Thursday, October 27, 2016

MLS Knockout Round 2016

The teams that made the playoffs but couldn't finish second or better in their conferences square off in these one-off games for the chance to continue their playoff dreams. We begin with two Wednesday games, the first seeing...

Toronto FC host the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Clint Irwin man the nets. Toronto had a yellow card go to Michael Bradley for his fourteenth minute foul. Toronto led off in the fifteenth minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal, assisted by Jozy Altidore. Philadelphia had a twenty-fifth minute yellow card for a C.J. Sapong foul, as did teammate Alejandro Bedoya in the forty-third minute. Toronto's Altidore took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Toronto added on with a Jonathan Osorio goal in the forty-eighth minute, set up by Nick Hagglund and Giovinco. The Union got on the board with a seventy-third minute Bedoya goal, passed from Richie Marquez and Ilsinho. Toronto shot back in the eighty-fifth minute with an Altidore goal. Philadelphia's Ken Tribbett took a yellow card for a ninetieth minute foul. The game ended 3-1, with Toronto advancing on the back of Altidore's man of the match performance.

Out in Los Angeles, the Galaxy welcome Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Brian Rowe are the goalies. Los Angeles began in the fourteenth minute on an Alan Gordon goal, set up by Giovani dos Santos and Landon Donovan. Salt Lake tied it in the twenty-first minute on a Joao Plata penalty kick goal. The Galaxy retook the lead with a twenty-sixth minute goal by Emmanuel Boateng, via Gordon. Los Angeles added on with another Boateng goal in the thirty-fourth minute, coming off of Gordon. Real saw yellow cards for Demar Phillips in the thirty-ninth minute and Chris Wingert in the forty-first minute, both for fouls. The Galaxy's Baggio Husidic took a yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul. Salt Lake saw a yellow card go to Sunny in the seventy-first minute for a foul. The game ended 3-1, with Boateng's winning brace making him the man of the match.

On Thursday, DC United brings in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Bill Hamid are the gloved men. Montreal opened in the fourth minute with a Laurent Ciman goal, passed from Marco Donadel. The Impact added on with a forty-third minute Matteo Mancosu goal, assisted by Ignacio Piatti. Montreal extended the lead as Moncosu scored again in the fifty-eighth minute, thanks to Ambroise Oyongo. The Impact padded the lead on a Piatti goal in the eighty-third minute, via Mancosu. DC got on the board in the ninetieth minute with a Lamar Neagle goal, set up by Patrick Nyarko. United pulled closer with a Taylor Kemp goal in stoppage time. The game ended at 4-2, with the man of the match being Mancosu.

Finally, the Seattle Sounders FC host Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Stefan Frei are in the six-yard boxes. Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso took a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. Kansas City had yellow cards for a foul by Seth Sinovic in the sixty-third minute and dissent by Benny Feilhaber in the seventy-first minute. The Sounders got going with an eighty-eighth minute Nelson Valdez goal, set up by Joevin Jones. Sporting's Roger Espinoza had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with the man of the match being Frei for his seven-save clean sheet.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 66

There's seven games on today, and for the first time, we begin in...

China, as Kunlun Red Star Beijing hosts Amur Khabarovsk in Shanghai. Juha Metsola and Artyom Zagidulin are the goalies. Beijing started in the first period with a Zach Yuen goal, passed from Tomas Marcinko. This held up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Yuen, Zagidulin (16 save shutout), and Metsola (16 for 17 in saves).

In Russia, Lada Togliatti welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Igor Ustinsky and Edgars Masalskis are in the creases. Yekaterinburg opened in the first period with a Petr Koukal goal, via Niclas Andersen. Togliatti tied it on a Denis Zernov goal, made possible by Rafael Akhmetov. Lada took the lead with an Alexander Bumagin power play goal, powered by Taylor Aronson and Andrei Ivanov. This stood for the eventual 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Bumagin, Masalskis (32 for 33 in saves), and Zernov.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk brings in Barys Astana. Henrik Karlsson and Rafael Khakimov play goal. Astana led off in the first period with an Evgeny Rymarev goal, passed from Vyacheslav Tryasunov. Barys added on with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Martin St. Pierre. Ivan Lisutin replaced Khakimov in goal. Astana extended the lead in the second period as St. Pierre scored, thanks to Maxim Semyonov and Kevin Dallman. The final held from here at 3-0, with the three stars being Karlsson (42 save shutout), St. Pierre, and Rymarev.

Along to Yaroslavl, with Lokomotiv hosting Dinamo Minsk. Ben Scrivens and Alexander Sudnitsin are between the pipes. Yaroslavl began in the first period with a Yegor Averin goal, assisted by Roman Manukhov and Stanislav Chistov. Minsk tied it on an Alexander Materukhin power play goal, with a lone assist by Matt Ellison. Lokomotiv retook the lead with an Andrei Loktionov shorthanded goal, set up by Denis Mosalyov. Dinamo tied it in the second period with an Ellison goal, made possible by Marc-Andre Gragnani and Sergei Kostitsyn on the power play. Yaroslavl retook the lead with a Brandon Kozun power play goal in the third period, powered by Pavel Koledov and Loktionov. Lokomotiv added on with a Maxime Talbot goal, going in unassisted. Yaroslavl extended the lead as Mosalyov scored, thanks to Manukhov. Mikhail Karnaukhov replaced Scrivens in goal. Minsk got one back with a Materukhin power play goal, with helpers from Andrei Stepanov and Kostitsyn. Lokomotiv iced it at 6-3 with a Mosalyov goal, via Daniil Apalkov. The three stars were Mosalyov, Loktionov, and Materukhin, while Ellison, Kostitsyn, Koledov, and Manukhov get the honorable mentions.

In Moscow, CSKA brings in Slovan Bratislava. Justin Pogge and Ilya Sorokin man the nets. Bratislava struck first in the first period with an unassisted Jonathan Cheechoo goal. Moscow tied it with an Alexander Popov goal, via Artyom Sergeyev and Grigory Panin. CSKA took the lead with an Alexander Kutuzov power play goal in the second period, powered by Andrei Svetlakov. Moscow added on with a Maxim Mamin goal, with a lone assist by Jan Mursak in the third period. Slovan got one back on a Vaclav Nedorost goal, passed from Andrej Meszaros and Cheechoo. CSKA capped it at 4-2 with a Jonas Enlund goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Mamin, Cheechoo, and Kutuzov.

Out to St. Petersburg, where SKA welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Drew MacIntyre and Igor Shestyorkin draw the starts. St. Petersburg was first to score in the first period with an Evgeny Ketov goal, made possible by Ilya Kablukov and Alexander Khokhlachyov. SKA added on in the second period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, courtesy of Vyacheslav Voynov. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Pavel Datsyuk scored, with the help of Voynov and Alexander Barabanov. SKA padded the lead with a Nikolai Prokhorkin goal in the third period, fueled by Steve Moses. St. Petersburg kept going with a Barabanov goal, helped along by Nikita Gusev. SKA finished it at 6-0 with a Yegor Yakovlev power play goal, guided in by Datsyuk. The three stars went to Datsyuk, Voynov, and Barabanov.

Finally, Ak Bars Kazan hosts Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Vladislav Fokin and Stanislav Galimov are the masked men. Kazan drew first blood in the first period with a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, coming off of Andrei Chibisov. Ak Bars added on with an unassisted Tkachyov goal, his second of the game. Kazan extended the lead as Mikhail Glukhov scored, thanks to Anton Glinkin and Andrei Popov. Ak Bars padded the lead with a Tkachyov power play goal to complete his hat trick, powered by Alexander Svitov and Artyom Lukoyanov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period on a Denis Khlystov goal, guided in by Nikita Dvurechensky and Pavel Medvedev. The final stood at 4-1, with the three stars being Tkachyov, Galimov (14 for 15 in saves), and Glukhov.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

NHL 2016/17 - Day 15

The third week of the season commences with four games tonight, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya and Thomsa Greiss are the backups in goal. Montreal got going in the second period with a Paul Byron goal, his second of the season, helped along by Brendan Gallagher and Alexei Emelin. New York tied it with a John Tavares power play goal, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The Canadiens took the lead back in the third period with a Phillip Danault goal, his second of the season, coming off of Shea Weber and Torrey Mitchell. The Islanders retied it on a Dennis Seidenberg goal, his second of the year, via Calvin de Haan and Ryan Strome. Montreal regained the lead on a Weber power play goal, his third of the season, Jeff Petry and Max Pacioretty. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars going to Weber, Danault, and Byron.

Also in New York, the Rangers welcome the Boston Bruins. Zane McIntyre is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. Boston led off in the first period with a David Pastrnak goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Brad Marchand and Zdeno Chara. The Bruins added on with an Austin Czarnik goal, made possible by David Krejci. New York got on the board in the second period with a Rick Nash power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey. The Rangers tied it on a Kevin Hayes goal, his second of the season, guided in by Jesper Fast and Ryan McDonagh. New York took the lead with a Brandon Pirri power play goal, his third of the year, with helpers from J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers extended the lead as Pirri scored his second of the game and fourth of the season in the third period, thanks to Marc Staal and Miller. New York padded the lead with a Vesey goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Nash and Stepan. The game closed with a 5-2 final, with the three stars awarded to Pirri, Vesey, and Nash, while Stepan and Miller get the honorable mentions.

Northwest to Edmonton, where the Oilers bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Cam Talbot man the nets. Edmonton dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Benoit Pouliot goal, his second of the season, coming off of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers added on with another Pouliot goal, his second of the game and third of the year, via Nugent-Hopkins and Oscar Klefbom. Washington got on the board in the third period with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Matt Niskanen and Andre Burakovsky. Edmonton replied with a Patrick Maroon goal, his second of the year, guided in by Jesse Puljujarvi and Connor McDavid. The Oilers iced it at 4-1 with a Milan Lucic power play goal, his third of the campaign, powered by Andrej Sekera and McDavid. The three stars went to Pouliot, Talbot (34 for 35 in saves), and Nugent-Hopkins, while McDavid gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and John Gibson are in the blue paint. Anaheim began in the first period with a Nick Ritchie power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Michael Sgarbossa and Antoine Vermette. The Ducks added on in the second period with a shorthanded Jakob Silfverberg goal, set up by Shea Theodore and Ryan Garbutt. Anaheim extended the lead as Silfverberg scored again, thanks to Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler on the power play. The Ducks padded the lead with an unassisted Corey Perry goal, his fourth of the year. Marek Mazanec replaced Rinne in goal. Anaheim continued on a shorthanded goal by Andrew Cogliano, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Ducks struck again with a Ryan Kesler power play goal, with helpers from Fowler and Vatanen. Nashville got on the board in the third period with a Colin Wilson power play goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The final stood at 6-1, with the three stars being Silfverberg, Vatanen, and Fowler.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 65

Six games on for today, beginning with...

Traktor Chelyabinsk hosting Sibir Novosibirsk. Alexei Krasikov and Pavel Francouz are the backups in goal. Chelyabinsk started with a Dmitry Pestunov power play goal, powered by Paul Szczechura and Konstantin Klimontov. Traktor added on with an Alexander Chernikov goal, via Yury Petrov. Novosibirsk got on the board with a Joonas Kemppainen power play goal, with helpers from Vladimir Butuzov and Zach Boychuk. Sibir tied it with a Boychuk power play goal, coming off of Sergei Shumakov and Kemppainen. Chelyabinsk took the lead back with a Klimontov goal in the third period, a power play goal, courtesy of Alexei Petrov and Alexei Kruchinin. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars going to Klimontov, Kemppainen, and Boychuk.

In Magnitogorsk, Metallurg welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Mikhail Biryukov and Ilya Samsonov draw the starts. Magnitogorsk opened with a Viktor Antipin goal, assisted by Danis Zaripov. Novokuznetsk tied it on an Evgeny Solovyov goal, passed from Alexander Komaristy in the second period. Magnitogorsk retook the lead with a Sergei Mozyakin goal, made possible by Chris Lee. Magnitogorsk added on with a Jan Kovar goal, via Denis Kazionov. Novokuznetsk got one back in the third period with an Ivan Yemets goal, guided in by Artyom Mikheyev and Alexei Razumov. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Kovar, Mozyakin, and Antipin.

Next up, Salavat Yulaev Ufa brings in Avangard Omsk. Dominik Furch faces a lesser foe in Andrei Gavrilov in goal. Omsk led off in the first period with a Denis Parshin goal, fueled by Nikolai Lemtyugov and Ilya Zubov. Avangard added on with a Vladimir Sobotka goal, coming off of Jonas Ahnelov and Erik Gustafsson. Omsk extended the lead as Lemtyugov scored in the second period, thanks to Evgeny Medvedev and Yegor Martynov. Niklas Svedberg replaced Gavrilov in goal. Ufa got on the board in the third period with a Kirill Kaprizov power play goal powered by Sami Lepisto and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev pulled closer with a Denis Kulyash goal, assisted by Kaprizov and Mikhail Vorobyov. They failed to tie it, losing 3-2, with the three stars given to Lemtyugov, Kaprizov, and Sobotka.

Over in Moscow, Dynamo hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Alexander Yeryomenko are the goalies. Riga began in the first period with a Krisjanis Redlihs power play goal, powered by Justin Shugg and Patrick Mullen. Moscow tied it in the second period with an Alexei Tsvetkov goal, fueled by Martins Karsums and Lukas Kaspar. Alexander Lazushin replaced Yeryomenko in goal in the third period due to injury. In the shootout, Kaspar and Ivan Igumnov overcame Gints Meija for a 2-1 Dynamo win. The three stars were Kaspar, Tsvetkov, and Redlihs.

Down in Sochi, the Leopards welcome Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ilya Proskuryakov and Konstantin Barulin are the masked men. Nizhny Novgorod struck first in the first period with a Kaspars Daugavins power play goal, powered by Alexei Potapov. Torpedo added on with a Kirill Vorobyov goal, fueled by Daugavins. Sochi got on the board in the third period with an Eric O'Dell goal, passed from Ilya Krikunov and Igor Levitsky. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars going to Daugavins, Proskuryakov (19 for 20 in saves), Vorobyov.

Finally, Vityaz Podolsk brings in Jokerit Helsinki. Riku Helenius and Harri Sateri. Helsinki got going in the second period with a Peter Regin goal, assisted by Topi Jaakola and Sakari Salminen. Podolsk tied it in the third period with an Alexei Kopeikin power play goal, powered by Jakub Jerabek. Jokerit took the lead back with a Marko Anttila goal, fueled by Roope Talaja. The final stood at 2-1, with the three stars going to Anttila, Helenius (30 for 31 in saves), and Regin.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

NHL 2016/17 - Day 14

Eleven games fill out tonight's schedule, beginning with...

The Boston Bruins hosting the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk faces a lesser foe in Malcolm Subban in goal. Minnesota got going in the second period with a Charlie Coyle goal, his third of the season, coming off of Nino Niederreiter and Eric Staal. The Wild added on with a Chris Stewart goal, his second of the year, via Joel Eriksson Ek and Jason Zucker. Minnesota extended the lead as Ryan Suter scored a power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Matt Dumba and Mikael Granlund. The Wild padded the lead with a Zucker goal, made possible by Suter and Eriksson Ek. Minnesota iced it at 5-0 with a Jason Pominville goal in the third period, his second of the year, helped along by Eriksson Ek and Zucker, the former getting a sock trick. The three stars went to Zucker, Eriksson Ek, and Dubnyk (27 save shutout), while Suter gets an honorable mention.

Down in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Arizona Coyotes. Justin Peters is mismatched with Cory Schneider in goal. Arizona led off in the first period with a Jordan Martinook goal, his third of the season, coming off of Alex Goligoski and Jamie McGinn. New Jersey tied it on a Taylor Hall goal, his fourth of the year, via Pavel Zacha. The Devils took the lead in the second period with a Hall power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the season, powered by Zacha and Damon Severson. New Jersey added on with an Adam Henrique goal, assisted by Reid Boucher and Devante Smith-Pelly. The Coyotes got one back with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal in the third period, his third of the year, courtesy of Michael Stone and Max Domi. Arizona tied it on an Ekman-Larsson power play goal, his second of the game and fourth of the season, passed from Martin Hanzal and Stone. The Devils retook the lead with a Travis Zajac power play goal, his second of the year, with helpers from Hall and Severson. New Jersey iced it at 5-3 with a Zajac empty net goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, set up by Ben Lovejoy. The three stars went to Hall, Ekman-Larsson, and Zajac, while Stone, Severson, and Zacha get the honorable mentions.

West to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins bring in the Florida Panthers. James Reimer and Marc-Andre Fleury are the solid goalies. Florida opened in the first period with a Reilly Smith power play goal, powered by Michael Matheson and Colton Sceviour. The Panthers added on in the second period with a Mark Pysyk goal, via Shane Harper and Jonathan Marchessault. Pittsburgh got on the board with a Sidney Crosby goal, coming off of Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on the power play. The Penguins tied it in the third period on a Carl Hagelin goal, with a lone helper by Nick Bonino. Pittsburgh took the lead with an Eric Fehr goal, made possible by Tom Kuhnhackl and Matt Cullen. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Fehr, Hagelin, and Crosby.

In Detroit, the Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Petr Mrazek draw the starts in goal. Detroit started in the first period with a Thomas Vanek goal, his fourth of the season, guided in by Andreas Athanasiou and Darren Helm. The Red Wings added on with a Dylan Larkin goal, fueled by Henrik Zetterberg. Detroit extended the lead as Larkin scored his second of the game, thanks to Gustav Nyquist and Alexey Marchenko. Carolina got on the board in the second period with a Jordan Staal goal, his third of the year, with a lone assist by Brett Pesce. The Hurricanes pulled back with a Victor Rask goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Andrej Nestrasil and Noah Hanifin. The Red Wings replied with an Athanasiou goal, his second of the year, passed from Luke Glendening and Steve Ott. The final held from here at 4-2, with the three stars awarded to Larkin, Athanasiou, and Vanek.

Back east, the Philadelphia Flyers welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Anders Nilsson and Michal Neuvirth are the backups in goal. Buffalo dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Tyler Ellis goal, assisted by Zemgus Girgensons and Cody Franson. The Sabres added on with a Matt Moulson power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Ryan O'Reilly. Buffalo extended the lead as Moulson scored his second of the game and fourth of the season, thanks to Rasmus Ristolainen and Kyle Okposo on the power play. Philadelphia got on the board in the third period with a Travis Konecny power play goal, with helpers from Ivan Provorov and Mark Streit. The Flyers got closer with a Brayden Schenn power play goal, helped along by Claude Giroux and Streit. Philadelphia tied it with a Streit power play goal, his second of the campaign, via Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. The tie went to a shootout, where Giroux and Jakub Voracek tallied to give the Flyers a 4-3 win. The three stars belonged to Streit, Moulson, and Schenn.

In Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Frederik Andersen are in the blue paint. Tampa Bay struck first in the first period with a Steven Stamkos goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Andrej Sustr. The Lightning added on with an Alex Killorn goal, his fifth of the year, helped along by Braydon Coburn and Brayden Point. Tampa Bay extended the lead as Stamkos scored his second of the game and fifth of the season, with the help of Sustr and Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay padded the lead in the second period on a Victor Hedman goal, assisted by Stamkos and Kucherov. Toronto got on the board with a William Nylander power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Nazem Kadri and Auston Matthews. Tampa Bay replied with a Kucherov goal in the third period, via Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Maple Leafs countered with a James van Riemsdyk goal, his third of the season, guided in by Nikita Zaitsev and Morgan Rielly. Toronto edged closer on a Matthews goal, his sixth of the year, with a lone assist by Nylander. The Lightning countered with a Namestnikov power play goal, his second of the season, fueled by Anton Stralman and Tyler Johnson. Tampa Bay finished it at 7-3 with a Jonathan Drouin power play goal, his second of the year, with a lone helper from Kucherov. The three stars went to Stamkos, Kucherov, and Namestnikov, while Matthews, Nylander, and Sustr get the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the St. Louis Blues host the Calgary Flames. Carter Hutton and Brian Elliott draw the starts. Calgary began in the first period with a Dennis Wideman power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Troy Brouwer and Johnny Gaudreau. The Flames added on with a Deryk Engelland goal, passed from Kris Versteeg and Sam Bennett. Calgary extended the lead in the second period as Bennett scored his second of the year, thanks to Dougie Hamilton and Matthew Tkachuk. St. Louis shot back with a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal, his second of the season, coming off of Vladimit Tarasenko and Colton Parayko in the third period. The Flames iced it at 4-1 with a Gaudreau empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Matt Stajan and Micheal Ferland. The three stars were Bennett, Elliott (23 for 24 in saves), and Gaudreau.

Down in Dallas, the Stars welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Antti Niemi are between the pipes. Dallas was first to score in the first period with a Brett Ritchie goal, his second of the season, assisted by Curtis McKenzie and Devin Shore. The Stars added on in the second period with a Patrick Eaves power play goal, powered by Shore and Justin Dowling. Winnipeg got one back on an unassisted Joel Armia goal. Dallas shot back with a Tyler Seguin goal in the third period, his third of the year, guided in by Lauri Korpikoski and Johnny Oduya. The Jets answered with a Mark Scheifele power play goal, his fourth of the campaign, coming off of Adam Lowry and Patrik Laine. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars being Shore, Seguin, and Niemi (28 for 30 in saves).

Out to San Jose, where the Sharks bring in the Anaheim Ducks. Jonathan Bernier and Martin Jones receive the starting nods. San Jose started in the first period with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Patrick Marleau and Joonas Donskoi. Bernier left the game injured, replaced by John Gibson at the start of the second period. Anaheim tied it with a Chris Wagner goal, his second of the year, guided in by Clayton Stoner and Antoine Vermette. The Sharks won 2-1 in overtime with a Marc-Edouard Vlasic goal, assisted by Pavelski. The three stars went to Pavelski, Vlasic, and Jones (19 for 20 in saves).

North to Vancouver, where the Canucks host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Ryan Miller are the veteran goalies. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Ryan Dzingel goal, his third of the season, courtesy of Derick Brassard and Marc Methot. The Senators added on in the third period with another Dzingel goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, coming off of Bobby Ryan and Chris Wideman. Ottawa extended the lead as Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored an empty net goal, set up by Mark Stone. The three stars of the 3-0 game were Dzingel, Anderson (22 save shutout), and Pageau.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Peter Budaj occupy the creases. Columbus got going in the second period with a Brandon Saad goal, via Nick Foligno and David Savard. Los Angeles tied it with an Anze Kopitar goal, his second of the season, assisted by Tom Gilbert and Tyler Toffoli. The Blue Jackets took the lead again with a Cam Atkinson power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Sam Gagner and Alexander Wennberg. The Kings tied it in the third period with a Drew Doughty goal, his second of the season, passed from Nick Shore and Dustin Brown. Los Angeles won 3-2 in overtime with an Alec Martinez goal, his second of the year, coming off of Tanner Pearson and Toffoli. The three stars were Toffoli, Martinez, and Doughty.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 64

There are six games to be played today, beginning with...

Admiral Vladivostok hosting Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Ivan Nalimov man the nets. Khabarovsk led off in the first period with a Maxim Kondratyev power play goal, powered by Kristian Kuusela. Vladivostok tied it on a third period goal by Viktor Alexandrov, passed from Daniil Kurashov. Admiral took the lead with a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, coming off of Ivan Gavrilenko. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars given to Tkachyov, Alexandrov, and Nalimov (32 for 33 in saves).

Way to the west, Lada Togliatti welcomes Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Alexander Sharychenkov and Edgars Masalskis are set to start in goal. Khanty-Mansiysk opened in the first period with a Pavel Varfolomeyev goal, courtesy of Evgeny Lapenkov and Denis Gorbunov. Ugra added on with a Lapenkov goal, via Varfolomeyev. Togliatti got on the board with a Vasily Streltsov goal in the second period, helped along by Stanislav Bocharov. Lada tied it on a Yefim Gurkin goal, assisted by Alexander Bolshakov. Togliatti took the lead with an Anton Shenfeld goal, made possible by Andrei Ivanov. Lada extended the lead as Denis Zernov scored an unassisted goal in the third period. Khanty-Mansiysk got one back with a Lapenkov goal, his second of the game, guided in by Pavel Valentenko. The game ended at 4-3, with the three stars being Lapenkov, Varfolomeyev, and Zernov.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk brings in Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Igor Ustinsky and Ville Kolppanen are in the creases. Nizhnekamsk began in the first period with a Pavel Kulikov goal, fueled by Alexander Bryntsev and Pavel Poryadin. Yekaterinburg tied it on a Nikolai Timashov goal, passed from Niclas Andersen and Konstantin Volkov. Avtomobilist took the lead with an Alexei Simakov goal, helped along by Rok Ticar. Yekaterinburg added on with a second period power play goal by Alexander Torchenyuk, powered by Evgeny Chesalin. Avtomobilist extended the lead as Petr Koukal scored a power play goal, thanks to Andersen and Dmitry Megalinsky. Rafael Khakimov took over for Kolppanen in goal. Neftekhimik got one back with a Konstantin Makarov goal, courtesy of Andrei Sergeyev and Dmitry Makarov. Yekaterinburg shot back on a Koukal goal, guided in by Alexei Mikhnov. This stood for the eventual 5-2 final, with the three stars belonging to Koukal, Andersen, and Torchenyuk.

In Moscow, CSKA hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Drew MacIntyre is mismatched with Ilya Sorokin in goal. Zagreb dented the scoreboard in the third period with an Edwin Hedberg power play goal, powered by Brandon McMillan and Alexandre Bolduc. Moscow tied it with a Jan Mursak goal, assisted by Denis Denisov and Artyom Blazhiyevsky. CSKA took the lead with a Semyon Koshelev goal, passed from Bogdan Kiselevich and Maxim Mamin. Moscow iced it at 3-1 with a Nikita Pivtsakin power play goal, with assists provided by Mursak and Vyacheslav Osnovin. The three stars went to Mursak, Sorokin (29 for 30 in saves), and Koshelev.

Over in St. Petersburg, SKA welcomes Slovan Bratislava. Barry Brust and Mikko Koskinen are the masked men. St. Petersburg started in the first period with an Evgeny Dadonov power play goal, powered by Nikita Gusev and Vadim Shipachyov. Bratislava tied it on a Michal Hlinka goal, made possible by Marek Daloga and Vaclav Nedorost. SKA took the lead with an Anton Belov goal, coming off of Ilya Kovalchuk and Gusev on the power play in the second period. St. Petersburg added on with a Patrik Hersley power play goal, with a lone assist by Shipachyov. SKA extended the lead as Yegor Yakovlev scored a power play goal, thanks to Vyacheslav Voynov and Kovalchuk. St. Petersburg padded the lead with a Gusev goal, assisted by Shipachyov and Dadonov. SKA continued with a Yakovlev goal, his second of the game, via Dadonov and Shipachyov. The game ended at 6-1, with the three stars going to Shipachyov, Dadonov, and Gusev, while Yakovlev and Kovalchuk get the honorable mentions.

Finally, Ak Bars Kazan brings in Barys Astana. Henrik Karlsson and Stanislav Galimov protect the nets. Kazan struck first in the first period with a Mikhail Varnakov goal, fueled by Fyodor Malykhin and Dmitry Obukhov. Ak Bars added on with a Malykhin goal, guided in by Stepan Zakharchuk and Varnakov. Astana got on the board in the second period with a Martin St. Pierre goal, helped along by Brandon Bochenski. This stood for the eventual 2-1 final, with the three stars being Malykhin, Varnakov, and Galimov (27 for 28 in saves).

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Monday, October 24, 2016

2016/17 Hockey - KHL Day 63/NHL Day 13

With just two games in each league, it's a small enough day to combine the output into one post. We begin with the KHL, starting in...

China, as Kunlun Red Star Beijing hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Shanghai. Anton Krasotkin and Artyom Zagidulin are the backups in goal. Yaroslavl started with an Ilya Lyubushkin goal, courtesy of Petri Kontiola and Brandon Kozun. Beijing tied it in the second period with a Martin Bakos goal, passed from Linus Videll. Kunlun Red Star took the lead in the third period with a Videll goal, made possible by Tobias Viklund. Beijing added on with a Tuukka Mantyla goal, assisted by Tomas Marcinko and Igor Velichkin. The game ended at 3-1, with the three stars going to Videll, Zagidulin (31 for 32 in saves), and Bakos.

The other KHL game sees Spartak Moscow welcome Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ilya Proskuryakov and Markus Svensson are in the creases. Moscow opened in the first period with a Ryan Stoa goal, guided in by the goalie Svensson and Lukas Radil. Spartak added on in the second period with a Sergei Shmelyov goal, coming off of Anatoly Nikontsev. Moscow extended the lead as Mikhail Plotnikov scored, thanks to Alexander Vasilyev and Artyom Voronin. Ivan Kasutin replaced Proskuryakov. The final held at 3-0, with the three stars given to Svensson (17 save shutout), Stoa, and Shmelyov.

In the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Carey Price are the masked men. Montreal got going in the second period with a Shea Weber goal, his second of the season, assisted by Alexander Radulov and Artturi Lehkonen. Philadelphia tied it on a Jakub Voracek goal, his third of the year, fueled by Claude Giroux and Brandon Manning. The Canadiens took the lead with a Brendan Gallagher power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Radulov and Weber. Montreal iced it at 3-1 with a Radulov empty net goal, set up by Alexei Emelin. The three stars went to Radulov, Weber, and Price (31 for 32 in saves).

Finally, the Chicago Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames. Brian Elliott and Corey Crawford are between the pipes. Calgary struck first in the first period with a Sam Bennett power play goal, powered by Dougie Hamilton and Micheal Ferland. Chicago tied it in the second period with a Patrick Kane goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist by Artem Anisimov. The Flames retook the lead with a Sean Monahan power play goal, his third of the year, guided in by Troy Brouwer and Mark Giordano. The Blackhawks tied it again with a Brian Campbell goal, going in unassisted. In the shootout, Kris Versteeg had the only tally to lift the Flames to a 3-2 win. The three stars went to Monahan, Bennett, and Elliott (31 for 33 in saves).

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