up by the goalie Svedberg and Sergei Soin. Kazan got on the board on an Artyom Lukoyanov goal, via Andrei Chibisov and Vladimir Tkachyov. Ak Bars got closer with a Tkachyov goal, passed from Oscar Moller and Nikolai Belov. Salavat Yulaev shot back in the third period on an Enver Lisin goal, with a lone helper from Teemu Hartikainen. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars being Engqvist, Tkachyov, and Lazarev.

Southwest to Sochi, where the Leopards host Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Jakub Kovar and Konstantin Barulin are the solid goalies. Sochi led off on a shorthanded Denis Kazionov goal, set up by Sergei Kuznetsov. Yekaterinburg tied it on an Anatoly Golyshev goal, coming off of Alexei Simakov and Petr Koukal. The Leopards took the lead back with a Ben Maxwell power play goal, powered by Clay Wilson and Mikhail Anisin. Sochi added on in the second period on an Andre Petersson power play goal, with helpers from Anisin and Maxwell. The Leopards extended the lead in the third period as Andrei Kostitsyn scored a power play goal, with the help of Ziyat Paigin and Petersson. Avtomobilist got one back on a Golyshev goal, his second of the game, fueled by Alexander Torchenyuk and Nikolai Timashov. Yekaterinburg pulled closer with an Eero Elo power play goal, helped along by Torchenyuk and Golyshev. Sochi shot back on a Petersson goal, his second of the game, with a lone assist from Renat Mamashev. Avtomobilist answered with a Koukal goal, guided in by Alexander Pankov and Nikita Tryamkin. Yekaterinburg tied it on a Tryamkin goal, dished from Tommi Kivisto. Avtomobilist won 6-5 in overtime on a Timashov power play goal, courtesy of Koukal and Elo. The three stars went to Timashov, Tryamkin, and Golyshev, while Koukal, Maxwell, Anisin, Petersson, Torchenyuk, and Elo get the honorable mentions.

Up in Moscow, CSKA brings in Medvescak Zagreb. Danny Taylor and Ilya Sorokin are in the blue paint. Moscow started in the first period on an Alexander Radulov power play goal, powered by Nikita Zaitsev. Zagreb tied it on a Jesse Saarinen goal in the second period, helped along by the goalie Taylor and Blake Parlett. CSKA took the lead back on a Sergei Andronov goal, assisted by Radulov. Moscow added on in the third period on a Jan Mursak goal, coming off of Radulov and Dmitry Kugryshev. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars going to Radulov, Sorokin (19 for 20 in saves), and Andronov.

Staying in the city, Spartak Moscow hosts Avangard Omsk. Denis Kostin and Atte Engren are the masked men. Omsk began in the first period on a Denis Parshin goal, via Michal Kempny and Ilya Zubov. Moscow tied it on a Sergei Leshchenko goal, courtesy of Sergei Shmelyov and Matthew Gilroy. Spartak took the lead on a shorthanded and unassisted goal by Evgeny Bodrov in the second period. Moscow added on in the third period with a Maxim Potapov goal, assisted by Charles Genoway and Bodrov. This held for a 3-1 win, with the three stars given to Bodrov, Engren (25 for 26 in saves), and Potapov.

Up in Finland, Jokerit Helsinki welcomes Barys Astana. Pavel Poluektov and Henrik Karlsson man the nets. Helsinki dented the scoreboard in the third period on an Atte Ohtamaa goal, guided in by Brandon Kozun and Jesse Joensuu. Jokerit iced it at 2-0 on an Ohtamaa empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were Karlsson (24 save shutout), Ohtamaa, and Poluektov (40 for 41 in saves).

Back in Russia, Severstal Cherepovets hosts Slovan Bratislava. Michael Garnett and Sergei Magarilov draw the starts in goal. Bratislava struck first in the first period on a Michel Miklik goal, via Marek Viedensky. Slovan added on with a second period Tomas Starosta goal, made possible by Cam Barker and Ladislav Nagy on the power play. Cherepovets got on the board in the third period with an Andrei Shefer goal, passed from Denis Vikharev and Eduard Gimatov. The final stood at 2-1, with the three stars being Garnett (28 for 29 in saves), Starosta, and Miklik.

Finally, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl brings in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Georgy Gelashvili and Vitaly Kolesnik are between the pipes. Yaroslavl was first to score in the first period on a Petri Kontiola power play goal, powered by Staffan Kronwall and Denis Mosalyov. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it on a Pavel Varfolomeyev goal, assisted by Andrei Ivanov. Lokomotiv retook the lead on a Daniil Apalkov goal in the third period, guided in by Kronwall and Ilya Gorokhov. Yaroslavl added on with an empty net goal by Emil Galimov, set up by Jiri Novotny and Vladislav Gavrikov. The final remained at 3-1, with the three stars being Kronwall, Apalkov, and Kolesnik (21 for 22 in saves).

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Friday, November 20, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 45

Six games for today, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Cam Ward are the overrated goalies. Carolina dented the scoreboard on a third period Brad Malone goal, guided in by Justin Faulk and Kris Versteeg. Toronto tied it on a Nazem Kadri goal, his second of the campaign, assisted by Leo Komarov and James van Riemsdyk on the power play. The tie went to a shootout, where Peter Holland and Joffrey Lupul lifted the Maple Leafs to a 2-1 win over Riley Nash and the Hurricanes. The three stars went to Reimer (33 for 34 in saves), Ward (24 for 25 in saves), and Kadri.

Up in Columbus, the Blue Jackets welcome the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Sergei Bobrovsky guard the cages. Columbus opened in the first period on a Gregory Campbell goal, his second of the season, via Kerby Rychel and Josh Anderson. The Blue Jackets added on with a Ryan Johansen goal, his third of the year, courtesy of Boone Jenner and Ryan Murray. Columbus extended the lead as Jenner scored his tenth of the season in the second period, thanks to Johansen and Brandon Saad. The Blue Jackets wrapped it up at 4-0 in the third period on a Scott Hartnell empty net goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno. The three stars were Bobrovsky (39 save shutout), Jenner, and Johansen.

Further north to Detroit, where the Red Wings bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jhonas Enroth is mismatched with Petr Mrazek in goal. Detroit started in the first period on a Tomas Tatar power play goal, his sixth of the season, powered by Justin Abdelkader and Henrik Zetterberg. Los Angeles retied it on a Jeff Carter shorthanded goal, his eighth of the year, set up by Anze Kopitar and Alec Martinez. The Red Wings retook the lead on an unassisted Mike Green goal in the second period. Detroit added on with a Dylan Larkin goal, his seventh of the season, coming off of Abdelkader and Zetterberg. The Kings pulled back on a Carter goal, his second of the game and ninth of the year, fueled by Tyler Toffoli and Jake Muzzin. This only made it 3-2, the eventual final, with the three stars being Carter, Abdelkader, and Zetterberg.

East to Brooklyn, with the New York Islanders hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and former creasemate Jaroslav Halak tend the twines. Montreal led off in the first period on a Jeff Petry goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Brian Flynn and Alexander Semin. New York tied it with a Brock Nelson goal, his seventh of the year, made possible by John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. The Canadiens retook the lead on a Tomas Fleischmann goal, his sixth of the season, with a lone assist by David Desharnais. Montreal added on with a Nathan Beaulieu goal, his second of the year, passed from Alex Galchenyuk and Devante Smith-Pelly. Thomas Greiss took over for Halak in goal in the second period. The Islanders pulled back on a Travis Hamonic goal, via Frans Nielsen and Anders Lee. The Canadiens shot back on a Petry goal, his second of the game and third of the season, coming off of Beaulieu and Dale Weise. New York chipped back with a Nelson goal in the third period, his second of the game and eighth of the year, assisted by Josh Bailey. Montreal iced it at 5-3 on a Brendan Gallagher empty net goal, his ninth of the campaign, set up by Tomas Plekanec. The three stars went to Petry, Nelson, and Beaulieu.

Out west, the Calgary Flames welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Scott Darling and Karri Ramo are the middling goalies. Calgary began in the first period on a Sean Monahan goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Kris Russell and Johnny Gaudreau. Chicago tied it with an Artem Anisimov power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane. The Flames won 2-1 in overtime on an unassisted Gaudreau goal, his fifth of the campaign. The three stars belonged to Gaudreau, Monahan, and Ramo (18 for 19 in saves).

Finally, in Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the New Jersey Devils. Keith Kinkaid and Anders Nilsson are the backups in goal. Edmonton drew first blood in the first period on a Leon Draisaitl goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Taylor Hall and Brandon Davidson. New Jersey tied it on a Kyle Palmieri power play goal, his seventh of the year, coming in the second period from David Schlemko and Travis Zajac. The Oilers took the lead back on an Oscar Klefbom goal, his fourth of the season, assisted by Teddy Purcell and Draisaitl. Edmonton added on with a Jordan Eberle power play goal in the third period, his third of the year, powered by Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers extended the lead as Mark Letestu scored his second of the season, an unassisted goal. Edmonton padded the lead on a Hall empty net goal, his ninth of the year, set up by Draisaitl. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars handed to Draisaitl, Hall, and Nilsson (19 for 20 in saves).

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