KHL 2016/17 - Day 124

There's eleven games on today's schedule, beginning with...

Sibir Novosibirsk hosting Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Ivan Nalimov play goal. Novosibirsk started in the first period with a Maxim Ignatovich power play goal, powered by Yegor Milovzorov and Vladislav Naumov. Moscow tied it on an Ilya Nikulin power play goal, with a lone assist by Alexei Tereshchenko. Dynamo took the lead with a Denis Kokarev goal, made possible by Artyom Podshendyalov. Moscow added on in the second period with a Vladimir Bryukvin goal, assisted by Maxim Karpov. Alexei Krasikov replaced Nalimov in goal. Dynamo extended the lead as Lukas Kaspar scored, thanks to Andrei Kuteikin and Tereshchenko. Sibir got one back with a Georgy Misharin goal, helped along by Konstantin Okulov and Milovzorov. Moscow iced it at 5-2 in the third period with a Mat Robinson empty net goal, set up by Konstantin Gorovikov and Yakov Rylov. The three stars went to Bryukvin, Tereshchenko, and Milovzorov.

In Novokuznetsk, Metallurg welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Alexei Murygin faces a lesser foe in Rafael Khakimov in goal. Yaroslavl got going in the second period with a Petri Kontiola power play goal, powered by Brandon Kozun and Staffan Kronwall. Novokuznetsk tied it on a Kirill Lebedev goal, guided in by Alexander Komaristy. Lokomotiv retook the lead on another Kontiola power play goal, assisted by Jakub Nakladal and Kronwall. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Kontiola, Kronwall, and Murygin (26 for 27 in saves).

Over in Omsk, Avangard brings in Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Dominik Furch protect the nets. Podolsk opened in the first period with a Miro Aaltonen power play goal, powered by Roman Horak and Alexei Kopeikin. Vityaz added on with an Alexander Nikulin goal, coming off of Maxim Afinogenov and Alexei Makeyev. Omsk got on the board in the second period with an unassisted David Booth goal. Avangard tied it with a Maxim Pestushko goal, helped along by Ilya Zubov and Ilya Mikheyev. Omsk took the lead in the third period with a Vitaly Menshikov power play goal, with assists provided by Nikolai Lemtyugov and Vladimir Sobotka. This produced the 3-2 final, with the three stars given to Menshikov, Pestushko, and Booth.

Further west, Lada Togliatti hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Pavel Francouz and Ilya Ezhov are set to start in goal. Chelyabinsk led off in the first period with an Artyom Penkovsky goal, passed from Danil Gubarev and Alexander Sharov. Traktor added on with a Paul Szczechura power play goal in the second period, powered by Alexei Petrov. Chelyabinsk extended the lead as Konstantin Klimontov scored an empty net goal in the third period, set up by Szczechura. The three stars belonged to Francouz (26 save shutout), Szczechura, and Penkovsky.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Andrei Kareyev are the masked men. Magnitogorsk stole a 1-0 win as Jan Kovar dented the scoreboard late in the third period on a power play goal set up by Sergei Mozyakin. The three stars belonged to Kovar, Koshechkin (32 save shutout), and Kareyev (37 for 38 in saves).

Way west to Bratislava, where Slovan brings in Kunlun Red Star Beijing. Tomi Karhunen and Justin Pogge receive the starting nods in goal. Bratislava struck first in the second period on a Jonathan Cheechoo power play goal, made possible by Jeff Taffe and Michal Hlinka. Beijing tied it in the third period with a Tomas Marcinko power play goal, powered by Martin Bakos and Joonas Jarvinen. Kunlun Red Star won 2-1 in overtime on a Tuukka Mantyla power play goal, assisted by Chad Rau and Jonas Enlund. The three stars went to Mantyla, Karhunen (20 for 21 in saves), Marcinko.

In Finland, Jokerit Helsinki hosts St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Ryan Zapolski are in the blue paint. St. Petersburg began in the first period with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, coming off of Vyacheslav Voynov and Sergei Shirokov. Helsinki tied it on a Pekka Jormakka goal, via Mika Niemi and Tomi Maki. Jokerit took the lead in the second period with a Peter Regin goal, fueled by Brian O'Neill and Charles Genoway. SKA retied it on a shorthanded Patrik Hersley goal, set up by Roman Rukavishnikov and Sergei Plotnikov. Helsinki took the lead in the third period with an Antti Pihlstrom goal, assisted by Jesper Jensen and Marko Anttila. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Pihlstrom, Zapolski (33 for 35 in saves), and Regin.

Back in Russia, Ak Bars Kazan welcomes Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Niklas Svedberg and Emil Garipov guard the cages. Kazan opened in the first period with an Alexander Svitov goal, made possible by Stepan Zakharchuk. Ufa tied it on an Enver Lisin goal in the third period, passed from Evgeny Bodrov and Stepan Khripunov. Salavat Yulaev won 2-1 in the shootout with a Linus Omark tally. The three stars were Omark, Svedberg (32 for 33 in saves), and Lisin.

West again to Belarus, where Dinamo Minsk brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Kovar and Ben Scrivens tend the twines. Cherepovets got going in the second period with an Alexander Avtsin goal, helped along by Clay Wilson and Alexei Ugarov. Minsk tied it on an Andrei Stepanov goal, coming off of Aaron Palushaj and Dmitry Korobov. Severtal won 2-1 in the shootout with a Maxim Trunyov goal. The three stars went to Kovar (38 for 39 in saves), Avtsin, and Trunyov.

In Latvia, Dinamo Riga hosts CSKA Moscow. Ilya Sorokin and Janis Kalnins are the goalies. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Kirill Petrov goal, passed from Alexander Popov and Ivan Telegin. CSKA iced it at 2-0 with a Vladimir Zharkov shorthanded empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were Sorokin (20 save shutout), Petrov, and Zharkov.

Finally, Medvescak Zagreb hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Drew MacIntyre occupy the creases. Khabarovsk started in the first period with a Yury Nazarov goal, passed from Vitaly Popov. Zagreb tied it in the third period on an Alexandre Bolduc goal, via Mark Katic and Lukas Lessio. Medvescak won 2-1 with an unassisted Lessio goal at the last second. The three stars were Lessio, MacIntyre (29 for 30 in saves), and Bolduc.

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NHL 2016/17 - Day 81

Six games on today, beginning with...

The Florida Panthers hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Roberto Luongo are the masked men. Winnipeg got going in the second period with a Shawn Matthias goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Paul Postma and Adam Lowry. The Jets added on with a Patrik Laine goal, his twenty-first of the year, helped along by Bryan Little. Florida got on the board with a Greg McKegg goal, assisted by Jaromir Jagr and Aaron Ekblad. Winnipeg retook the lead with a third period goal by Nikolaj Ehlers, his thirteenth of the season, via Little. The Jets extended the lead as Mark Scheifele scored his seventeenth of the year, thanks to Jacob Trouba and Laine. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Laine, Hellebuyck (31 for 32 in saves), and Little.

West to Texas, where the Dallas Stars welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya and Kari Lehtonen are in the creases. Montreal led off in the first period with a Nathan Beaulieu goal, his second of the season, coming off of Phillip Danault. Dallas tied it on a Tyler Seguin goal, his fourteenth of the year, made possible by Stephen Johns and Patrick Sharp. The Stars took the lead in the second period with a John Klingberg power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Cody Eakin and Jason Spezza. The Canadiens tied it on a third period Alexander Radulov power play goal, his ninth of the year, with helpers from Beaulieu and Shea Weber. Montreal took the lead with a Max Pacioretty goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Beaulieu and Weber. Dallas tied it on an Esa Lindell goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Klingberg. The Canadiens won 4-3 in overtime with a Pacioretty goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the campaign, passed from Jeff Petry and Danault. The three stars were Beaulieu, Pacioretty, and Weber, while Klingberg and Danault get the honorable mentions.

Northeast to Philadelphia, where the Flyers bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Steve Mason man the nets. New York dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Kevin Hayes goal, his twelfth of the season, helped along by Michael Grabner and Brady Skjei. The Rangers added on in the third period with a Chris Kreider goal, his sixteenth of the year, coming off of Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello. New York extended the lead as Grabner scored his fifteenth of the season, with the help of J.T. Miller and Dan Girardi. Philadelphia got on the board with a Jakub Voracek power play goal, his twelfth of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere. The Rangers answered with a Hayes goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the season, via Miller. The Flyers pulled back on Voracek's second of the game and thirteenth of the year, guided in by Michael Del Zotto and Michael Raffl. New York iced it at 5-2 with a Grabner empty net goal, his second of the game and sixteenth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Hayes, Grabner, and Voracek, while Miller gets an honorable mention.

Westward to Calgary, where the Flames host the Colorado Avalanche. Calvin Pickard and Brian Elliott draw the starts in goal. Calgary began in the first period with a Kris Versteeg power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Sean Monahan and Alex Chiasson. The Flames added on in the second period with a Mikael Backlund power play goal, his twelfth of the year, via Mark Giordano and Matthew Tkachuk. Calgary extended the lead in the third period as Chiasson scored his sixth of the season, with the help of T.J. Brodie and Monahan. The Flames padded the lead with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, his tenth of the year, coming on the power play from Giordano and Brodie. Colorado got on the board with a Patrick Wiercioch goal, his third of the campaign, helped along by Jarome Iginla. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars being Chiasson, Giordano, and Monahan, while Brodie gets an honorable mention.

In British Columbia, the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Ryan Miller are the veterans in goal. Vancouver opened in the first period with a Sven Baertschi goal, his eleventh of the season, going in unassisted. The Canucks added on in the third period with a Brandon Sutter penalty shot goal, his tenth of the year. Vancouver extended the lead as Bo Horvat scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Alexandre Burrows and Christopher Tanev. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars belonging to Miller (22 save shutout), Baertschi, and Sutter.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and John Gibson are set to start in goal. Anaheim started in the first period with a Nick Ritchie goal, his ninth of the season, made possible by Antoine Vermette and Ondrej Kase. The Ducks added on with a Kase goal, his third of the year, via Vermette and Kevin Bieksa in the third period. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars awarded to Gibson (23 save shutout), Kase, and Vermette.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 123

Only three games on today's schedule, beginning with...

Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk hosting Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ilya Proskuryakov and Alexander Sharychenkov are set to start in goal. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period with a Vladimir Galuzin goal, coming off of Alexei Potapov. Torpedo iced it at 2-0 with a Dmitry Semin shorthanded and unassisted empty net goal in the third period. The three stars were Proskuryakov (17 save shutout), Galuzin, and Semin.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Spartak Moscow. Markus Svensson and Kevin Poulin man the nets. Astana opened in the first period with a Corey Trivino goal, passed from Konstantin Pushkaryov. Barys added on with a Nigel Dawes power play goal in the second period, powered by Brandon Bochenski and Martin St. Pierre. Astana iced it at 3-0 in the third period with a Dustin Boyd empty net goal, set up by Dawes. The three stars were Dawes, Poulin (38 save shutout), and Trivino.

Finally, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg brings in the Sochi Leopards. Konstantin Barulin and Ivan Lisutin are the goalies. Sochi started in the first period with an Alexei Pepelyayev goal, assisted by Andre Petersson and Andrei Kostitsyn. The Leopards added on with an unassisted Ben Maxwell goal. Sochi extended the lead in the second period as Kostitsyn scored, thanks to Ilya Krikunov. The Leopards padded the lead on an Eric O'Dell goal, going in unassisted. Vladimir Sokhatsky replaced Lisutin in goal. Sochi continued with a Yegor Morozov goal, helped along by Igor Levitsky. Yekaterinburg got on the board in the third period with a Stanislav Chistov goal, with a lone assist by Dmitry Monya. This made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars being Kostitsyn, Maxwell, and Barulin (15 for 16 in saves).

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NHL 2016/17 - Day 80

Seven games on tonight as the New Year gets going in earnest. We begin with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Cam Ward are the veteran goalies. New Jersey got going in the second period on an Adam Henrique goal, his tenth of the season, helped along by Michael Cammalleri and Damon Severson. The Devils added on in the third period with a Cammalleri goal, his tenth of the year, coming off of Henrique and Kyle Palmieri. Carolina got on the board with a Sebastian Aho goal, his eighth of the season, via Ron Hainsey and Teuvo Teravainen. New Jersey iced it at 3-1 with a Palmieri empty net goal, his eighth of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars were Cammalleri, Henrique, and Schneider (29 for 30 in saves), while Palmieri gets an honorable mention.

Up in New York, the Rangers welcome the Buffalo Sabres. Anders Nilsson is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. Buffalo opened in the first period with a Zemgus Girgensons goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by William Carrier and Brian Gionta. The Sabres added on with an Evander Kane goal, his ninth of the year, via Sam Reinhart and Kyle Okposo. Buffalo extended the lead as Justin Bailey scored an unassisted goal in the second period. New York got on the board with a Nick Holden goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by J.T. Miller and Oscar Lindberg. The Sabres replied in the third period with a Jack Eichel power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Reinhart and Matt Moulson. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars being Reinhart, Nilsson (23 for 24 in saves), and Bailey.

Backtracking to DC, where the Washington Capitals bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Braden Holtby are the masked men. Washington began in the first period with a Justin Williams power play goal, his tenth of the season, powered by Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Toronto tied it on a Nazem Kadri power play goal, his fourteenth of the year, assisted by James van Riemsdyk and Mitchell Marner. The Maple Leafs took the lead on a Connor Brown goal, his eighth of the season, fueled by Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews. The Capitals tied it on a T.J. Oshie goal, his twelfth of the year, made possible by Williams. Toronto took the lead back with a Frederik Gauthier goal, his second of the season, coming off of Connor Carrick. The Maple Leafs added on with a second period goal by Leo Komarov, his seventh of the year, coming on the power play from Matthews and William Nylander. Washington pulled back on a Kuznetsov goal in the third period, his fourth of the season, passed from Marcus Johansson and Williams. The Capitals tied it on an Orlov goal, his second of the year, guided in by Matt Niskanen and Lars Eller. Toronto retook the lead with a Marner goal, his tenth of the season, with helpers from vam Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. Washington tied it again with a John Carlson goal, his fourth of the year, dished from Johansson and Kuznetsov. The Capitals won 6-5 in overtime on an Alex Ovechkin goal, his eighteenth of the campaign, via Carlson and Kuznetsov, the latter earning a sock trick. The three stars were Kuznetsov, Williams, and Carlson, while Johansson, Orlov, Marner, Matthews, and van Riemsdyk get the honorable mentions.

West to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets host the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Sergei Bobrovsky protect the nets. Columbus led off in the first period with a Cam Atkinson power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Zach Werenski and Alexander Wennberg. Edmonton tied it on a second period goal by Oscar Klefbom, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Patrick Maroon and Justin Eberle. The Blue Jackets retook the lead on a William Karlsson power play goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Brandon Saad and Seth Jones. Columbus added on in the third period with a Nick Foligno goal, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. This stood for a 3-1 win, with the three stars belonging to Bobrovsky (21 for 22 in saves), Karlsson, and Foligno.

Down in Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Connor Hellebuyck and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the young goalies. Winnipeg started in the first period with a Mark Scheifele goal, his sixteenth of the season, a power play goal powered by Patrik Laine and Toby Enstrom. Tampa Bay tied it on a Matthew Peca goal, via Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Killorn in the second period. The Jets retook the lead with a Nikolaj Ehlers penalty shot goal, his eleventh of the year. Winnipeg added on with a Jacob Trouba goal, his second of the season, made possible by Mathieu Perreault and Blake Wheeler. The Jets extended the lead as Dustin Byfuglien scored his fifth of the year, thanks to Josh Morrissey and Wheeler. The Lightning got one back with an Ondrej Palat goal in the third period, his seventh of the season, assisted by Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. Winnipeg shot back with an Ehlers goal, his second of the game and twelfth of the year, coming off of Laine and Trouba. Tampa Bay answered with a Kucherov power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, with helpers from Johnson and Victor Hedman. The Lightning got closer with another Kucherov power play goal, his second of the game and fifteenth of the year, courtesy of Hedman and Jonathan Drouin. The Jets iced it at 6-4 with a Laine empty net goal, his twentieth of the campaign, set up by Scheifele and Ehlers. The three stars went to Ehlers, Laine, and Kucherov, while Trouba, Scheifele, Wheeler, Johnson, and Hedman get the honorable mentions.

Back north to Nashville, where the Predators bring in the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Pekka Rinne guard the cages. Nashville dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Kevin Fiala goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi. Montreal tied it on a Shea Weber goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of Alexander Radulov and Torrey Mitchell in the third period. The Canadiens won 2-1 in overtime with a Max Pacioretty goal, his sixteenth of the campaign, helped along by Radulov and Nathan Beaulieu. The three stars were Price (22 for 23 in saves), Radulov, and Pacioretty.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings for a Battle of California. Peter Budaj and Martin Jones are in the blue paint. San Jose drew first blood in the second period with a Logan Couture goal, his twelfth of the season, assisted by Kevin Labanc and Paul Martin. Los Angeles tied it on a Jeff Carter power play goal, his twenty-first of the year, powered by Jake Muzzin and Anze Kopitar. The Kings won 2-1 in overtime with a Tanner Pearson goal, his tenth of the campaign, via Carter. The three stars were Carter, Budaj (26 for 27 in saves), and Pearson.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 122

After the New Year's break, the KHL returns in full force with ten games today. We begin in...

Novosibirsk, where Sibir hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Alexander Sudnitsin and Ivan Nalimov are given the starting nods in goal. Novosibirsk opened with a Zach Boychuk goal, made possible by Konstantin Alexeyev. Yaroslavl tied it on a Jakub Nakladal power play goal, powered by Brandon Kozun and Maxime Talbot in the second period. Sibir took the lead with an unassisted Evgeny Artyukhin power play goal. Lokomotiv retied it on a Staffan Kronwall power play goal, fueled by Kozun and Petri Kontiola. The tie went to the shootout, where Sergei Shumakov scored to give Sibir the 3-2 win. The three stars were Artyukhin, Boychuk, and Kozun. 

In Novokuznetsk, Metallurg welcomes Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri faces a lesser foe in Vladislav Podyapolsky in goal. Podolsk started in the first period with a Roman Horak goal, assisted by Nikita Vyglazov. Vityaz added on with an Alexei Kopeikin power play goal, powered by Horak. Podolsk extended the lead as Alexei Makeyev scored, thanks to Maxim Afinogenov and Alexei Semenov. Rafael Khakimov replaced Podyapolsky in goal. Novokuznetsk got on the board in the second period with an Igor Skorokhodov goal, helped along by Kirill Semyonov and Denis Vikharev. Metallurg got closer with a Semyonov goal, passed from Mark Skutar and Vikharev. Vityaz replied with a Mario Kempe goal, guided in by Kopeikin. Novokuznetsk chipped back on a Vikharev goal, coming off of Skorokhodov and Skutar. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Horak, Kopeikin, and Vikharev, while Semyonov, Skorokhodov, and Skutar get the honorable mentions.

Out to Omsk, where Avangard brings in Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Dominik Furch are in the blue paint. Moscow got going in the second period with a Maxim Karpov goal, courtesy of Juuso Hietanen and Denis Kokarev. Dynamo added on with a Kokarev power play goal, powered by Dmitry Vishnevsky. Omsk got on the board with a Nikolai Lemtyugov goal, helped along by Vladimir Sobotka and Evgeny Medvedev in the third period. Moscow shot back with a Karpov power play goal, with helpers from Hietanen and Alexei Tereshchenko. Avangard pulled back on a Sobotka goal, assisted by Lemtyugov and Ilya Mikheyev. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars awarded to Karpov, Kokarev, and Hietanen, while Sobotka and Lemtyugov get the honorable mentions.

Over in Togliatti, Lada hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Edgars Masalskis draw the starts in goal. Togliatti led off in the first period with a Vasily Streltsov goal, assisted by Alexander Streltsov. Lada added on in the second period with an Andrei Ivanov goal, via Viktor Komarov. Magnitogorsk got on the board with an Alexander Semin goal, going in unassisted. Metallurg tied it on a Chris Lee goal, passed from Jan Kovar and Evgeny Biryukov. Magnitogorsk retook the lead with another Semin goal, helped along by Alexei Bereglazov and Tommi Santala. Metallurg extended the lead as Vladislav Kaletnik scored a power play goal, with the help of Oskar Osala and Santala. The three stars went to Semin, Santala, and Kaletnik.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk welcomes Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Niklas Svedberg and Andrei Kareyev play goal. The game was scoreless into the shootout, where a pair of goals by Igor Bortnikov and Sergei Konkov of Neftekhimik lifted them to a 1-0 win over two goals by Linus Omark and one from Stepan Khripunov. The three stars went to Kareyev (61 save shutout), Bortnikov, and Konkov, while Svedberg (33 save "shutout") and Omark get the honorable mentions.

West to Kazan, where Ak Bars brings in Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vasily Demchenko and Stanislav Galimov guard the cages. Kazan began in the first period with a Jiri Sekac goal, assisted by Alexander Svitov and Justin Azevedo. Ak Bars added on with a Stepan Zakharchuk goal, via Roman Abrosimov and Sekac. Chelyabinsk got on the board with a Nikolai Belov power play goal, powered by Kirill Koltsov and Jiri Novotny. Traktor tied it on a shorthanded and unassisted Maxim Yakutsenya goal. Kazan retook the lead in the second period on a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, going in unassisted. Ak Bars extended the lead as Azevedo scored a power play goal, thanks to Vasily Tokranov and Tkachyov. Chelyabinsk pulled back on a Koltsov goal, helped along by Dmitry Pestunov. Kazan replied in the third period with a Fyodor Malykhin goal, passed from Mikhail Varnakov and Dmitry Obukhov. This made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars given to Azevedo, Tkachyov, and Koltsov, while Sekac gets an honorable mention.

In St. Petersburg, SKA hosts Dinamo Minsk. Mikko Koskinen and Ben Scrivens are the goalies. Minsk struck first in the first period with a Fredrik Pettersson goal, made possible by Rob Klinkhammer. Dinamo added on in the second period with an Aaron Palushaj goal, helped along by Alexander Kitarov and Roman Graborenko. Minsk extended the lead as Pettersson scored a power play goal, powered by Palushaj. Dinamo padded the lead with an unassisted Andrei Stepanov goal. Minsk continued with a Sergei Drozd goal, passed from Alexander Kulakov. St. Petersburg got on the board with an Ilya Kovalchuk power play goal, coming off of Evgeny Dadonov and Vadim Shipachyov. SKA got closer in the third period with a Pavel Datsyuk goal, via Roman Rukavishnikov. St. Petersburg pulled closer with a Dadonov goal, with a lone assist by Shipachyov. SKA chipped closer with a Yegor Yakovlev goal, via Patrik Hersley and Shipachyov. This only made it 5-4, with the three stars given to Pettersson, Palushaj, and Shipachyov, while Dadonov gets an honorable mention.

Out in Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Barry Brust are between the pipes. Bratislava dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Michal Sersen goal, via Jeff Taffe. Slovan added on with a Marek Daloga goal, passed from Tomas Surovy adn Kyle Chipchura. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Brust (23 save shutout), Sersen, and Daloga.

To Latvia, where Dinamo Riga brings in Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Kovar and Janis Kalnins are the masked men. Riga was first to score in the first period with a Roberts Lipsbergs goal, assisted by Oskars Cibulskis and Edgars Kulda. Dinamo added on with a Krisjanis Redlihs power play goal, powered by Pyotr Schastlivy. Riga extended the lead as Gunars Skvorcovs scored a power play goal, with the help of Schastlivy and Redlihs. Roman Smiryagin replaced Kovar in goal. Dinamo padded the lead in the second period on a Cibulskis power play goal, coming off of Lauris Darzins and Maris Bicevskis. Riga continued with an Uvis Balinskis power play goal, helped along by Darzins and Miks Indrasis.  Cherepovets got on the board in the third period with a Dmitry Kagarlitsky power play goal, courtesy of Clay Wilson and Adam Masuhr. Severstal got closer with a Maxim Trunyov goal, made possible by Arseny Khatsei. This only made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars being Cibulskis, Redlihs, and Darzins, while Schastlivy gets an honorable mention.

Finally, Medvescak Zagreb hosts Kunlun Red Star Beijing. Tomi Karhunen and Drew MacIntyre occupy the creases. Zagreb drew first blood in the third period with a Francis Pare goal, via Colby Genoway. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being MacIntyre (29 save shutout), Pare, and Karhunen (32 for 33 in saves).

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NHL 2016/17 - Day 79

It's another day with just three games, beginning with another marquee event for the league, the...

Winter Classic as Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where the Blues host the Chicago Blackhawks outdoors. Corey Crawford and Jake Allen tend the twines. Chicago opened in the first period with a Michal Kempny goal, his second of the season, via Artemi Panarin and Duncan Keith. St. Louis tied it on a Patrik Berglund goal, his sixth of the year, courtesy of Jay Bouwmeester and Alexander Steen. The Blues took the lead with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his seventeenth of the season, assisted by Robby Fabbri. St. Louis added on with another Tarasenko goal, his second of the game and eighteenth of the year, helped along by Jori Lehtera and Fabbri. The Blues iced it at 4-1 with a Steen empty net goal, his fourth of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Tarasenko, Steen, and Fabbri.

At the usual time, the New Jersey Devils welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Cory Schneider guard the cages. New Jersey started in the first period with a P.A. Parenteau goal, his eleventh of the season, made possible by Taylor Hall and Steven Santini. The Devils added on in the third period with a Sergey Kalinin goal, his second of the year, coming off of Miles Wood and Jon Merrill. New Jersey iced it at 3-0 with a Hall empty net goal, his ninth of the campaign, set up by Kalinin. The three stars were Kalinin, Hall, and Schneider (22 save shutout).

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Colorado Avalanche. Calvin Pickard is mismatched with Ryan Miller in goal. Vancouver got going in the second period with a Bo Horvat goal, his eleventh of the season, passed from Ben Hutton and Anton Rodin. Colorado tied it on a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, his sixth of the year, powered by Nikita Zadorov. The Canucks retook the lead with a Sven Baertschi goal, his ninth of the season, guided in by Brandon Sutter and Henrik Sedin. The Avalanche retied it on a Tyson Barrie goal in the third period, his third of the year, via Francois Beauchemin and Gabriel Landeskog. Vancouver took the lead again on a Baertschi power play goal, his second of the game and tenth of the season, helped along by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars belonging to Baertschi, Henrik Sedin, and Horvat.

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NHL 2016/17 - Day 78

Three games on today, headlined by the outdoor spectacle in...

Toronto, as the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field. Jared Coreau and Frederik Andersen are the goalies. Detroit got going in the second period with an Anthony Mantha goal, his eighth of the season, assisted by Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Tatar. Toronto tied it on a Leo Komarov goal, his sixth of the year, passed from Jake Gardiner and William Nylander. The Maple Leafs took the lead with a power play goal by Mitchell Marner, his ninth of the season, powered by Morgan Rielly and James van Riemsdyk. Toronto added on with a Connor Brown power play goal, his seventh of the year, with assists provided by Zach Hyman and Connor Carrick. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as Auston Matthews scored his nineteenth of the season, with the help of Brown and Hyman. The Red Wings got one back with a Jonathan Ericsson goal, helped along by Mantha and Xavier Ouellet. Detroit pulled closer on a Tatar goal, his ninth of the year, made possible by Zetterberg. The Red Wings tied it on Mantha's second of the game and ninth of the season, via Zetterberg, who got a sock trick, and Thomas Vanek. Toronto won 5-4 in overtime with Matthews' second of the game and twentieth of the year, guided in by Gardiner and Brown. The three stars went to Matthews, Mantha, and Brown, while Gardiner, Hyman, Zetterberg, and Tatar get the honorable mentions.

Down in DC, the Washington Capitals welcome the Ottawa Senators. Mike Condon and Braden Holtby man the nets. Ottawa dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Kyle Turris goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Ryan Dzingel and Marc Methot. Washington tied it with a Karl Alzner goal, his third of the year, via T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams. The Capitals took the lead in the third period on a Taylor Chorney goal, passed from Brooks Orpik and Tom Wilson. The three stars were Holtby (23 for 24 in saves), Chorney, and Alzner.

West to California, where the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and John Gibson are the masked men. Anaheim struck first in the first period with a Ryan Kesler goal, his thirteenth of the season, fueled by Korbinian Holzer and Ryan Getzlaf. Philadelphia tied it on a Travis Konecny goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Wayne Simmonds. The Ducks took the lead back with a Kesler goal, his second of the game and fourteenth of the season, helped along by Jakob Silfverberg. Anaheim added on in the second period when Kesler finished his hat trick on his fifteenth of the year, passed from Andrew Cogliano and Sami Vatanen. The Flyers got one back with a Sean Couturier goal, his sixth of the season, going in unassisted. Philadelphia tied it on a Brayden Schenn power play goal, his eleventh of the year, powered by Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere. In the shootout, Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry tallied to top Jakub Voracek, giving the Ducks a 4-3 win. The three stars were Kesler, Gibson (51 for 54 in saves), and Rakell.

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