KHL September 27th, 2014

Eleven games on a busy day today, beginning with...

Avangard Omsk hosting the Sochi Leopards. Tomas Popperle and Konstantin Barulin are set to start. Omsk led off in the first period with an Ivan Nepryayev goal, with a lone assist by Nikolai Lemtyugov. Avangard added on as Andrei Ivanov scored, thanks to Alexander Popov and Tom Wandell. Omsk extended the lead with a shorthanded and unassisted Sergei Kalinin goal. Avangard padded the lead on an unassisted Denis Parshin goal in the second period. Omsk kept going with a power play goal by Sergei Shirokov, powered by Alexander Perezhogin. Ilya Krikunov got Sochi on the board with a goal, coming off of Nikita Shchitov and Igor Ignatushkin. Avangard shot back on a Popov shorthanded goal, set up by Wandell. Omsk struck again in the third period as Shirokov scored again, with the help of Parshin and Denis Kulyash. Avangard finished it at 8-1 with a Kirill Semyonov goal, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Shirokov, Parshin, and Popov, while Wandell gets an honorable mention.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Jan Laco are in the creases. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the second period on an unassisted Martins Karsums goal. Dynamo added on with a Kaspars Daugavins goal, fueled by Konstantin Gorovikov and Maxim Pestushko. Astana got on the board with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, guided in by Nikita Tserenok and Dmitry Upper. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Yeryomenko (35 for 36 in saves), Daugavins, and Karsums.

Back in Russia, we have Metallurg Magnitogorsk bringing in Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Vasily Koshechkin are the masked men. Magnitogorsk was first to score in the first period on a Bogdan Potekhin goal, via Sergei Tereshchenko. Magnitogorsk added on as Potekhin scored an unassisted goal in the second period. Magnitogorsk extended the lead with a Rafael Batyrshin power play goal in the second period, powered by Jan Kovar and Alexei Bereglazov. Novokuznetsk got on the board with a Mikhail Plotnikov goal, assisted by Cade Fairchild and Ryan Stoa. Magnitogorsk shot back in the third period with a Kovar power play goal, courtesy of Danis Zaripov and Batyrshin. This was good for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Potekhin, Kovar, and Batyrshin.

Up to Yekaterinburg, where Avtomobilist hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Sergei Borisov and Jakub Kovar are between the pipes. Yekaterinburg struck first in the first period on a Gilbert Brule goal, with a lone helper by Jakub Petruzalek. Avtomobilist added on in the second period as Alexander Bumagin scored, thanks to Dmitry Megalinsky. Khabarovsk got on the board with a Mikhail Zheleznov goal, assisted by Tommi Taimi and Evgeny Orlov. Yekaterinburg answered in the third period with another Brule goal, helped along by Alexei Simakov and Petruzalek. This made it a 3-1 win, with the three stars being Brule, Kovar (24 for 25 in saves), and Petruzalek.

Out in Riga, Dinamo welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Ilya Proskuryakov and Jakub Sedlacek receive the starting nods. Riga began in the first period on a Oskars Cibulskis goal, fueled by Krisjanis Rdlihs and Mikelis Redlihs on the power play. Vladivostok tied it in the second period on an Ilya Zubov goal, courtesy of Alexei Ugarov. Dinamo took the lead back on a power play goal by Mikelis Redlihs, powered by Linus Videll and Krisjanis Redlihs. Riga added on in the third period with a Miks Indrasis goal, with a lone assist by Gints Meija. Admiral shot back as Logan Pyett scored, thanks to Niclas Bergfors and Alexander Gorshkov. Dinamo iced it at 4-2 with a Marcel Hossa empty net goal, set up by Pyotr Schastlivy.

Back to Russia again, as CSKA Moscow brings in Dinamo Minsk. Dmitry Milchakov and Kevin Lalande draw the starts. Moscow opened in the first period with an Alexander Radulov goal, fueled by Jan Mursak. CSKA added on in the second period with a Stephane Da Costa power play goal, powered by Radulov and Nikita Zaitsev. This held up for a 2-0 final, with the three stars belonging to Radulov, Lalande (15 save shutout), and Da Costa.

East to Nizhny Novgorod, where Torpedo hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Ville Kolppanen and Ivan Kasutin man the nets. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period with an unassisted power play goal by Sakari Salminen. Torpedo added on with a power play goal by Wojtek Wolski, powered by Juuso Hietanen and Salminen. Nizhnekamsk got on the board with a Maxim Trunyov power play goal, coming off of Dmitry Kosmachyov and Pavel Kulikov. Nizhny Novgorod answered with a power play goal by Hietanen, courtesy of Wolski and Alexander Makarov. Neftekhimik replied with a Gleb Klimenko power play goal, assisted by Josh Hennessy and Nikolai Belov. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a third period Dan Sexton goal, fueled by Tim Stapleton and Alexander Yevseyenkov. Torpedo took the lead back on a Vladimir Galuzin goal, going in unassisted. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead as Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev scored a power play goal, thanks to Galuzin and Sergei Demagin. Neftekhimik clawed back with a Yevseyenkov goal, guided in by Stapleton and Yegor Milovzorov. Nizhnekamsk tied it again with a Maxim Rybin goal, passed from Sexton and Yevseyenkov. Neftekhimik completed the rally with an overtime goal by Pyotr Khokryakov, going in unassisted for the 6-5 win. The three stars went to Yevseyenkov, Hietanen, and Sexton, while Wolski, Salminen, Stapleton, and Galuzin all get honorable mentions.

Over to Cherepovets, where Severstal welcomes Lada Togliatti. Ilya Ezhov and Jakub Stepanek have the green light to start. Cherepovets started in the first period with a Sergei Monakhov power play goal, powered by Evgeny Mons and Pavel Chernov. Severstal added on as Nikolai Kazakovtsev scored, thanks to Sergei Kuptsov. Cherepovets extended the lead as Mons scored, with the help of Chernov and Monakhov. Togliatti got on the board with a Marat Fakhrutdinov goal, with a lone assist by Peter Podhradsky. Lada pulled closer with a second period Stanislav Bocharov goal, fueled by Martin Zatovic and Andrei Nikitenko. Severstal shot back in the third period on a David Ullstrom power play goal, assisted by Anatoly Nikontsev. Togliatti got one back on an unassisted Fakhrutdinov goal. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars going to Monakhov, Mons, and Fakhrutdinov, while Chernov gets an honorable mention.

Into St. Petersburg, where SKA brings in Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Alexander Salak guard the cages. St. Petersburg led off in the first period with a Vadim Shipachyov goal, via Artemy Panarin and Ilya Kovalchuk on the power play. Podolsk tied it in the second period on a Vyacheslav Solodukhin goal, assisted by Anton Korolyov. SKA took the lead back with an Andrei Kuteikin power play goal, powered by Evgeny Dadonov and Shipachyov. St. Petersburg added on in the third period with a Jimmie Ericsson goal, fueled by Kovalchuk and Dmitry Kalinin. SKA extended the lead with a Kalinin goal, guided in by Dadonov and Tony Martensson. St. Petersburg padded the lead on a Dadonov power play goal, helped along by Panarin and Shipachyov. SKA kept going on another Dadonov goal, with a lone helper from Viktor Tikhonov. St. Petersburg continued as Dadonov completed his natural hat trick, with the help of Panarin and Shipachyov, both of whom got sock tricks. The final stood at 7-1, with the three stars being Dadonov, Panarin, and Shipachyov, while Kovalchuk, and Kalinin got the honorable mentions.

Backtracking to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Emil Garipov are in the blue paint. Kazan began in the first period on an Alexander Burmistrov power play goal, powered by Shaun Heshka. Ak Bars added on with an Evgeny Bodrov goal, fueled by Alexander Svitov. Kazan extended the lead as Igor Mirnov scored, thanks to Konstantin Korneyev and Justin Azevedo. Ak Bars padded the lead on a Svitov goal, coming off of Bodrov and Yakov Rylov. Kazan struck again in the third period with another Bodrov goal, guided in by Dmitry Obukhov and Svitov. Novosibirsk got on the board with an Andreas Thuresson goal, courtesy of Jonas Enlund. Sibir pulled closer with a Vladimir Butuzov goal, assisted by Viktor Bobrov. This only made it a 5-2 final, with the three stars going to Bodrov, Svitov, and Garipov (34 for 36 in saves).

Finally, we end in Finland, as Jokerit Helsinki hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren is mismatched with Riku Helenius in goal. Mytishchi struck first in the first period on a shorthanded Sergei Shmelyov goal, set up by Matthew Gilroy. Helsinki tied it with a Niko Kapanen power play goal, powered by Ryan Gunderson and Juhamatti Aaltonen. Jokerit took the lead on a Kurtis McLean goal, fueled by Jere Sallinen. Helsinki added on in the second period as Petr Koukal scored, thanks to Johan Harju and Ossi Vaananen. Jokerit extended the lead on a Steve Moses goal, assisted by Koukal and Tommi Huhtala. Atlant got one back on a Vitaly Novopashin goal, passed from Konstantin Koltsov. There was no scoring in the third period, for a 4-2 final score. The three stars went to Koukal, Moses, and Shmelyov.

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KHL September 26th, 2014

Three games on for today, beginning in...

Ufa, as Salavat Yulaev hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Vitalys Kolesnik and Koval are the goalies. Ufa got going in the second period with a Dmitry Makarov goal, fueled by Ivan Lekomtsev and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on with a Denis Tolpeko goal, courtesy of Ivan Vishnevsky and Ilkka Heikkinen on the power play. Ufa extended the lead on an unassisted goal by Anton Slepyshev. Salavat Yulaev padded the lead in the third period with an Alexei Kaigorodov goal, assisted by Kirill Koltsov and Evgeny Skachkov. Yaroslavl got on the board as Jonas Holos scored, thanks to Emil Galimov and Vladislav Kartayev. Ufa shot back with an Antti Pihlstrom goal, made possible by Koltsov and Kaigorodov on the power play. Lokomotiv got one back on a Sergei Konkov goal, with a lone assist by Alexei Kruchinin. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars being Kaigorodov, Slepyshev, and Koltsov.

Over in Chelyabinsk, Traktor welcomes Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Mikhail Biryukov and Vasily Demchenko are in the blue paint. Chelyabinsk started in the first period with a Stanislav Chistov goal, guided in by Andrei Popov and Anton Glinkin. Traktor added on with a power play goal by Konstantin Panov, powered by Deron Quint and Martin Ruzicka. Chelyabinsk extended the lead in the second period on a Vyacheslav Osnovin goal, passed from Artyom Penkovsky. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period with a Ben Maxwell goal, helped along by Toni Rajala. Yugra pulled closer with a Philip Larsen goal, with a lone helper from Rajala. Traktor iced it at 4-2 with a Popov goal, set up by Ruzicka. The three stars were Popov, Ruzicka, and Rajala.

Finally, out in Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Slovan Bratislava. Jaroslav Janus and Barry Brust are the masked men. Bratislava opened with a first period power play goal by Ladislav Nagy, going in unassisted. Zagreb tied it in the third period with a Bill Thomas power play goal, powered by Pascal Pelletier and Martin St. Pierre. Slovan took the lead back as Nagy scored again, thanks to Ziga Jeglic and Michal Sersen on the power play. Bratislava iced it at 3-1 as Nagy deposited an empty net goal set up by Michal Vondrka. The three stars were Nagy, Janus (20 for 21 in saves), and Thomas.

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KHL September 25th, 2014

Ten games on today, including some real whoppers out there. We begin with...

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosting Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Jakub Kovar are the goalies. Novosibirsk started in the first period with an Artyom Karavayev goal, courtesy of Andreas Thuresson. Yekaterinburg tied it on a power play goal by Alexander Bumagin, powered by Dmitry Megalinsky and Anton Krysanov. Avtomobilist took the lead with an Alexei Simakov goal, fueled by Megalinsky and Filipp Metlyuk. Sibir tied it in the second period as Konstantin Alexeyev scored, thanks to Oleg Gubin. Novosibirsk won 3-2 in overtime with a Patrik Hersley goal, with a lone assist by Thuresson. The three stars went to Hersley, Thuresson, and Megalinsky.

Down in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Sergei Borisov and Vasily Koshechkin get the starting nods. Khabarovsk led off in the first period with an Evgeny Orlov goal, courtesy of Mikhail Fisenko. Amur added on as Orlov scored again, with the help of Tommi Taimi on the power play. Alexander Pechursky relieved Koshechkin for the second period. Magnitogorsk got on the board in the second period with a Danis Zaripov goal, guided in by Viktor Antipin and Jan Kovar. Metallurg tied it on an Oskar Osala goal, helped along by Mikhail Yunkov. Magnitogorsk pulled ahead as Zaripov scored an unassisted goal. Metallurg extended their lead with a Denis Platonov goal, coming off of Zaripov. Magnitogorsk padded the lead when Francis Pare scored a power play goal, powered by Alexei Bereglazov. Metallurg kept going in the third period with another Pare goal, made possible by Chris Lee and Rafael Batyrshin. Magnitogorsk struck again when Zaripov finished his hat trick, with a lone helper from Kovar. Borisov was pulled in favor of Sergei Bolshakov at this time. The final stood at 7-2, with the three stars being Zaripov, Pare, and Orlov, while Kovar gets an honorable mention.

Southwest to Sochi, where the Leopards bring in Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Andrei Gavrilov are in the blue paint. Moscow struck first in the first with a power play goal by Yury Babenko, assisted by Alexei Tereshchenko and Nikolai Zherdev. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 1-0 final. The three stars belonged to Yeryomenko (29 save shutout), Babenko, and Gavrilov (20 for 21 in saves).

Speaking of Moscow, CSKA hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Stanislav Galimov are the masked men. Moscow began with a power play goal by Chad Billins, powered by Alexander Radulov and Bogdan Kiselevich. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a Josh Hennessy goal, with a lone helper by Dan Sexton. CSKA took the lead back with a Nikita Zaitsev power play goal, via Stephane Da Costa and Radulov. Moscow added on as Da Costa scored a power play goal, courtesy of Radulov, who got a sock trick, and Igor Grigorenko. Neftekhimik got one back with a Sexton power play goal, made possible by Alexander Yevseyenkov. CSKA shot back on a Da Costa goal, coming off of Grigorenko and Radulov. Moscow extended their lead on an Andrei Stas goal in the second period, and Radulov had another apple on the play. CSKA padded the lead in the third period on an Evgeny Artyukhin goal, helped along by Nikolai Prokhorkin and Jan Mursak. Nizhnekamsk clawed back with a Pyotr Khokhryakov goal, passed from Yaroslav Alshevsky. This was as close as it got, with the final being 6-3. Radulov, Da Costa, and Grigorenko get the three stars, while Sexton gets an honorable mention.

Backtracking to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo welcomes Lada Togliatti. Ilya Ezhov and Ivan Kasutin are between the pipes. Nizhny Novgorod was first to score in the first period with a Wojtek Wolski power play goal, powered by Juuso Hietanen and Sakari Salminen. Torpedo added on with a Salminen power play goal, fueled by Alexander Makarov. Nizhny Novgorod iced it at 3-0 with a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev empty net goal, set up by Maxim Osipov. The three stars were given to Salminen, Wolski, and Kasutin (15 save shutout).

A little over to Cherepovets, as Severstal brings in Dinamo Minsk. Dmitry Milchakov and Jakub Stepanek draw the starts. Cherepovets got going in the second period with a Sergei Monakhov power play goal, powered by Andrei Shefer and David Ullstrom. Minsk tied it on a Jonathan Cheechoo power play goal, assisted by Ryan Vesce and Charles Linglet. Dinamo took the lead as Linglet scored a power play goal, thanks to Matt Ellison and Vesce. Minsk iced it at 3-1 with a third period Ellison shorthanded and empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were handed to Linglet, Vesce, and Ellison.

South to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Anders Nilsson are protecting the nets. Kazan opened in the first period with a Kirill Petrov goal, courtesy of Evgeny Medvedev and Oscar Moller. Novokuznetsk tied it with a Ryan Stoa power play goal, powered by Cade Fairchild and Mikhail Plotnikov. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Metallurg won 2-1 with a lone tally by Alexander Komaristy. The three stars went to Sorokin (32 for 33 in saves), Nilsson (31 for 32 in saves), and Komaristy.

North to Finland, where Jokerit Helsinki welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Ari Ahonen and Riku Helenius guard the cages. Vladivostok dented the scoreboard in the first period with an Andrei Sigaryov goal, fueled by Konstantin Sokolov. Helsinki tied it on a Juhamatti Aaltonen goal, courtesy of Ryan Gunderson and Niko Kapanen. Jokerit took the lead in the second period on a Jere Karalahti goal, passed from Daine Todd and Riku Hahl on the power play. Helsinki added on with a Steve Moses goal, assisted by Petr Koukal and Tommi Huhtala. Admiral pulled back with a Niclas Bergfors power play goal, powered by Logan Pyett and Denis Osipov. Vladivostok tied it on a Vyacheslav Ushenin goal, made possible by Alexander Gorshkov and Denis Kuzmin. Jokerit regained the lead on an unassisted Moses goal. Helsinki extended their lead with a Huhtala goal, set up by Koukal and Jere Sallinen on the power play. Jokerit padded the lead as Niklas Hagman scored, thanks to Aaltonen and Kurtis McLean. Helsinki finished it at 7-3 with a Linus Omark goal, guided in by Karalahti and Todd on the power play. The three stars were handed to Karalahti, Aaltonen, and Todd, while Huhtala and Koukal get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, SKA St. Petersburg brings in Atlant Mytishchi. Dmitry Shikin is mismatched with Alexander Salak in goal. St. Petersburg led off with an Artemy Panarin power play goal, powered by Ilya Kovalchuk and Vadim Shipachyov. SKA added on as Alexei Ponikarovsky scored a goal, helped along by Viktor Tikhonov and Kovalchuk. Mytishchi got on the board with an Artyom Chernov goal, passed from Andreas Engqvist and Sergei Shmelyov on the power play. Atlant tied it with an Artyom Voronin goal, assisted by Mikhail Glukhov. St. Petersburg took the lead back with a Roman Cervenka goal, fueled by Tony Martensson. SKA extended the lead on a Martensson goal, guided in by Maxim Chudinov and Cervenka. Mytishchi replied with an Engqvist goal, coming off of Yaroslav Dyblenko and Shmelyov on the power play. St. Petersburg countered with a Panarin goal, via Shipachyov and Chudinov. Atlant pulled back on a Nikita Soshnikov unassisted goal in the third period. The final stood from here at 5-4. The three stars were Panarin, Martensson, and Cervenka, while Kovalchuk, Shipachyov, Engqvist, Shmelyov, and Chudinov all get honorable mentions.

Finally, Dinamo Riga hosts Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Jakub Sedlacek tend the twines. They did this very well for sixty-five minutes, keeping the game scoreless. In the shootout, Mario Kempe was the only one to score, giving Vityaz the 1-0 win. The three stars were Sateri (33 save shutout), Sedlacek (26 save "shutout"), and Kempe.

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MLS Wednesday September 24, 2014

Just one game tonight, as FC Dallas hosts the Seattle Sounders FC. Stefan Frei and Raul Fernandez are the keepers. Dallas began in the eighth minute on a David Texeira goal, courtesy of Andres Escobar. Dallas took a yellow card for a Michel foul in the forty-fourth minute. Seattle tied it on a fifty-eighth minute goal by Lamar Neagle, via Clint Dempsey. Dallas took the lead back in the seventy-eighth minute as Texeira scored again, thanks to Escobar. Texeira also got a yellow card for excessive celebration for this goal. Dallas iced it at 3-1 with an eighty-eighth minute Blas Perez goal, helped along by Michel. The man of the match was Texeira for his brace.

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KHL September 24th, 2014

Just two games today, beginning in...

Astana, as Barys hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Jan Laco protect the nets. Astana began in the first period with an Evgeny Rymarev goal, via Konstantin Rudenko and Nik Antropov on the power play. Yaroslavl tied on a second period power play goal by Yegor Averin, powered by Jiri Novotny and Geoff Platt. Lokomotiv took the lead as Novotny scored, with a lone assist by Martin Thornberg. Barys tied it on a Nigel Dawes power play goal, assisted by Mike Lundin and Brandon Bochenski. Yaroslavl took the lead back in the third period with a Sergei Konkov goal, coming off of Yegor Yakovlev and Emil Galimov on the power play. Astana tied it with a Bochenski goal, courtesy of Lundin and Roman Savchenko. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Lokomotiv won 4-3 with a lone tally by Novotny. The three stars were given to Novotny, Bochenski, and Lundin.

The other game came from Slovakia, as Slovan Bratislava hosts Medvescak Zagreb. Barry Brust and Johan Backlund are in the blue paint. Bratislava got going in the second period with a power play goal by Ladislav Nagy, powered by Michal Vondrka and Vaclav Nedorost. Zagreb tied it as Pascal Pelletier scored, thanks to Brandon Segal. Medvescak took the lead with a Segal goal, assisted by Pelletier and Martin St. Pierre on the power play. Zagreb added on with a Segal goal in the third period, again courtesy of Pelletier and St. Pierre. Medvescak made it 4-1 with a Patrick Bjorkstrand shorthanded goal, set up by Andrew Murray. The three stars went to Segal, Pelletier, and St. Pierre.

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KHL September 23rd, 2014

Eleven games on for the heaviest slate in about a week. We begin with...

Avtomobilist Yekaterinbrug hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Ilya Sorokin and Jakub Kovar are in the blue paint. Novokuznetsk started in the first period with a Mikhail Plotnikov goal, assisted by Alexei Kosourov and Ryan Stoa. Metallurg added on with a Denis Kurepanov goal, passed from Tomas Rachunek. Novokuznetsk extended the lead on a power play goal by Dmitry Maltsev, powered by Matt Lashoff and Vladimir Malinovsky. Yekaterinburg got on the board with a third period power play goal by Alexei Simakov, fueled by Tobias Viklund and Sami Lepisto. Avtomobilist pulled closer on a power play goal from Gilbert Brule, with a lone assist by Jakub Petruzalek. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Maltsev, Kurepanov, and Plotnikov.

Over to Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev welcomes Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Vladimir Sokhatsky. Ufa led off in the first period with a Dmitry Makarov goal, guided in by Dmitry Semin and Alexander Kutuzov. Salavat Yulaev added on as Alexei Glukhov scored, thanks to Alexander Stepanov and Anton Slepyshev. Alexander Yeryomenko replaced Lazushin at the start of the second period. Moscow got on the board in the second period with a Dmitry Tereshchenko goal, assisted by Roman Derlyuk and Gleb Koryagin. Dynamo tied it with a shorthanded Tereshchenko goal, set up by Yury Babenko. Moscow took the lead on a Konstantin Gorovikov goal, fueled by Kaspars Daugavins and Maxim Pestushko. Vitaly Koval relieved Sokhatsky in the third period. Dynamo iced it at 4-2 in the third period with a Konstantin Volkov empty net goal, coming off of Janne Jalasvaara. The three stars were Tereshchenko, Gorovikov, and Babenko.

Down in Magnitogorsk, Metallurg brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Mikko Koskinen and Vasily Koshechkin tend the twines. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period on a Jan Kovar power play goal, powered by Chris Lee and Danis Zaripov. Novosibirsk tied it in the second period as Vladimir Butuzov scored, with the help of Viktor Bobrov and Artyom Voroshilo. Metallurg took the lead back in the third period as Kovar scored his second of the game, via Zaripov and Oskar Osala. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Kovar, Koshechkin (35 for 36 in saves), and Zaripov.

Moving along to Khanty-Mansiysk, as Yugra hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vladislav Fokin and Mikhail Biryukov draw the starts. Khanty-Mansiysk was first to score in the first period on an Ivan Yatsenko goal, coming off of Andrei Chibisov and Nikita Filatov. Yugra added on with an Artyom Bulyansky goal, courtesy of Igor Magogin and Vitaly Sitnikov. Vasily Demchenko relieved Fokin at this time. Chelyabinsk got on the board with an Anton Glinkin goal, made possible by Vitaly Atyushov and Andrei Popov. Khanty-Mansiysk shot back in the second period with a Lukas Kaspar goal, guided in by Grigory Zheldakov. Traktor pulled back in the third period as Danil Gubarev scored, thanks to Andrei Kostitsyn and Maxim Kondratyev. Chelyabinsk tied it on a Martin Ruzicka goal, assisted by Jan Bulis. Traktor won 4-3 in the shootout with a lone tally by Kostitsyn. The three stars belonged to Kostitsyn, Ruzicka, and Gubarev.

West a little to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo welcomes Dinamo Minsk. Dmitry Milchakov and Ivan Kasutin are between the pipes. Minsk got going in the second period with a Dmitry Meleshko goal, assisted by Ilya Shinkevich and Alexander Kulakov. Nizhny Novgorod tied it on a Petteri Nokelainen goal, passed from Alexander Makarov and Dmitry Kazionov. Dinamo won it 2-1 in overtime as Meleshko scored again, with a lone assist by Kulakov. The three stars were awarded to Meleshko, Milchakov (24 for 25 in saves), and Kulakov.

Into Moscow, as CSKA brings in Lada Togliatti. Ilya Ezhov and Stanislav Galimov protect the nets. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Ivan Telegin goal, coming off of Georgy Misharin on the power play. CSKA added on in the third period with a Nikolai Prokhorkin goal, guided in by Evgeny Artyukhin and Jan Mursak. Moscow extended the lead as Alexander Radulov scored, thanks to Stephane Da Costa and Bogdan Kiselevich. This produced the 3-0 final, with the three stars going to Telegin, Prokhorkin, and Radulov.

Backtracking to Cherepovets, where Severstal hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Jakub Stepanek are the masked men. Nizhnekamsk began in the first period with an Andrei Stepanov goal, passed from Maxim Trunyov and Mikhail Zhukov. Cherepovets tied it on a penalty shot goal by Ignat Zemchenko, which he received after Sudnitsin threw his stick. Neftekhimik took the lead back on a Pyotr Khokhryakov goal, courtesy of Yaroslav Alshevsky. Severstal tied it in the third period with a Dmitry Kagarlitsky goal, fueled by Adam Almqvist and Pavel Chernov. Neftekhimik took the game 3-2 with a lone tally by Trunyov in the shootout. The three stars were Trunyov, Khokhryakov, and Stepanov.

Down in Kazan, Ak Bars welcomes Amur Khabarovsk. Sergei Borisov and Emil Garipov receive the starting nods. Khabarovsk opened with a first period goal by Marcel Hascak, courtesy of Jesse Niinimaki on the power play. Kazan tied it on a Mikhail Varnakov goal, passed from Janne Pesonen and Fyodor Malykhin. Ak Bars took the lead in the second period a power play goal by Justin Azevedo, powered by Sergei Kostitsyn and Ilya Nikulin. Kazan added on with another Varnakov goal, made possible by Malykhin and Pesonen. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 3-1 final, and the three stars went to Varnakov, Pesonen, and Malykhin.

Into Finland, as Jokerit Helsinki brings in Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Henrik Karlsson man the nets. Podolsk struck first in the first period with an Anton Korolyov power play goal, powered by Vyacheslav Solodukhin and Yury Koksharov. Helsinki tied it with a Niklas Hagman goal, assisted by Juhamatti Aaltonen and Jere Karalahti. Jokerit took the lead with an Aaltonen power play goal, made possible by Ryan Gunderson and Hagman. Vityaz tied it in the second period as Mario Kempe scored a power play goal, pushed through by Alexei Grishin and Denis Grebeshkov. Podolsk took the lead on a power play goal by Roman Horak, via Grebeshkov and Kempe. Helsinki tied it in the third period on a Hagman goal, fueled by Niko Kapanen and Atte Ohtamaa. Vityaz took the lead back with a Maxim Mamin goal, set up by Nikita Shatsky and Alexei Makeyev. This was good for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Kempe, Hagman, and Aaltonen, while Grebeshkov gets an honorable mention.

Back in Russia, SKA St. Petersburg welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Ivan Nalimov opposes former Admiral Evgeny Ivannikov in goal. Vladivostok was first to score in the first period on a Konstantin Sokolov goal, passed from Niclas Bergfors. Admiral added on in the second period with an unassisted goal by Richard Gynge. Vladivostok extended the lead with a Bergfors power play goal, with a lone assist by Gynge. St. Petersburg got on the board with an Artemy Panarin goal, courtesy of Evgeny Dadonov. SKA pulled closer with a Viktor Tikhonov goal, guided in by Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexei Kuteikin. St. Petersburg tied it in the third period on a Patrick Thoresen goal, made possible by Anton Belov and Roman Cervenka on the power play. SKA took the lead with a Yury Alexandrov goal, coming off of Alexei Ponikarovsky and Ilya Kablukov. They held on from here to win 4-3, with Alexandrov, Gynge, and Bergfors getting the three stars.

Finally, Dinamo Riga brings in Atlant Mytishchi. Atte Engren and Jakub Sedlacek have the green light to start. Mytishchi led off in the first period with an Igor Radulov goal, assisted by Yaroslav Dyblenko and Mikhail Glukhov. Riga tied it on a power play goal by Lauris Darzins, powered by Krisjanis Redlihs and Oskars Cibulskis. Dinamo took the lead in the second period on an unassisted goal by Gunars Skvorcovs. Riga added on with a Milan Jurcina goal, passed from Juris Upitis. Dinamo extended the lead with a Marcel Hossa power play goal in the third period, guided in by Atlant got one back on an Ondrej Nemec shorthanded goal, set up by Sergei Shmelyov. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-2. The three stars went to Jurcina, Hossa, and Skvorcovs.

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KHL September 22nd, 2014

Just one game today, as Avangard Omsk hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Konstantin Barulin tend the twines. Omsk started with a first period power play goal by Denis Parshin, powered by Sergei Shirokov and Erik Gustafsson. Avangard added on in the second period as Andrei Ivanov scored, thanks to Alexander Popov and Gustafsson. Yaroslavl got on the board with a Sergei Konkov goal, passed from Emil Galimov. Lokomotiv tied it on an Ilya Gorokhov goal, assisted by Jiri Novotny and Alexei Kruchinin. Omsk took the lead back with another Parshin goal, fueled by Vladimir Sobotka. Avangard extended the lead with a third period goal by Shirokov, with a lone assist by Sobotka. This made it 4-2, the final, with the three stars going to Parshin, Shirokov, and Gustafsson, while Sobotka gets an honorable mention.

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