KHL 2016/17 - Day 116

Four games today, beginning with...

Kunlun Red Star Beijing hosting Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Tomi Karhunen are the Finnish goalies. The game didn't have a goal until the shootout, where Tomas Zohorna, Vyacheslav Ushenin, and Alexei Byvaltsev lifted Amur over Kunlun Red Star's Damien Fleury for a 1-0 win. The three stars were Metsola (34 save shutout), Karhunen (30 save shutout), and Ushenin.

Way west to Moscow, where Spartak welcomes Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Markus Svensson are in the creases. Podolsk opened in the first period with an Alexei Kopeikin power play goal, powered by Mario Kempe and Miro Aaltonen. Vityaz added on with a Roman Horak power play goal, assisted by Jakub Jerabek and Aaltonen. Podolsk extended the lead as Alexander Pankov scored, thanks to Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi. Moscow got on the board with a Yaroslav Dyblenko goal in the second period, fueled by Vadim Berdnikov and Tim Stapleton. Vityaz replied with a Nikita Vyglazov goal, passed from Artyom Chernov. Spartak countered with a Sergei Shmelyov goal in the third period, via Vyacheslav Leshchenko. Podolsk iced it at 5-2 with a Horak empty net goal, his second of the game, set up by Chernov. The three stars went to Horak, Pankov, and Chernov.

Over in Nizhny Novgorod, Torpedo brings in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Alexander Sudnitsin is mismatched with Ilya Proskuryakov in goal. Nizhny Novgorod led off with a Carter Ashton goal in the first period, helped along by Evgeny Grachyov. Yaroslavl tied it on a Staffan Kronwall power play goal, powered by Jakub Nakladal and Andrei Loktionov. Lokomotiv took the lead with a Vladislav Kartayev goal in the second period, going in unassisted. Mikhail Biryukov replaced Proskuryakov in goal. Yaroslavl added on with a Maxime Talbot goal, assisted by Nakladal and Kronwall. This stood for a 3-1 final, with the three stars belonging to Kronwall, Nakladal, and Sudnitsin (21 for 22 in saves).

Finally, the Sochi Leopards host Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Konstantin Barulin are set to start in goal. Sochi began in the first period with an Evgeny Skachkov goal, assisted by Andrei Kostitsyn. The Leopards added on with an Andre Petersson power play goal, powered by Kostitsyn and Igor Ignatushkin. Moscow got on the board with an Artyom Fyodorov goal, passed from Lukas Kaspar. Dynamo tied it with a Maxim Karpov goal in the second period, guided in by Ilya Nikulin and Martins Karsums. Sochi retook the lead with a Mikhail Mamkin goal, coming off of Kostitsyn, who earned a sock trick, and Ignatushkin. The Leopards extended the lead as Renat Mamashev scored a power play goal, with the help of Eric O'Dell and Ben Maxwell. Sochi padded the lead with an unassisted Pavel Padakin goal in the third period. Moscow pulled back with a Denis Kokarev goal, via Artyom Podshendyalov. This only made it 5-3, with the three stars being Kostitsyn, Ignatushkin, and Mamkin.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2016/17 - Day 72

Twelve games on for the last day before the holiday break. We begin with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Buffalo Sabres. Anders Nilsson and Thomas Greiss are the lesser-known goalies. New York led off in the first period with an Anthony Beauvillier goal, his fourth of the season, coming off of Travis Hamonic and Shane Prince. The Islanders added on in the second period with a Ryan Strome goal, his fifth of the year, via Cal Clutterbuck and Dennis Seidenberg. New York extended the lead as John Tavares scored his tenth of the campaign, a power play goal powered by Strome and Josh Bailey. The Islanders padded the lead as Andrew Ladd scored his fifth of the season in the third period, thanks to Jason Chimera and Hamonic. New York kept going with a Calvin de Haan goal, his second of the year, helped along by Alan Quine and Seidenberg. Buffalo got on the board with a Zemgus Girgensons goal, his third of the campaign, guided in by Zach Bogosian and Sam Reinhart. This only made it 5-1, the final, with the three stars going to Strome, Hamonic, and Seidenberg.

Across town, the New York Rangers welcome the Minnesota Wild. Darcy Kuemper and Henrik Lundqvist are set to start in goal. New York began in the first period with a Chris Kreider goal, his tenth of the season, passed from Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan. Minnesota tied it on a Mikael Granlund goal, his eighth of the year, courtesy of Jason Zucker and Mikko Koivu. The Wild took the lead in the second period with a Koivu goal, his ninth of the season, via Zucker. Minnesota added on with a Nino Niederreiter goal, his ninth of the year, made possible by Charlie Coyle and Eric Staal. The Rangers pulled one back with a Ryan McDonagh goal, his second of the season, helped along by Stepan and Kreider. The Wild chased Lundqvist with a Marco Scandella goal, assisted by Coyle and Koivu. Minnesota extended the lead as Zucker scored his eighth of the year, thanks to Granlund. The Wild padded the lead with a Matt Dumba power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Coyle, who got a sock trick, and Staal. New York answered with a Stepan goal, his seventh of the year, fueled by Zuccarello and Kevin Klein. The Rangers got closer in the third period with a Kreider goal, his second of the game and eleventh of the season, guided in by Zuccarello, who got a sock trick, and McDonagh. Minnesota finished it at 7-4 with a Coyle empty net goal, his twelfth of the year, set up by Niederreiter. The three stars went to Koivu, Zucker, and Coyle, while Granlund, Niederreiter, Staal, Kreider, Stepan, Zuccarello, and McDonagh receive the honorable mentions.

Over in Pittsburgh, the Penguins bring in the New Jersey Devils. Cory Schneider and Marc-Andre Fleury are the masked men. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Sidney Crosby power play goal, his twenty-fourth of the season, powered by Justin Schultz and Phil Kessel. The Penguins added on in the second period with an Eric Fehr goal, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. New Jersey got on the board with a Kyle Palmieri goal, his sixth of the season, via John Moore and Taylor Hall. Pittsburgh answered with a Chad Ruhwedel goal, passed from Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins extended the lead in the third period as Patric Hornqvist scored his eighth of the year, thanks to Malkin. The final stood at 4-1, with the three stars being Fehr, Ruhwedel, and Malkin.

Back east, the Washington Capitals host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Braden Holtby protect the nets. Washington started in the first period with a John Carlson goal, his second of the season, coming off of Karl Alzner and Tom Wilson. The Capitals added on with a Carlson goal, his second of the game and third of the year, via Marcus Johansson and Nicklas Backstrom. Washington extended the lead in the second period as Alex Ovechkin scored his fifteenth of the season, thanks to Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals padded the lead on a third period Johansson goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Backstrom. Kristers Gudlevskis replaced Vasilevskiy. This made it 4-0, the final, with the three stars given to Carlson, Johansson, and Holtby (23 save shutout), while Backstrom gets an honorable mention.

In Ohio, the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya is mismatched with Sergei Bobrovsky in goal. Columbus struck first in the first period with a Sam Gagner power play goal, his fourteenth of the season, powered by Nick Foligno and Cam Atkinson. The Blue Jackets added on in the second period with a Brandon Saad goal, his thirteenth of the year, helped along by Foligno and Alexander Wennberg. Montreal got on the board in the third period with a Jeff Petry goal, his eighth of the campaign, assisted by Chris Terry and Mark Barberio. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Foligno, Bobrovsky (36 for 37 in saves), and Saad.

Down in Carolina, the Hurricanes bring in the Boston Bruins. Anton Khudobin and Cam Ward are in the blue paint. Boston was first to score in the first period with a Ryan Spooner goal, his fifth of the season, via Torey Krug and David Krejci. The Bruins added on in the second period with a Brad Marchand power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Spooner and Krug. Carolina got on the board with a Jordan Staal shorthanded goal, his seventh of the season, going in unassisted. The Hurricanes tied it on a Justin Faulk goal in the third period, his seventh of the year, fueled by Elias Lindholm and Staal. Carolina won 3-2 in overtime with a Teuvo Teravainen goal, his ninth of the campaign, helped along by Lindholm and Faulk. The three stars were Staal, Faulk, and Lindholm, while Spooner and Krug get the honorable mentions.

Further south, the Florida Panthers host the Detroit Red Wings. Jared Coreau and Roberto Luongo are given the starting nods in goal. Florida opened in the first period with a Reilly Smith power play goal, his seventh of the season, powered by Jason Demers and Jussi Jokinen. Detroit tied it on an Anthony Mantha goal in the second period, his sixth of the year, guided in by Henrik Zetterberg. The Panthers retook the lead with a Demers goal, his sixth of the season, via Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. Florida added on with a Derek MacKenzie goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Michael Matheson and Paul Thompson. The Red Wings pulled back with a Drew Miller goal in the third period, his third of the season, helped along by Andreas Athanasiou and Dylan Larkin. Detroit tied it again with a Frans Nielsen goal, his eighth of the year, fueled by Gustav Nyquist and Thomas Vanek. In the shootout, Vanek and Nielsen topped Barkov for a 4-3 Red Wings. The three stars were Nielsen, Vanek, and Demers, while Barkov gets an honorable mention.

Northwest to Chicago, where the Blackhawks welcome the Colorado Avalanche. Calvin Pickard is mismatched with Corey Crawford in goal. Chicago got going in the second period with a Jonathan Toews power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Artemi Panarin and Duncan Keith. Colorado tied it in the third period with a Mikko Rantanen goal, his fifth of the year, fueled by Tyson Barrie and Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche won 2-1 in overtime with a MacKinnon goal, his ninth of the campaign, assisted by Barrie. The three stars were MacKinnon, Barrie, and Pickard (37 for 38 in saves).

Down in Dallas, the Stars bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jeff Zatkoff and Kari Lehtonen are between the pipes. Los Angeles started in the first period with a Jeff Carter power play goal, his eighteenth of the season, powered by Tanner Pearson. Dallas tied it on a Tyler Seguin goal, his eleventh of the year, courtesy of Jason Spezza and John Klingberg. The Stars took the lead in the third period with a Radek Faksa goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Brett Ritchie and Curtis McKenzie. The Kings retied it on another Carter goal, his second of the game and nineteenth of the year, helped along by Devin Setoguchi and Derek Forbort. Dallas won 3-2 in overtime with an Esa Lindell goal, his third of the campaign, assisted by Jamie Benn and Lauri Korpikoski. The three stars went to Carter, Lindell, and Faksa.

In Alberta, the Calgary Flames host the Vancouver Canucks. Jacob Markstrom and Brian Elliott are the backups in goal. Vancouver led off in the first period with a Nikita Tryamkin goal, assisted by Jack Skille and Brendan Gaunce. Calgary tied it in the second period with a Mark Giordano power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Mikael Backlund and Dougie Hamilton. The Flames took the lead on a shorthanded Giordano goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, set up by Michael Frolik and Matt Stajan. Calgary added on with a Backlund goal, his seventh of the season, coming off Hamilton and Frolik. The Flames iced it at 4-1 with a Matthew Tkachuk empty net goal, his seventh of the year, set up by Backlund and T.J. Brodie. The three stars were awarded to Giordano, Backlund, and Hamilton, while Frolik gets an honorable mention.

South to Arizona, the Coyotes welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Mike Smith are the goalies. Toronto began in the first period with a Connor Brown goal, his sixth of the season, guided in by Auston Matthews and Zach Hyman. The Maple Leafs added on in the second period with a Leo Komarov power play goal, his fourth of the year, powered by Jake Gardiner and Brown. Arizona got on the board with a Shane Doan goal, his fourth of the season, via Connor Murphy and Peter Holland. Toronto replied in the third period with a Komarov goal, his second of the game and fifth of the year, going in unassisted. The Maple Leafs extended the lead as William Nylander scored his seventh of the season, thanks to Morgan Rielly and Frederik Gauthier. This produced the 4-1 final, with the three stars being Komarov, Brown, and Andersen (30 for 31 in saves).

Finally, the San Jose Sharks bring in the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Martin Jones tend the twines. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his twelfth of the season, powered by Brent Burns and Joe Thornton. Edmonton tied it with a Connor McDavid goal, his thirteenth of the year, via Andrej Sekera in the third period. The Sharks retook the lead on a Kevin Labanc goal, his fifth of the season, passed from Logan Couture and Pavelski. The Oilers retied it on a Patrick Maroon goal, his tenth of the year, courtesy of McDavid and Eric Gryba. San Jose won 3-2 in overtime with a Labanc goal, his second of the game and sixth of the campaign, helped along by Couture and Burns. The three stars were handed to Labanc, Pavelski, and McDavid, while Couture and Burns get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

KHL 2016/17 - Day 115

Eight games grace the schedule on the day before Christmas weekend. We begin with...

Admiral Vladivostok hosting Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Alexander Sharychenkov and Igor Bobkov are in goal. Vladivostok got going in the second period with a Maxim Kazakov goal, passed from Pavel Makarenko and Artyom Zemchyonok. Admiral added on with a Dmitry Sayustov goal, guided in by Oskars Bartulis and Vladimir Tkachyov. Vladivostok extended the lead as Tkachyov scored, thanks to Sayustov and Robert Sabolic. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period with an Evgeny Lapenkov goal, fueled by Andrei Alexeyev. Admiral iced it at 4-1 with a Makarenko goal, via Bartulis and Zemchyonok. The three stars were Sayustov, Tkachyov, and Makarenko, while Bartulis and Zemchyonok get the honorable mentions.

West to Novosibirsk, where Sibir welcomes Jokerit Helsinki. Ryan Zapolski and Danny Taylor are the North American goalies. Novosibirsk dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Vladislav Naumov power play goal, powered by Yegor Milovzorov. Sibir added on with an Adam Polasek goal, assisted by Maxim Shalunov and Stepan Sannikov on the power play. Novosibirsk extended the lead as Vladimir Pervushin scored, thanks to Alexei Glukhov. This made it 3-0, the final, with the three stars being Taylor (37 save shutout), Naumov, and Polasek.

Nearby in Novokuznetsk, Metallurg hosts Dinamo Riga. Janis Kalnins and Andrei Kareyev are in the creases. Riga started in the first period with a Mikelis Redlihs goal, assisted by Uvis Balinskis and Roberts Lipsbergs. Dinamo added on with a Krisjanis Redlihs goal in the second period, helped along by Pyotr Schastlivy. Riga extended the lead as Gints Meija scored a power play goal, thanks to Krisjanis Redlihs. Vladislav Podyapolsky replaced Kareyev in goal. Dinamo padded the lead on a Miks Indrasis power play goal, powered by Lauris Darzins and Oskars Cibulskis. Riga kept going with a Mikelis Redlihs goal, his second of the game, courtesy of Ralfs Freibergs. Dinamo continued with an Edgars Kulda goal, going in unassisted. This stood for a 6-0 win, with the three stars going to Mikelis Redlihs, Krisjanis Redlihs, and Kalnins (24 save shutout).

In Omsk, Avangard brings in Dinamo Minsk. Ben Scrivens and Dominik Furch are between the pipes. Minsk led off in the first period with an Alexander Pavlovich power play goal, powered by Alexander Materukhin and Marc-Andre Gragnani. This proved to be it for the scoring, with the final holding at 1-0. The three stars were awarded to Scrivens (35 save shutout), Pavlovich, and Furch (21 for 22 in saves).

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Pavel Francouz and Henrik Karlsson draw the starts in goal. Chelyabinsk opened in the first period with a Paul Szczechura goal, coming off of Maxim Yakutsenya and Alexei Kruchinin. Traktor added on with a Szczechura power play goal in the second period, powered by Kruchinin and Alexei Petrov. Chelyabinsk extended the lead as Petrov scored a power play goal with the help of Kruchinin, who got a sock trick in the process. Astana got on the board in the third period with a Cam Barker power play goal, with a lone assist by Corey Trivino. Barys got closer on a Nigel Dawes power play goal, passed from Kevin Dallman. Traktor answered with a Kruchinin goal, helped along by Yakutsenya. Astana pulled back on another Dawes goal, made possible by Maxim Semyonov and Dustin Boyd. The final stayed at 4-3, with the three stars given to Kruchinin, Szczechura, and Petrov, while Dawes and Yakutsenya get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, Lada Togliatti welcomes SKA St. Petersburg. Mikko Koskinen and Ilya Ezhov are the veteran goalies. Togliatti began in the first period with a Nikita Filatov goal, via Andrei Ivanov and Yefim Gurkin. St. Petersburg tied it on an Evgeny Dadonov goal, helped along by Ilya Kovalchuk and Vadim Shipachyov. SKA took the lead with a Nikita Gusev power play goal, powered by Dadonov and Shipachyov. Lada tied it in the third period with a Taylor Aronson power play goal, coming off of Sergei Demagin. St. Petersburg won 3-2 in overtime with a Shipachyov power play goal, assisted by Vyacheslav Voynov and Gusev. The three stars were Shipachyov, Gusev, and Dadonov.

Out in Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Justin Pogge man the nets. Magnitogorsk struck first in the first period with an Alexander Semin goal, fueled by Oskar Osala. Metallurg added on with another Semin goal, coming off of Chris Lee. Bratislava got on the board with a Jeff Taffe goal, passed from Jonathan Cheechoo and Michal Hlinka. Slovan tied it in the second period on a Ziga Jeglic goal, via Ivan Svarny and Nick Plastino on the power play. Magnitogorsk retook the lead with a Tomas Filippi goal, going in unassisted. Metallurg extended the lead as Danis Zaripov scored in the third period, with the help of Jan Kovar. This produced the 4-2 final, with the three stars going to Semin, Filippi, and Zaripov.

Finally, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Andrei Gavrilov and Michael Garnett are given the starting nods in goal. Zagreb drew first blood in the second period with a Lukas Lessio goal, courtesy of Derek Smith and Thomas Larkin. Medvescak added on with a Colby Genoway goal, made possible by Tomas Mertl and Mike Glumac. Ufa got on the board with an Evgeny Bodrov goal, guided in by Maxim Goncharov and Enver Lisin. Salavat Yulaev tied it on a Denis Parshin goal, with a lone assist by Evgeny Korotkov. In the shootout, Medvescak won 3-2 with a Lessio tally. The three stars were Lessio, Genoway, and Garnett (26 for 28 in saves).

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2016/17 - Day 71

Ten games on for today, beginning in...

New Jersey, where the Devils welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Cory Schneider protect the nets. New Jersey opened in the first period with a P.A. Parenteau power play goal, his eighth of the season, powered by Michael Cammalleri and Damon Severson. The Devils added on with a Miles Wood goal, his fourth of the year, via Adam Henrique. Anthony Stolarz replaced Mason in goal. New Jersey extended the lead as Henrique scored in the second period, his eighth of the season, thanks to Taylor Hall and Parenteau. The Devils padded the lead on a third period Kyle Palmieri power play goal, assisted by Andy Greene and John Moore. This made it 4-0, with the three stars going to Parenteau, Henrique, and Schneider (16 save shutout).

Over in Buffalo, the Sabres host the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Robin Lehner are in the creases. Carolina started in the first period with a Jeff Skinner goal, his thirteenth of the season, coming off of Jaccob Slavin and Noah Hanifin. The Hurricanes added on with a Justin Faulk goal, his sixth of the year, via Lee Stempniak. Buffalo got on the board in the third period with a Johan Larsson goal, his sixth of the season, assisted by Sam Reinhart and Marcus Foligno. Carolina iced it at 3-1 with a Sebastian Aho empty net goal, his sixth of the year, set up by Victor Rask and Brett Pesce. The three stars were Faulk, Skinner, and Ward (22 for 23 in saves).

West to Ohio, where the Columbus Blue Jackets bring in the Pittsburgh Penguins. Matt Murray and Sergei Bobrovsky guard the cages. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with a Sidney Crosby goal, his twenty-third of the season, assisted by Ian Cole and Conor Sheary. Columbus tied it on a Cam Atkinson power play goal, his fifteenth of the year, powered by Nick Foligno and Alexander Wennberg. The Blue Jackets took the lead in the second period with a William Karlsson goal, his fifth of the season, courtesy of Sam Gagner and Josh Anderson. Columbus added on with a Scott Hartnell goal, his sixth of the year, going in unassisted. The Blue Jackets extended the lead as Hartnell scored his second of the game and seventh of the season, via Gagner and Jack Johnson. Columbus padded the lead with a Brandon Saad goal, his twelfth of the year, fueled by Wennberg. The Blue Jackets kept going with a Boone Jenner goal, his sixth of the season, helped along by Brandon Dubinsky and Seth Jones. Marc-Andre Fleury replaced Murray in goal. Columbus iced it at 7-1 with a Hartnell goal to complete his hat trick with his eighth of the year, passed from Dubinsky and Saad. The three stars belonged to Hartnell, Saad, and Wennberg, while Dubinsky and Gagner get the honorable mentions.

Up in Montreal, the Canadiens welcome the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Carey Price tend the twines. Montreal got going in the second period with a Max Pacioretty shorthanded goal, his fourteenth of the season, set up by Phillip Danault and Shea Weber. Minnesota tied it on an unassisted Jordan Schroeder goal. The Canadiens took the lead with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his seventh of the year, coming off of Brian Flynn and Tomas Plekanec. The Wild retied it on a Jared Spurgeon goal, his second of the season, via Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund. Minnesota took the lead in the third period with a shorthanded Eric Staal goal, his eleventh of the year, set up by Granlund and Ryan Suter. The Wild iced it at 4-2 with a Zucker empty net goal, his seventh of the campaign, going in unassisted. The three stars were Staal, Zucker, and Schroeder.

Over in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators host the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson and Mike Condon draw the starts in goal. Ottawa dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Ryan Dzingel goal, his eighth of the season, passed from Kyle Turris. Anaheim tied it on a Jakob Silfverberg power play goal, his ninth of the year, powered by Corey Perry and Antoine Vermette. The Senators won 2-1 in overtime with a Mike Hoffman goal, his tenth of the campaign, coming on the power play from Dion Phaneuf. The three stars went to Hoffman, Condon (24 for 25 in saves), and Dzingel.

Down to Florida, where the Tampa Bay Lightning bring in the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Andrei Vasilevskiy are between the pipes. St. Louis began in the first period with a David Perron goal, his ninth of the season, going in unassisted. The Blues added on with a Wade Megan goal, guided in by Ryan Reaves and Joel Edmundson. Tampa Bay got on the board with a Brian Boyle power play goal, his eighth of the year, powered by Victor Hedman and Jonathan Drouin. The Lightning tied it with a Michael Bournival goal, passed from Jason Garrison and J.T. Brown. Tampa Bay took the lead in the third period with an Alex Killorn goal, his eleventh of the season, via Anton Stralman and Hedman. The Lightning extended the lead as Drouin scored, his ninth of the year, thanks to Valtteri Filppula and Stralman. Tampa Bay iced it at 5-2 with a Drouin empty net goal, his second of the game and tenth of the campaign, set up by Hedman, who got a sock trick, and Filppula. The three stars were Drouin, Hedman, and Stralman, while Filppula got an honorable mention.

Staying in the state, the Florida Panthers welcome the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and James Reimer are set to start in goal. Boston drew first blood in the second period with a Frank Vatrano goal, fueled by Torey Krug. The Bruins added on with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Krug and Ryan Spooner. Florida got on the board in the third period with an Aleksander Barkov goal, his ninth of the year, assisted by Jaromir Jagr and Michael Matheson. Boston iced it at 3-1 with a David Backes empty net goal, his eighth of the campaign, set up by Brad Marchand. The three stars were handed to Bergeron, Krug, and Rask (29 for 30 in saves).

Northwest to Nashville, where the Predators host the Los Angeles Kings. Peter Budaj and Pekka Rinne are in the blue paint. Los Angeles struck first in the first period with a Nick Shore goal, his second of the season, going in unassisted. The Kings added on with a third period Nic Dowd goal, his fourth of the year, via Trevor Lewis and Tanner Pearson. Los Angeles extended the lead as Jeff Carter scored his seventeenth of the season, going in unassisted. The Kings padded the lead on a Devin Setoguchi goal, his fourth of the year, passed from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. This made it 4-0, the final, with the three stars being Shore, Budaj (28 save shutout), and Dowd.

Over in Colorado, the Avalanche bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen and Semyon Varlamov are the masked men. Toronto was first to score in the first period with an Auston Matthews goal, his sixteenth of the season, coming off of Nikita Zaitsev. The Maple Leafs added on with a Connor Brown power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by William Nylander and Jake Gardiner. Toronto extended the lead as Nazem Kadri scored his twelfth of the season, thanks to Roman Polak and James van Riemsdyk. The Maple Leafs padded the lead on a van Riemsdyk goal in the second period, his thirteenth of the year, going in unassisted. Toronto kept going with a Frederik Gauthier goal, assisted by Mitchell Marner and Gardiner. Calvin Pickard replaced Varlamov in goal. The Maple Leafs capped it at 6-0 in the third period with another Kadri power play goal, his second of the game and thirteenth of the campaign, helped along by Marner and Zaitsev. The three stars of the 6-0 game were Kadri, Andersen (38 save shutout), and van Riemsdyk, while Gardiner, Zaitsev, and Marner get the honorable mentions.

Finally, the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Ryan Miller are the masked men. Vancouver cracked the scoresheet in the first period with a Markus Granlund goal, his seventh of the season, made possible by Loui Eriksson. Winnipeg tied it in the second period with a Patrik Laine goal, his nineteenth of the year, courtesy of Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele. The Jets took the lead in the third period with an Ehlers goal, his eighth of the season, going in unassisted. Winnipeg added on with another Ehlers goal, his second of the game and ninth of the year, via Nic Petan and Toby Enstrom on the power play. The Jets extended the lead as Bryan Little scored his fifth of the campaign, thanks to Mathieu Perreault and Blake Wheeler. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars given to Ehlers, Hutchinson (22 for 23 in saves), and Little.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

KHL 2016/17 - Day 114

Four games on today as Russia celebrates 70 years of professional hockey. The first game is in...

Nizhnekamsk, as Neftekhimik hosts CSKA Moscow. Viktor Fasth and Ville Kolppanen are in the creases. Moscow started in the first period with a Geoff Platt power play goal, powered by Dmitry Kugryshev and Greg Scott. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a Pavel Poryadin goal, passed from Richard Gynge and Gilbert Brule. CSKA retook the lead with a Kirill Petrov power play goal, assisted by Alexander Popov and Bogdan Kiselevich. Moscow added on with another Petrov power play goal, coming off of Popov and Andrei Svetlakov. This was the eventual 3-1 final, with the three stars awarded to Petrov, Fasth (42 for 43 in saves), and Popov.

In Moscow, Spartak welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Alexei Murygin and Markus Svensson are the goalies. Yaroslavl led off in the first period with a Petri Kontiola power play goal, powered by Staffan Kronwall. Moscow tied it in the second period with an Igor Mirnov power play goal, via Alexei Bondarev. Spartak took the lead with a Ryan Stoa goal, helped along by Konstantin Glazachev and Lukas Radil. This stood for a 2-1 win, with the three stars given to Stoa, Mirnov, and Svensson (38 for 39 in saves).

Out in Nizhny Novgorod brings in Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Ilya Proskuryakov tend the twines. Moscow opened in the first period with an Alexei Tsvetkov goal, with a lone assist by Ilya Nikulin. Nizhny Novgorod tied it on a Carter Ashton goal, going in unassisted. Dynamo won 2-1 in overtime with a Martins Karsums goal, guided in by Juuso Hietanen on the power play. The three stars were Karsums, Yeryomenko (25 for 26 in saves), and Tsvetkov.

Finally, the Sochi Leopards host Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Dmitry Shikin play goal. Podolsk began in the first period with a Roman Horak power play goal, powered by Alexei Kopeikin and Jakub Jerabek. Vityaz added on with a Maxim Afinogenov goal, guided in by Alexei Makeyev. Podolsk extended the lead as Alexander Pankov scored, thanks to Artyom Shvets-Rogovoi and Denis Abdullin. Vityaz padded the lead on a Mario Kempe power play goal, fueled by Miro Aaltonen and Jerabek. Sochi got on the board in the second period with an Andrei Kostitsyn power play goal, with a lone assist by Alexei Pepelyayev. The Leopards pulled closer with a third period Renat Mamashev power play goal, with helpers from Ilya Krikunov and Pavel Padakin. Podolsk iced it at 5-2 with an unassisted Afinogenov empty net goal. The three stars went to Pankov, Jerabek, and Afinogenov.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

NHL 2016/17 - Day 70

Only two games on for tonight, beginning in...

Philadelphia, where the Flyers host the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Steve Mason are the goalies. Washington opened in the first period with an Andre Burakovsky goal, his third of the season, assisted by Dmitry Orlov and Lars Eller. Philadelphia tied it on a Michael Raffl goal in the second period, his seventh of the year, passed from Radko Gudas and Jakub Voracek. The Capitals retook the lead with an Eller goal, his third of the season, guided in by John Carlson and Burakovsky. The Flyers tied it again with an unassisted Claude Giroux goal, his tenth of the year. The tie went to a shootout, where T.J. Oshie's tally for Washington was topped by Voracek and Wayne Simmonds as the Flyers won 3-2. The three stars went to Mason (36 for 38 in saves), Burakovsky, and Eller.

The other game has the Arizona Coyotes hosting the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Mike Smith are between the pipes. Edmonton started in the first period with a Mark Letestu goal, his seventh of the season, courtesy of Zack Kassian and Matt Hendricks. The Oilers added on with a Milan Lucic power play goal, his tenth of the year, powered by Letestu and Leon Draisaitl. Edmonton extended the lead in the second period as Hendricks scored, thanks to Letestu and Kassian. Arizona got on the board with a Martin Hanzal power play goal, his seventh of the season, with assists provided by Radim Vrbata and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes got closer with a third period goal by Ekman-Larsson, his seventh of the year, via Vrbata and Peter Holland. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars going to Letestu, Hendricks, and Ekman-Larsson, while Kassian and Vrbata get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.

KHL 2016/17 - Day 113

Seven games on for the Russian league today, beginning in the east with...

Amur Khabarovsk hosting Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Alexander Sharychenkov faces a lesser foe in Ilya Andryukhov in goal. Khanty-Mansiysk opened in the first period with an Artyom Bulyansky goal, passed from Oleg Pogorishny. Ugra added on with an Evgeny Lapenkov goal in the second period, guided in by Anton Kuryanov and Pavel Varfolomeyev. Khabarovsk got on the board with a Denis Orlovich-Grudkov goal, coming off of Anton Krysanov and Dmitry Kirillov. Khanty-Mansiysk shot back with a Bulyansky goal, made possible by Sergei Kuptsov. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars given to Bulyansky, Sharychenkov (36 for 37 in saves), and Lapenkov.

Down to Vladivostok, where Admiral welcomes Barys Astana. Kevin Poulin and Igor Bobkov receive the starts in goal. Astana led off in the first period with a Konstantin Pushkaryov power play goal, powered by Kirill Panyukov and Yegor Shalapov. Barys added on with a Roman Starchenko goal in the second period, assisted by Cam Barker and Martin St. Pierre. Vladivostok got on the board with a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev goal in the third period, via Robert Sabolic and Mikhail Grigoryev on the power play. Astana shot back with a Dustin Boyd goal, fueled by Brandon Bochenski and Maxim Semyonov. Barys extended the lead as Boyd scored again, thanks to Nikita Ivanov and Corey Trivino. The final held at 4-1, with the three stars going to Boyd, Poulin (30 for 31 in saves), and Starchenko.

West to Novosibirsk, where Sibir brings in Dinamo Minsk. Ben Scrivens and Alexei Krasikov man the nets. Novosibirsk started in the first period with a Maxim Shalunov goal, coming off of Zach Boychuk. Minsk tied it in the second period on an Alexander Pavlovich goal, helped along by Marc-Andre Gragnani and Matt Ellison. Dinamo took the lead with an Andrei Stepanov goal, passed from Roman Graborenko and Kirill Gotovets. Minsk added on with a Dmitry Korobov goal, assisted by Stepanov and Danila Karaban. Danny Taylor replaced Krasikov in goal. The scoring stopped here at 3-1, with the three stars handed to Stepanov, Scrivens (41 for 42 in saves), and Korobov.

Nearby in Novokuznetsk, Metallurg hosts Jokerit Helsinki. Riku Helenius and Andrei Kareyev are the mediocre goalies. Novokuznetsk began in the first period with an Evgeny Solovyov power play goal, powered by Artyom Mikheyev and Alexander Komaristy. Metallurg added on with an Alexander Titov goal, made possible by Konstantin Parkhomenko and Dmitry Akishin. Novokuznetsk extended the lead as Alexei Vasilchenko scored a power play goal, with the help of Fyodor Polishchuk and Alexei Razumov. Helsinki got on the board in the third period with an unassisted goal by Tommi Huhtala. Jokerit got closer with a Jesse Joensuu goal, assisted by Joey Hishon and Sakari Salminen. Helsinki tied it with a Ville Lajunen power play goal, with a lone assist by Peter Regin. Jokerit won 4-3 with a Brian O'Neill power play goal, guided in by Regin and Joensuu. The three stars went to Regin, Joensuu, and O'Neill.

Out in Omsk, Avangard brings in Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Dominik Furch are the masked men. Omsk struck first in the first period with an Anton Burdasov goal, assisted by Nikolai Lemtyugov and Nikita Nikitin. Avangard added on with a Yegor Martynov goal, passed from Vladimir Sobotka. Omsk extended the lead as Ilya Mikheyev scored, with the help of Martynov. Sedlacek was pulled for Janis Kalnins. Riga got on the board with a Maris Bicevskis goal, coming off of Lauris Darzins. Dinamo got closer with a Gints Meija goal, fueled by Uvis Balinskis. Avangard replied in the second period with a Burdasov goal, his second of the game, via Lemtyugov. Omsk padded the lead on a Valentin Pyanov goal, guided in by Erik Gustafsson and Niktia Lisov. Avangard kept going with an unassisted Ivan Fishchenko goal. Omsk continued in the third period with a Lemtyugov goal, helped along by Alexander Kucheryavenko and Gustafsson. Oleg Shilin replaced an injured Furch. Avangard struck again as Lemtyugov scored his second of the game, thanks to Martynov and Kucheryavenko. Omsk got another on a Kucheryavenko goal, made possible by Burdasov and Lemtyugov, the latter earning a sock trick. Riga pulled one back with a Pyotr Schastlivy goal, with a lone assist provided by Mikelis Redlihs. The game ended at 9-3, with the three stars awarded to Lemtyugov, Burdasov, and Kucheryavenko, while Martynov and Gustafsson get the honorable mentions.

Out in Slovakia, Slovan Bratislava welcomes Traktor Chelyabinsk. Pavel Francouz and Barry Brust are set to start in goal. Bratislava got going in the second period with a Michal Hlinka goal, via Lukas Vopelka. This stood for a 1-0 win, with the three stars awarded to Brust (31 save shutout), Hlinka, and Francouz (26 for 27 in saves).

Finally, Medvescak Zagreb hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Drew MacIntyre are in the creases. Zagreb was first to score with a Francis Pare goal, courtesy of Samson Mahbod. Medvescak added on with a Bobby Butler power play goal, powered by Pare. Zagreb extended the lead in the second period as Alexandre Bolduc scored, with the help of Mike Glumac. Koshechkin was pulled for Artyom Zagidulin. Magnitogorsk got on the board with a Denis Platonov goal, guided in by Dmitry Kazionov. Metallurg got closer with another Platnov goal, helped along by Kazionov and Evgeny Biryukov. Medvescak replied with a Terry Galiardi goal in the third period, assisted by Butler and Mark Katic. Zagreb padded the lead with a power play goal by Lukas Lessio, with a lone assist from Alexandre Giroux. Magnitogorsk pulled back with a Sergei Mozyakin power play goal, with assists provided by Alexander Semin and Jan Kovar. Medvescak iced it at 6-3 with a shorthanded and unassisted Glumac empty net goal. The three stars were Pare, Butler, and Platonov, while Glumac and Kazionov get the honorable mentions.

Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.