Sunday, October 8, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 5

We're back with a much quieter day of hockey. The one game today sees the New York Rangers host the Montreal Canadiens, with Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist tending the twines. New York struck first in the first period with a Brady Skjei goal, assisted by Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller. The Rangers added on with a third period goal by Mika Zibanejad, his fourth of the campaign, via Pavel Buchnevich and Chris Kreider. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars awarded to Lundqvist (34 save shutout), Skjei, and Zibanejad.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NWSL Playoffs: 2017 Semifinals

This post holds the two semifinals for the NWSL Playoffs this year. We begin on Saturday in...

Portland, as the Thorns FC host the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Adrianna Franch play in goal. Portland started in the twelfth minute with an Amandine Henry goal, via Meghan Klingenberg. The Thorns added on in the fifteenth minute with an Emily Sonnett goal, helped along by Tobin Heath on a free kick. Orlando got on the board with an Alanna Kennedy goal in the twenty-third minute, set up by Toni Pressley. Portland shot back with a Hayley Raso goal in the seventy-first minute, guided in by Lindsey Horan. In the eightieth minute, Henry of the Thorns took a yellow card for a foul. Portland extended the lead as Christine Sinclair scored in the eighty-second minute, thanks to Nadia Nadim. This made it 4-1, with the woman of the match being Raso. Other strong Thorns efforts came from Klingenberg, Henry, Heath, and Sonnett, while the Pride's best were Kennedy, Pressley, and Steph Catley.

The other semifinal is in North Carolina, as the Courage host the Red Stars. Alyssa Naeher and Katelyn Rowland are the keepers. Chicago's Danielle Colaprico had a yellow card for her thirty-sixth minute foul. North Carolina dented the scoreboard in the ninetieth minute on a Denise O'Sullivan goal, set up by Jessica McDonald. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the woman of the match being O'Sullivan. Also good for the Courage were Taylor Smith, McCall Zerboni, and Lynn Williams, while the best Red Stars were Naeher, Katie Naughton, Julie Ertz, and Christen Press.

The NWSL Championship is on October 14, featuring the Courage and Thorns. 

Saturday, October 7, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 4

It's as full of a day as possible in the NHL this year, as fifteen games are set to go. We begin with one matinee in...

New Jersey, as the Devils host the Colorado Rapids. Jonathan Bernier and Cory Schneider are in goal. New Jersey opened in the first period with an Adam Henrique power play goal, powered by Will Butcher and Kyle Palmieri. The Devils added on in the second period with a Jimmy Hayes power play goal, with helpers from Palmieri and Butcher. Colorado got on the board with a Carl Soderberg goal, via Tyson Jost and J.T. Compher. New Jersey replied with a Jesper Bratt power play goal, helped along by Taylor Hall and Butcher, the latter earning a sock trick. The Devils extended the lead as John Moore scored a shorthanded goal in the third period, set up by Bratt. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Butcher, Schneider (40 for 41 in saves), and Bratt, while Palmieri gets an honorable mention.

At the regular time, the Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Minnesota Wild. Alex Stalock and Scott Darling draw the starts in goal. Minnesota started in the first period with a Jason Zucker power play goal, powered by Matt Dumba and Mike Reilly. Carolina tied it on a Joakim Nordstrom goal, helped along by Marcus Kruger and Brock McGinn. The Wild retook the lead with a Chris Stewart goal, his second of the season, via Jared Spurgeon and Marcus Foligno. Minnesota added on with an Eric Staal goal, courtesy of Zucker and Charlie Coyle in the second period. The Hurricanes got one back with a Derek Ryan power play goal, with assists provided by Justin Williams and Victor Rask. Carolina tied it in the third period as Noah Hanifin scored, thanks to Sebastian Aho and Elias Lindholm. The Hurricanes pulled ahead on a Rask goal, made possible by Aho and Lindholm. The Wild tied it at the last second with a Mikko Koivu goal, fueled by Staal and Ryan Suter. In the shootout, the Hurricanes got the 5-4 win on a lone tally by Jaccob Slavin. The three stars went to Rask, Aho, and Lindholm, while Zucker and Staal get the honorable mentions.

Up in Brooklyn, the New York Islanders bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Robin Lehner and Jaroslav Halak are in the blue paint. New York led off in the first period with a John Tavares goal, with a lone assist by Jordan Eberle. The Islanders added on in the second period a shorthanded and unassisted Tavares goal, his second of the game. New York extended the lead as Casey Cizikas scored a shorthanded goal, thanks to Andrew Ladd. The Islanders padded the lead with a Josh Bailey goal, helped along by Joshua Ho-Sang and Jason Chimera. Chad Johnson replaced Lehner in goal. Buffalo got on the board with an Evander Kane goal, set up by Jack Eichel. The Sabres got closer with another shorthanded goal from Kane, fueled by Ryan O'Reilly. New York responded in the third period with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, passed from Nick Leddy and Cizikas. Buffalo countered with an Eichel goal, assisted by Rasmus Ristolainen and Kane. The Islanders iced it at 6-3 with a Cizikas empty net goal, his second of the game with helpers from Tavares and Bailey. The three stars were Cizikas, Tavares, and Kane, while Eichel and Bailey get the honorable mentions.

Over to Michigan, where the Detroit Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Jimmy Howard protect the nets. Detroit dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Martin Frk goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist from Dylan Larkin. Ottawa tied it on an unassisted Dion Phaneuf goal. In the shootout, the Red Wings got a lone tally from Frans Nielsen to win 2-1. The three stars were Howard (37 for 38 in saves), Anderson (29 for 30 in saves), and Frk.

Backtracking to Pittsburgh, where the Penguins welcome the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros and Matt Murray are called on to start in goal. Pittsburgh began in the first period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, coming off of Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin. The Penguins added on with a Jake Guentzel goal, helped along by Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh extended the lead in the second period as Ryan Reaves scored, thanks to Olli Maatta and Carter Rowney. The Penguins padded the lead with a Maatta goal in the third period, his second of the year, courtesy of Crosby and Rust. The final stood at 4-0, with the three stars given to Maatta, Murray (26 save shutout), and Rust, while Crosby gets an honorable mention.

Up in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Frederik Andersen are the veteran goalies. Toronto struck first in the first period with a Dominic Moore goal, helped along by Nikita Zaitsev. New York tied it on a J.T. Miller goal, via Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes. The Maple Leafs retook the lead with a Zach Hyman goal, assisted by William Nylander. Toronto added on with an unassisted Jake Gardiner power play goal. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as Zaitsev scored, thanks to Ron Hainsey and Nazem Kadri. Toronto padded the lead with a Hyman goal, his second of the game, going in unassisted. The Rangers got one back with a Kevin Shattenkirk power play goal, powered by Mats Zuccarello and Kreider. Ondrej Pavelec replaced Lundqvist at the start of the second period. New York got closer with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, his third of the season, guided in by Shattenkirk and Zuccarello. The Rangers chipped closer with a Marc Staal goal, coming off of Zuccarello, who got a sock trick, and Ryan McDonagh. New York tied it on a Zuccarello goal, made possible by Staal and Miller. The Maple Leafs regained the lead with a Tyler Bozak goal in the third period, fueled by Gardiner and Mitchell Marner. Toronto continued with a Leo Komarov power play goal, dished from Nylander and Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs finished it at 8-5 with a Kadri power play goal, hissecond of the year, with assists provided by Patrick Marleau and Komarov. The three stars were Kadri, Hyman, and Zuccarello, while Komarov, Miller, Shattenkirk, Staal, Gardiner, Zaitsev, Nylander, and Kreider get honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Washington Capitals host the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Braden Holtby tend the twines. Washington was first to score in the first period with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Jakub Vrana and Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Capitals added on with a T.J. Oshie goal, via Nicklas Backstrom and Andre Burakovsky. Washington extended the lead as Ovechkin scored a power play goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, thanks to Kuznetsov and Backstrom. The Capitals padded the lead with an Ovechkin goal, completing his second hat trick of the year on his sixth of the season, with helpers from Kuznetsov, who got a sock trick, and Aaron Ness. Price was replaced by Al Montoya to start the second period. Montreal got on the board with a shorthanded Brendan Gallagher goal, set up by Paul Byron. Washington answered with Ovechkin's fourth of the game and seventh of the year, made possible by Kuznetsov and John Carlson. The Capitals continued with a Nathan Walker goal, fueled by Devante Smith-Pelly and Jay Beagle. This proved to be the end of the scoring, with the 6-1 final leading to three stars honors for Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Backstrom.

South to Florida, where the Panthers welcome their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy faces a lesser foe in James Reimer in goal. Tampa Bay drew first blood in the first period with a Nikita Kucherov goal, his second of the season, via Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov. The Lightning added on with a Namestnikov power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Stamkos and Kucherov. Florida got on the board with an Evgenii Dadonov power play goal, fueled by Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers tied it in the second period with a Nick Bjugstad goal, coming off of Dadonov and Jared McCann. Tampa Bay retook the lead with a Brayden Point goal, with a lone assist by Ondrej Palat. Florida retied it in the third period with a Colton Sceviour goal, passed from Micheal Haley and Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers took the lead on a McCann goal, helped along by Bjugstad and Connor Brickley. Florida extended the lead as Vincent Trocheck scored, thanks to Radim Vrbata and Barkov. The Lightning got one back with a Tyler Johnson goal, with helpers from Yanni Gourde and Point. This wouldn't be enough, as the Panthers won 5-4, and the three stars belonged to Dadonov, Bjugstad, and McCann, while Point, Kucherov, Namestnikov, Barkov, and Stamkos get honorable mentions.

Northwest to Missouri, where the St. Louis Blues bring in the Dallas Stars. Kari Lehtonen is mismatched with Jake Allen in goal. St. Louis got going in the first period with a Carl Gunnarsson goal, assisted by Paul Stastny and Vladimir Sobotka. The Blues added on with a Joel Edmundson goal, via Alex Pietrangelo and Jaden Schwartz. St. Louis extended the lead as Schwartz scored, thanks to Dmitrij Jaskin and Brayden Schenn. Dallas got on the board in the third period with a John Klingberg power play goal, powered by Alexander Radulov and Devin Shore. The Blues replied with a Vladimir Tarasenko power play goal, with assists provided by Pietrangelo and Schenn. The Stars got one back with a Mattias Janmark goal, helped along by Jason Spezza and Brett Ritchie. The final stood from here at 4-2, with the three stars given to Schwartz, Pietrangelo, and Schenn.

Up in Chicago, the Blackhawks host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo and Corey Crawford are between the pipes. Chicago opened in the first period with a Patrick Kane goal, his second of the season, coming off of Ryan Hartman and Gustav Forsling. The Blackhawks added on with a Brandon Saad power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp. Chicago extended the lead in the second period as Toews scored, with the help of Saad. Columbus got on the board with a Sonny Milano goal, his second of the season, via Nick Foligno and Gabriel Carlsson. The Blackhawks answered with a Jan Rutta goal, with a lone assist by Kane. Chicago wrapped it up at 5-1 with a Richard Panik goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Saad, Kane, and Toews.

In the desert, the Arizona Coyotes welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Antti Raanta receive the green light in goal. Arizona started in the first period with a Tobias Rieder goal, assisted by Jordan Martinook and Luke Schenn. Vegas tied it in the third period with an unassisted Nate Schmidt goal. The Golden Knights won 2-1 in overtime with a James Neal goal, his third of the year, made possible by David Perron and Schmidt. The three stars were Schmidt, Fleury (27 for 28 in saves), and Neal.

Up in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Jacob Markstrom are set to start in goal. Edmonton led off in the first period with a Kris Russell goal, via Zack Kassian and Milan Lucic. Vancouver tied it on a Bo Horvat power play goal, powered by Ben Hutton and Markstrom. The Canucks took the lead with an unassisted Brandon Sutter goal. Vancouver added on in the second period with a Horvat goal, his second of the game, fueled by Loui Eriksson and Alexander Edler. Laurent Brossoit took over for Talbot in goal. The Oilers got one back in the third period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins power play goal, with helpers from Patrick Maroon and Russell. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Horvat, Russell, and Markstrom (33 for 35 in saves plus an assist).

Over in Alberta, the Calgary Flames host the Winnipeg Jets. Steve Mason and Mike Smith are the experienced goalies. Winnipeg began in the first period with a shorthanded and unassisted Brandon Tanev goal. Calgary tied it on a T.J. Brodie power play goal, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and Kris Versteeg. The Jets retook the lead with a Mark Scheifele power play goal, his second of the season, coming off of Blake Wheeler and Mathieu Perreault. Winnipeg added on with a Patrik Laine goal, helped along by Perreault and Josh Morrissey. The Flames got one back in the second period with another Brodie goal, assisted by Michael Stone and Gaudreau. Calgary tied it on a Micheal Ferland power play goal, passed from Mark Giordano and Gaudreau, the latter earning a sock trick. The Flames took the lead with a Gaudreau goal, fueled by Brodie and Curtis Lazar. Calgary extended the lead as Versteeg scored, with the help of Sean Monahan and Brodie. The Flames padded the lead in the third period with a Mikael Backlund goal, made possible by Dougie Hamilton and Matthew Tkachuk. This made it 6-3, the final, with the three stars awarded to Brodie, Gaudreau, and Versteeg, while Perreault gets an honorable mention.

In California, the Anaheim Ducks welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Elliott and John Gibson stand in the creases. Philadelphia struck first in the first period with an Ivan Provorov goal, passed from Nolan Patrick and Jordan Weal. Anaheim tied it on an Antoine Vermette goal, via Ondrej Kase and Josh Manson. The Flyers took the lead back in the second period with a Sean Couturier goal, assisted by Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux. The Ducks tied it in the third period with a shorthanded and unassisted Cam Fowler goal. Philadelphia won 3-2 in overtime with a Wayne Simmonds goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Couturier and Provorov. The three stars were Couturier, Simmonds, and Provorov.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones are the masked men. Los Angeles was first to score in the first period with a Dustin Brown goal, via Anze Kopitar. San Jose tied it on a Mikkel Boedker goal, passed from Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo. The Kings took the lead back with a Kopitar goal, guided in by Jake Muzzin. Los Angeles added on in the second period with a Kopitar goal, fueled by Brown and Derek Forbort. The Kings extended the lead as Nick Shore scored an unassisted goal. The final held at 4-1, with the three stars awarded to Kopitar, Brown, and Quick (24 for 25 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

MLS 2017: Week 31

A short week awaits this weekend, with only three games on during the international break. We begin with...

The New York Red Bulls hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. David Ousted and Luis Robles are in goal. New York led off in the thirty-third minute with a Daniel Royer goal, via Sacha Kljestan and Tyler Adams. Marcel de Jong of Vancouver had a yellow card for a fifty-first minute foul. The Red Bulls added on in the fifty-eighth minute with a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal, set up by Adams. New York extended the lead in the seventy-second minute as Felipe scored, thanks to Kljestan. In the eighty-fourth minute, the Red Bulls; Kemar Lawrence received a yellow card for his foul. The final held at 3-0, with the man of the match being Kljestan.

West to Minnesota, where United FC welcomes Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Bobby Shuttleworth draw the starts in goal. Jerome Thiesson of Minnesota had a yellow card for his forty-first minute foul. Kansas City began in first half stoppage time with a Diego Rubio goal, passed from Latif Blessing. Melia came out in the fifty-ninth minute with an injury, and Andrew Dykstra replaced him in goal. Sporting saw yellow cards for Seth Sinovic in the seventieth minute for a foul and for time wasting in the seventy-second minute by Dykstra. Minnesota tied it in the eighty-fourth minute on a Brent Kallman goal, coming off of Abu Danladi. Minnesota went down to ten men after consecutive yellow cards for Joseph Greenspan in the eighty-sixth minute and in stoppage time. The final stayed at 1-1, with Kallman named man of the match.

Finally, the Colorado Rapids bring in FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and Zac MacMath are the keepers. Colorado struck first in the fifteenth minute with a Stefan Aigner goal, via Joshua Gatt. Dismark Boateng of the Rapids had a yellow card for his twenty-second minute foul. Dallas tied it in the fifty-fourth minute on an Atiba Harris goal, set up by Javier Morales. Dominique Badji of Colorado had a yellow card for a sixty-eighth minute foul. In the sixty-ninth minute, Harris took a yellow card for a foul. The score was 1-1 in the end, with the man of the match being Aigner.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

Friday, October 6, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 3

Just three games on tonight, beginning in...

Columbus, as the Blue Jackets host the New York Islanders. Thomas Greiss and Sergei Bobrovsky are in goal. Columbus opened in the first period with a Sonny Milano goal, via Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets added on with a Cam Atkinson goal, helped along by Artemi Panarin. Columbus extended the lead in the second period as Ryan Murray scored, thanks to Panarin and Alexander Wennberg. The Blue Jackets padded the lead on a Zach Werenski power play goal, powered by Wennberg and Panarin, the latter earning a sock trick. Columbus chased Greiss with a Pierre-Luc Dubois goal, coming off of Seth Jones. This stood for a 5-0 win, as Jaroslav Halak went perfect in relief. The three stars were Panarin, Bobrovsky (29 save shutout), and Wennberg.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning welcome the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Andrei Vasilevskiy make the starts in goal. Tampa Bay started in the first period with an Ondrej Palat goal, assisted by Brayden Point and Victor Hedman. The Lightning added on with a Point goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Florida got on the board with a Connor Brickley goal, helped along by Alex Petrovic. The Panthers tied it on a Mark Pysyk goal, via Radim Vrbata and Vincent Trocheck. Tampa Bay retook the lead in the third period with a Vladislav Namestnikov power play goal, powered by Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn. The Lightning extended the lead as Nikita Kucherov scored an unassisted goal. Florida got one back with a Jonathan Huberdeau goal, passed from Evgenii Dadonov and Keith Yandle. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-3 with a Palat empty net goal, set up by Point. The three stars went to Point, Palat, and Namestnikov.

Finally, the Dallas Stars bring in the Vegas Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ben Bishop are the masked men. Dallas got going in the second period with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, powered by Devin Shore and John Klingberg. Vegas tied it in the third period with a James Neal goal, coming off of Nate Schmidt and Luca Sbisa. The Golden Knights pulled ahead with a Neal goal, his second of the game, made possible by Cody Eakin and Jason Garrison. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Neal, Fleury (45 for 46 in saves), and Seguin.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 2

Eight games on for the second day of the regular season. We begin in...

Boston, as the Bruins host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Tuukka Rask are the Finnish goalies. Boston began in the first period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, powered by Charlie McAvoy and David Krejci. Nashville tied it on a Viktor Arvidsson goal, made possible by Ryan Johansen. The Bruins took the lead back in the second period with a Jake DeBrusk goal, helped along by Krejci and Anders Bjork. Boston added on with a McAvoy goal, assisted by Krejci, who got a sock trick, and DeBrusk. The Bruins extended the lead with a shorthanded empty net goal by Brad Marchand in the third period, set up by Brandon Carlo. The Predators got one back on a Scott Hartnell power play goal, coming off of Johansen and Arvidsson. Nashville got closer with a Filip Forsberg power play goal, going in unassisted. The final held at 4-3, with the three stars given to Krejci, DeBrusk, and McAvoy, while Arvidsson and Johansen get the honorable mentions.

Up in Buffalo, the Sabres welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Robin Lehner are the masked men. Buffalo started in the first period with a Jason Pominville goal, courtesy of Seth Griffith on the power play. Montreal tied it on a Max Pacioretty goal, assisted by Jonathan Drouin and Brendan Gallagher. The Sabres took the lead back in the second period with a Pominville goal, made possible by Jack Eichel and Evander Kane. The Canadiens tied it again in the third period with a shorthanded Phillip Danault goal, set up by Shea Weber and Karl Alzner. Montreal won 3-2 in the shootout with a lone tally by Drouin. The three stars went to Drouin, Price (43 for 45), and Pominville.

In New York City, the Rangers host the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Henrik Lundqvist are the veterans in goal. Colorado led off in the first period with a Matt Duchene goal, coming off of Patrik Nemeth and Nail Yakupov. The Avalanche added on with a Mikko Rantanen power play goal, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie. New York got on the board with a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, with a lone assist by Kevin Shattenkirk. The Rangers tied it on a Zibanejad goal, guided in by Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich. Colorado took the lead back in the second period with a Barrie goal, helped along by Alexander Kerfoot and Chris Bigras. The Avalanche iced it at 4-2 with a Gabriel Landeskog empty net goal, set up by Duchene. The three stars were Duchene, Zibanejad, and Varlamov (37 for 39 in saves).

Northwest to Detroit, where the Red Wings bring in the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Jimmy Howard draw the starts in goal. Detroit got going in the second period with an Anthony Mantha power play goal, powered by Martin Frk and Mike Green. The Red Wings added on with a Dylan Larkin power play goal, with assists provided by Green and Mantha. Minnesota got on the board in the third period with a Joel Eriksson Ek goal, via Chris Stewart and Marcus Foligno. The Wild tied it on a Stewart goal, helped along by Tyler Ennis and Kyle Quincey. Detroit pulled ahead again with a Henrik Zetterberg goal, assisted by Green, who got a sock trick, and Gustav Nyquist. The Red Wings extended the lead as Frk scored, thanks to Mantha. The final held at 4-2, with the three stars given to Frk, Mantha, and Green, while Stewart gets an honorable mention.

Up in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Craig Anderson are between the pipes. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Chris Wideman goal, via Derick Brassard and Bobby Ryan. Washington tied it on a Brett Connolly goal, coming off of Lars Eller and Matt Niskanen. The Senators took the lead back in the second period with a Mark Stone goal, with a lone assist by Brassard. Ottawa added on in the third period with a Brassard goal, helped along by Bobby Ryan. The Capitals got one back with an Alex Ovechkin goal, guided in by Evgeny Kuznetsov. Washington tied it as Ovechkin scored again, thanks to Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. The Senators retook the lead with another Stone goal, passed from Dion Phaneuf and Wideman. The Capitals tied it again with an Ovechkin goal, completing his hat trick with helpers from Kuznetsov, who got a sock trick, and Vrana. The tie went to a shootout, where Ovechkin and Kuznetsov topped Ryan to give the Capitals a 5-4 win. The three stars belonged to Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Brassard, while Stone, Wideman, Vrana, and Ryan get the honorable mentions.

Southwest to Chicago, as the Blackhawks welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Antti Niemi and Corey Crawford are the goalies. Chicago struck first in the first period with a Ryan Hartman goal, via Patrick Kane and Michal Kempny. The Blackhawks added on with a Brandon Saad goal, with a lone assist by Richard Panik. Chicago extended the lead as Nick Schmaltz scored, thanks to Kane and Hartman. The Blackhawks chased Niemi with a Saad goal, with assists provided by Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith. Chicago padded the lead against Matt Murray with a Patrick Sharp goal, assisted by Artem Anisimov. Pittsburgh got on the board in the second period with a Phil Kessel power play goal, powered by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The Blackhawks responded with a Kane goal, fueled by Hartman and Gustav Forsling. Chicago continued with a Panik goal, made possible by Schmaltz and Jan Rutta. The Blackhawks piled on with a Schmaltz goal, courtesy of Kane and Hartman, both of whom earned sock tricks. Chicago kept going with a Saad goal to complete his hat trick, with the help of Jonathan Toews and Seabrook. The Blackhawks finished it at 10-1 with a Seabrook goal, guided in by John Hayden and Hartman. The three stars were Saad, Hartman, and Kane, while Seabrook and Schmaltz get the honorable mentions.

Out in California, the Los Angeles Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers. Michal Neuvirth and Jonathan Quick are in the blue paint. Los Angeles dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Trevor Lewis goal, helped along by Nick Shore and Kyle Clifford. The Kings added on with a Tyler Toffoli goal in the third period, assisted by Jeff Carter and Tanner Pearson. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Quick (35 save shutout), Lewis, and Toffoli.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Arizona Coyotes. Louis Domingue is mismatched with John Gibson in goal. Arizona was first to score in the first period with an Anthony Duclair goal, via Alex Goligoski and Tobias Rieder. The Coyotes added on with a Clayton Keller goal, coming off of Goligoski and Max Domi. Anaheim got on the board with a Corey Perry goal, assisted by Rickard Rakell. Arizona shot back in the second period with a Domi power play goal, powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Christian Dvorak. The Coyotes extended the lead as Christian Fischer scored a power play goal, thanks to Brendan Perlini and Goligoski, the latter earning a sock trick. The Ducks chipped back with Perry's second of the game, guided in by Rakell and Andrew Cogliano. Anaheim pulled closer on an Ondrej Kase goal, made possible by Jakob Silfverberg and Brandon Montour. The Ducks tied it in the third period with a Cogliano goal, with a lone assist by Perry. Anaheim took the lead with a Rakell goal, passed from Cogliano. This stood for a 5-4 win, with the three stars going to Rakell, Cogliano, and Perry, while Goligoski and Domi get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

NHL 2017-18 Day 1

The NHL is back in action beginning tonight. We have four games for the season debut, beginning in...

Winnipeg, as the Jets host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Steve Mason play in goal. Toronto led off in the first period with a Nazem Kadri power play goal, powered by James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. The Maple Leafs added on with a van Riemsdyk goal, via Bozak. Toronto extended the lead as William Nylander scored, thanks to Jake Gardiner and Auston Matthews. The Maple Leafs padded the lead in the second period with a Patrick Marleau goal, courtesy of Matthews and Mitchell Marner. Toronto chased Mason early in the third period with another Marleau goal, helped along by Kadri and Leo Komarov. The Maple Leafs continued with a Marner power play goal, with assists provided by van Riemsdyk and Morgan Rielly. Winnipeg got on the board with a Mark Scheifele goal, made possible by Patrik Laine and Dustin Byfuglien. Toronto shot back with a Matthews goal, guided in by Connor Carrick and Andreas Borgman. The Jets replied with a Mathieu Perreault goal, with a lone assist by Bryan Little. The final was 7-2, with the three stars going to van Riemsdyk, Matthews, and Marleau, while Marner, Kadri, and Bozak get the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Matt Murray protect the nets. Pittsburgh began in the first period with a Justin Schultz goal, coming off of Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. St. Louis tied it on a Brayden Schenn goal, via Carl Gunnarsson and Jaden Schwartz. The Blues took the lead with a Colton Parayko power play goal, going in unassisted. The Penguins tied it again in the second period with an Olli Maatta goal, courtesy of Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. St. Louis retook the lead with an Alex Pietrangelo goal, helped along by Vladimir Sobotka and Paul Stastny. The Blues added on in the third period with a Stastny goal, assisted by Sobotka and Vladimir Tarasenko. Pittsburgh pulled back on a Crosby power play goal, powered by Guentzel and Malkin. The Penguins tied it on a Conor Sheary goal, with helpers from Greg McKegg and Rust. St. Louis won 5-4 in overtime with a Pietrangelo goal, his second of the game, fueled by Schenn and Schwartz. The three stars went to Pietrangelo, Schenn, and Stastny, while Crosby, Schwartz, Sobotka, Guentzel, Malkin, and Rust receive the honorable mentions.

Out west, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the Calgary Flames. Mike Smith and Cam Talbot man the creases. Edmonton opened in the first period with a Connor McDavid goal, fueled by Leon Draisaitl and Patrick Maroon. The Oilers added on in the third period with another McDavid goal, going in unassisted. Edmonton iced it at 3-0 as McDavid completed his hat trick on an empty net goal set up by Draisaitl and Milan Lucic. The three stars were McDavid, Talbot (26 save shutout), and Draisaitl.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Elliott and Martin Jones draw the starts in goal. Philadelphia started in the first period with a Claude Giroux goal, courtesy of Jakub Voracek. The Flyers added on with a Jordan Weal power play goal, powered by Travis Konecny and Shayne Gostisbehere. San Jose got on the board with a Kevin Labanc goal, via Brenden Dillon and Joe Pavelski. The Sharks tied it with another Labanc goal, coming unassisted on the power play. Philadelphia retook the lead in the second period with a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, coming off of Gostisbehere and Voracek. San Jose retied it in the third period with a Logan Couture power play goal, with assists provided by Joe Thornton and Brent Burns. The Flyers regained the lead with a Simmonds power play goal, his second of the night, fueled by Voracek and Gostisbehere, both of whom earned sock tricks. Philadelphia iced it at 5-3 with a Simmonds empty net goal to complete his hat trick, set up by Sean Couturier. The three stars went to Simmonds Voracek, and Gostisbehere, while Labanc gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.