Saturday, January 26, 2013

NHL January 26th 2013

Eight games on over here in North America today. The first is a matinee from...

San Jose, where the Sharks play host to the Colorado Avalanche. Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss are given the starting nods. San Jose led off with a first period Patrick Marleau goal, his seventh of the season, assisted by Joe Pavelski and Dan Boyle on the power play. The Sharks added on as Marleau scored another power play goal, his second of the game and eighth of the year, powered by Joe Thornton and Boyle. San Jose extended the lead as Thornton scored in the second period, his second of the season, a power play goal coming off of Ryane Clowe and Marleau. The Sharks kept going with Matt Irwin scoring a goal, with assists provided by Martin Havlat and Clowe. Jean-Sebastien Giguere relieved Varlamov at the start of the third period. This made it 4-0, a final, with the three stars going to Marleau, Irwin, and Greiss, while Thornton and Clowe got the honorable mentions.

To the east, the New York Rangers host the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Henrik Lundqvist will play in the creases. Toronto began in the first period as Mikhail Grabovski scored his third of the season, thanks to John-Michael Liles and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs added on as James van Riesmdyk notched his third of the year, a power play goal, set up by Liles and Clarke MacArthur. New York got on the board in the second period with Brad Richards' second of the season, fueled by Marian Gaborik and Rick Nash. The Rangers tied it in the third period as Marc Staal scored a goal, coming off of Michael Del Zotto and Gaborik. New York took the lead as Gaborik put down his fourth of the year, courtesy of Staal and Richards. The Rangers extended the lead with a Brian Boyle goal, fueled by Del Zotto and Derek Stepan. New York finished it at 5-2 with a Gaborik empty net goal, his second of the game and fifth of the campaign, with a lone assist from Nash. Gaborik, Staal, and Richards got the three stars, while Del Zotto and Liles get the honorable mentions.

Back west a bit, the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Steve Mason will be sent out to start. Columbus was first to score in the first period as Mark Letestu potted the puck, with the help of Nick Foligno and Derek Dorsett. Chicago tied it with a Dave Bolland's third of the season, made possible by Patrick Kane. The Blackhawks took the lead as Bryan Bickell scored, via Niklas Hjalmarsson and Michael Frolik. Chicago padded the lead in the third period as Jonathan Toews scored his third of the year, courtesy of Kane and Marian Hossa. The Blue Jackets got one back as Artem Anisimov scored his second of the season, assisted by Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Johansen. They got no closer, falling 3-2. Kane, Anismov, and Hjalmarsson were given the three stars. 

Down in Florida, the Panthers welcome the Philadelphia Flyers. Ilya Bryzgalov and Jose Theodore have the green light to start. Philadelphia struck first in the first period as Wayne Simmonds scored his second of the season, with the help of Kimmo Timonen and Claude Giroux on the power play. The Flyers added on as Matt Read scored, courtesy of Giroux and the goalie Bryzgalov. Philadelphia extended the lead with a Tye McGinn goal, coming off of Braydon Coburn and Ruslan Fedotenko. Scott Clemmensen relieved Theodore for the second period onward. The Flyers struck again in the second period as Read scored his second of the game, with assists provided by Coburn and Luke Schenn. Florida got on the board with a Peter Mueller goal, assisted by Ed Jovanovski. Philadelphia shot back as Luke Schenn scored an unassisted goal. The Flyers padded the lead in the third period as Read finished his hat trick with a power play goal, powered by Brayden Schenn and Mike Knuble. Philadelphia got another as Fedotenko scored a goal, guided in by Max Talbot and McGinn. This made it 7-1, a final, with the three stars being Read, Fedotenko, and Bryzgalov (30 for 31 in saves), while Luke Schenn, McGinn, Giroux, and Coburn also had very good games.

Well to the west, the Phoenix Coyotes bring in the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Jason LaBarbera are all padded up. Los Angeles finally got going in the second period as Anze Kopitar scored, with the help of Dustin Brown. Phoenix tied it on a Mikkel Boedker power play goal, powered by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Radim Vrbata. The Kings took the lead back as Kopitar netted his second of the game, assisted by Justin Williams and Jake Muzzin. Los Angeles extended the lead as Jeff Carter scored his second of the season, with a lone assist by Simon Gagne. The Coyotes chipped back in the third period as Shane Doan put away his second of the year, fueled by Lauri Korpikoski. The Kings answered as Muzzin scored a goal, guided in by Kyle Clifford and Davis Drewiske. This was good for a 4-2 win, with the three stars awarded to Kopitar, Boedker, and Carter, while Muzzin gets the honorable mention.

Backtracking to Dallas, with the Stars hosting the St. Louis Blues. Jaroslav Halak and Christopher Nilstorp will protect the nets. St. Louis started in the first period on a Wade Redden goal, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Sobotka. Dallas replied on a Tomas Vincour goal, fueled by Vernon Fiddler and Eric Nystrom. The Stars took the lead as Michael Ryder scored a power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Alex Goligoski and Ray Whitney. The Blues tied it in the second period when David Perron found twine, with the help of Kevin Shattenkirk. St. Louis gained the lead with a Chris Stewart goal, his third of the year, helped along by Patrik Berglund and Perron. The Blues added on as Perron scored his second of the game, and Vladimir Tarasenko recorded the only assist. Dallas pulled back in the third period as Ryan Garbutt scored, and Brenden Morrow and Colton Sceviour were credited with the assists. They failed to get the equalized, losing 4-3, with the three stars going to Perron, Stewart, and Garbutt.

Up in Alberta, the Calgary Flames host their provincial rivals, the Edmonton Oilers. Devan Dubnyk and Miikka Kiprusoff are called on for the starts. Calgary opened with a first period Mikael Backlund goal, his second of the season, assisted by Michael Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. The Flames added on with a Jay Bouwmeester goal, fueled by Mark Giordano and Stempniak. Edmonton got on the board as Justin Schultz scored his second of the year, a power play goal made possible by Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall. Calgary responded in the second period as Curtis Glencross netted his third of the season, coming off of Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. The Oilers pulled back as Eberle scored a power play goal his second of the year, guided in by Schultz and Shawn Horcoff. The Flames replied as Stempniak scored his third of the season, a power play goal, via Bouwmeester and Jiri Hudler. Edmonton chipped away with a Sam Gagner goal, his second of the year, passed from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Schultz. They failed to tie the game, falling 4-3, with the three stars awarded to Bouwmeester, Stempniak, and Eberle, while Schultz gets an honorable mention.

Finally, we end with the Anaheim Ducks hosting the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Viktor Fasth guard the cages. Nashville got going in the first period as Brandon Yip scored an unassisted goal. Anaheim tied it in the second period with a Bobby Ryan goal, passed from Cam Fowler and Teemu Selanne. The Predators retook the lead in the third period as David Legwand scored his second of the season, assisted by Kevin Klein and Gabriel Bourque. The Ducks retied it on a Daniel Winnik goal, his fifth of the year, courtesy of Corey Perry and Saku Koivu. The game was decided in the shootout with a lone Perry tally to lift Anaheim over Nashville by a 3-2 margin. The three stars were given to Fasth (19 for 21 in saves), Rinne (20 for 22 in saves), and Ryan, while Perry gets an honorable mention.

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KHL January 26th 2013

Much busier day in the KHL today, with eleven games going on. The first comes from...

Khabarovsk, as Amur hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Alexei Kuznetsov are the starting goalies. Khabarovsk was first to score in the first period as Perttu Lindgren scored, with the help of Dmitry Tarasov and Janne Lahti. Amur added on in the second period with an Evgeny Orlov goal, fueled by Alexander Yunkov. Khabarovsk padded the lead as Andrei Stepanov scored, via Kirill Tulupov and Mikhail Fisenko. Amur kept going in the third period as Vyacheslav Litovchenko potted the puck, with assists provided by Topi Jaakola and Evgeny Korotkov. Riga got on the board with a Miks Indrasis goal, coming off of Paul Szczechura. Dinamo pulled closer with an Alexandre Giroux goal, made possible by Andris Dzerins and Jamie Johnson. This only made it 4-2, a final, with the three stars being Stepanov, Kuznetsov (21 for 23 in saves), and Litovchenko.

Westward to Novosibirsk, as Sibir hosts Spartak Moscow. Jan Lasak and Jeff Glass are in the creases. Moscow finally started in the second period with a power play goal by Alexander Suglobov, powered by Vyacheslav Kozlov. Novosibirsk tied it on a Jonas Enlund goal, coming on the power play via Alexander Kutuzov and Nikita Zaitsev. Spartak won 2-1 in overtime as Jaroslav Obsut scored a goal, with a lone Suglobov assist. The three stars went to Suglobov, Lasak (20 for 21 in saves), and Obsut.

Backtracking to Novokuznetsk, where Metallurg hosts Donbass Donetsk. Christopher Holt and Yury Klyuchnikov are given the starting nods. Novokuznetsk opened with a first period Nikita Vyglazov goal, assisted by Anton Lazarev and Alexander Mereskin. Donetsk tied it with a power play goal by Lukas Kaspar, powered by Dmitry Kagarlitsky and Randy Robitaille. Donbass edged ahead in the second period on a Sergei Varlamov goal, passed from Denis Kochetkov. Metallurg tied it with a Dmitry Chernykh goal, fueled by Zakhar Arzamastsev. Donetsk pulled ahead again in the third period as Kagarlitsky scored, thanks to Kaspar on the power play. Donbass iced it at 4-2 with a Varlamov empty net goal, going in unassisted. The three stars were Varlamov, Kagarlitsky, and Kaspar.

Well to the west, Salavat Yulaev Ufa hosts Barys Astana. Pavel Poluektov and Iiro Tarkki have the green light to start. Astana struck first in the first period as Brandon Bochenski scored a power play goal, set up by Andrew Hutchinson and Konstantin Rudenko. Ufa tied it with a Denis Khlystov goal, thanks to Stefan Ruzicka. Salavat Yulaev took the lead on an Igor Mirnov goal, made possible by Kirill Koltsov and Oleg Saprykin. Barys retied it as Bochenski scored again, with the help of Vitaly Novopashin and Nigel Dawes. Astana took the lead in the second period as Roman Starchenko scored, courtesy of Rudenko. Ufa retied it as Antti Pihlstrom potted the puck, with a lone assist from Sergei Zinovyev. Barys edged ahead again as Andrei Gavrilin scored, with Alexei Troshchinsky picking up the only assist. Astana scored again in the third period with a Dustin Boyd goal, coming off of Bochenski. Andrei Vasilevsky relieved Tarkki at this time. Salavat Yulaev replied on an Anton Slepyshev goal, fueled by Vitaly Proshkin and Zinovyev. Barys finished the scoring at 6-4 with an unassisted empty net goal by Roman Savchenko. The three stars were Bochenski, Rudenko, and Zinovyev.

Farther west to St. Petersburg, as SKA welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Evgeny Lobanov and Ilya Ezhov are in front of the nets. St. Petersburg led off with a first period goal by Petr Prucha, assisted by Kevin Dallman and Patrick Thoresen. SKA added on with a Dallman goal, fueled by Tony Martensson and Thoresen on the power play. St. Petersburg padded the lead as Prucha scored again in the second period, with the help of Martensson and Thoresen, the latter getting a sock trick. SKA extended the lead with a Thoresen power play goal, powered by Dallman. Yekaterinburg got on the board in the third period with a power play goal from Stanislav Zhmakin, coming off of Evgeny Lapenkov and Fyodor Malykhin. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-1. The three stars were credited to Thoresen, Prucha, and Dallman, while Martensson and Ezhov (18 for 19 in saves) get the honorable mentions.

To the southeast, where CSKA Moscow brings in Vityaz Chekhov. Sergei Denisov and Ilya Proskuryakov will wear the pads. Moscow began with a first period Alexander Radulov goal, fueled by Niklas Persson. Chekhov tied it on a second period goal by Vyacheslav Kulyomin, with a lone assist provided by Denis Sergeyev. CSKA regained the lead in the third period on an Anton Korolyov goal, assisted by Josh Hennessy. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Proskuryakov (34 for 35 in saves), Korolyov, and Radulov.

East again to Kazan, as Ak Bars hosts Avangard Omsk. Karri Ramo and Konstantin Barulin tend the twines. Omsk struck first in the first period on an Igor Volkov power play goal, powered by Pavel Valentenko and Alexander Popov. Kazan tied it in the second period as Ilya Nikulin scored, thanks to Denis Golubev and Artyom Lukoyanov. Avangard won it 2-1 in the shootout with tallies from Matti Kuparinen and Dmitry Syomin toppling a lone Ak Bars tally by Nikolai Zherdev. The three stars were Ramo (29 for 30 in saves), Barulin (30 for 31 in saves), and Syomin.

Further to the east, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk hosts Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Edgars Masalskis and Matt Dalton are given the starting nods. Nizhnekamsk was first on the board in the first period as Renat Mamashev scored a power play goal, powered by Tomas Netik and Maxim Pestushko. Neftekhimik added on in the second period as Yegor Milovzorov scored a power play goal, with a lone assist by Vitaly Shulakov. Nizhnekamsk padded the lead with an unassisted Oskar Osala power play goal. Neftekhimik kept going in the third period on a Martin Cibak goal, fueled by Osala and Milovzorov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board as Igor Skorokhodov potted the puck on the power play, with assists provided by Alexei Pepelyaev and Konstantin Glazachev. Nizhnekamsk extended the lead again as Mamashev scored his second of the night, with the help of Pestushko. Yugra pulled back on an Igor Magogin shorthanded goal, set up by Glazachev. This only made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars awarded to Mamashev, Milovzorov, and Osala, while Pestushko and Glazachev get the honorable mentions.

Into Moscow again, as Dynamo hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Alexander Yeryomenko will be in the blue paint. Moscow got going in the second period with a Marek Kvapil goal, fueled by Ilya Gorokhov on the power play. Dynamo finished the scoring at 2-0 in the third period as Denis Mosalyov scored, via Gorokhov and Alexei Tsvetkov. The three stars went to Yeryomenko (22 save shutout), Gorokhov, and Kvapil.

Westward some more, as Lev Praha hosts Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Tomas Popperle are sent out to start. Minsk started in the first period with a Cory Murphy power play goal, powered by Zbynek Irgl and Tim Stapleton. Praha tied it as Martins Cipulis scored, thanks to Sami Lepisto. Dinamo took the lead back as Geoff Platt scored, with the help of Murphy. This was it for the scoring, resulting in a 2-1 final. Murphy, Haugen (27 for 28 in saves), and Platt got the three stars.

Finally, in Bratislava, Slovan welcomes Severstal Cherepovets. Vasily Koshechkin and Jaroslav Janus guard the cages. Cherepovets opened in the first period with a Denis Kazionov goal, assisted by Evgeny Ketov and Bogdan Kiselevich. Severstal added on in the second period with a power play goal from Vadim Berdnikov, powered by Kiselevich and Kazionov. Cherepovets extended the lead as Alexander Ryazentsev scored, thanks to Ketov and Kazionov. This was all they needed for a 3-0 victory, with the three stars being Kazinov, Ketov, and Kiselevich, while Koshechkin gets the honorable mentions for his 21 save shutout.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

KHL and NHL January 25 2013

A total of eight games on in hockey today, with the first of this post coming from the KHL...

As Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Vitaly Koval are the masked men. Mytishchi was first to score in the first period as Alexander Shevchenko scored, thanks to Maxim Mayorov and Andreas Engqvist. Atlant added on in the second period as Engqvist scored, via Mayorov and Alexander Osipov on the power play. Mytishchi padded the lead with an Igor Ignatushkin goal, passed from Oleg Yashin and Sergei Shmelyov. Atlant struck again with an Alexei Mikhnov goal, fueled by Sandis Ozolins and Nikita Tochitsky. Nizhny Novgorod got on the board as Alexei Vasilyev scored an unassisted power play goal. Torpedo pulled closer in the third period on a Jonas Andersson power play goal, with a lone assist by Alexander Yevseyenkov. Nizhny Novgorod chipped away as Maxim Potapov scored, with the help of Mikhail Varnakov and Matt Ellison. Mytishchi extended the lead with a power play goal by Yashin, powered by Mikhnov and Ignatushkin. This produced a 5-3 final score, with the three stars being Mikhnov, Yashin, and Engqvist, while Ignatushkin and Mayorov get the honorable mentions.

Over in North America, the NHL's day begins with the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. Dan Ellis and Ryan Miller receive the starting nods. Buffalo struck first in the third period as Thomas Vanek scored his third of the season, a power play goal powered by Jason Pominville and Christian Ehrhoff. Carolina tied it with an Alexander Semin goal, fueled by Jordan Staal on the power play. The Hurricanes took the lead as Jay Harrison scored a goal, with a lone Eric Staal assist. Carolina iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Jeff Skinner, his fourth of the year, set up by Tim Gleason and Harrison. The three stars were awarded to Harrison, Ellis (40 for 41 in saves), and Miller (39 for 41 in saves).

Down into New Jersey, where the Devils welcome the Washington Capitals. Michal Neuvirth and Martin Brodeur are in the creases. New Jersey led off with a first period goal by Stephen Gionta, assisted by Jacob Josefson and Mark Fayne. The Devils added on in the second period as Patrik Elias scored a power play goal, powered by David Clarkson and Marek Zidlicky. Washington got on the board in the third period as Mike Ribeiro scored a power play goal, coming off of Joel Ward and Mike Green. The Capitals tied it on an unassisted Green goal. New Jersey won the game in overtime by a 3-2 score as Ilya Kovalchuk scored his second of the season, via Andy Greene. The three stars were handed to Kovalchuk, Green, and Josefson.

Back north a bit, the Boston Bruins host the New York Islanders. Rick DiPietro and Tuukka Rask will protect the nets. Boston got going in the first period as Shawn Thornton scored, with the help of Daniel Paille and Dougie Hamilton. New York tied it as Keith Aucoin scored his second of the season, via Colin McDonald and David Ullstrom. The Islanders got the lead in the second period with Aucoin's second of the game and third of the year, an unassisted goal. The Bruins retied it as Gregory Campbell scored, thanks to David Krejci and Chris Kelly. Boston took the lead in the third period as Zdeno Chara scored, with assists provided by Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton. The Bruins padded the lead with a Patrice Bergeron goal, set up by Brad Marchand and Hamilton. This made it 4-2, a final, with the three stars being Hamilton, Campbell, and Aucoin.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning host the Ottawa Senators. Ben Bishop and Anders Lindback are given the green light to start. Tampa Bay began with a first period Matt Carle power play goal, powered by Cory Conacher and Marc-Andre Bergeron. Ottawa tied it in the second period as Erik Condra scored, with the help of Chris Neil and Sergei Gonchar. The Senators got the lead as Jason Spezza scored his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Daniel Alfredsson and Gonchar. Ottawa added on as Erik Karlsson scored his third of the year, thanks to Milan Michalek. The Lightning replied on a Steven Stamkos goal, his second of the season, helped along by Sami Salo and Martin St. Louis. The Senators shot back with a Kyle Turris goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Alfredsson and Kaspars Daugavins. Tampa Bay answered as Victor Hedman scored, courtesy of Stamkos and St. Louis. The Lightning tied it in the third period as Ryan Malone scored his second of the season, passed from Salo and Conacher. Tampa Bay took the lead as Malone potted his second of the game and third of the year, with helpers provided by Vincent Lecavalier and Hedman. The Lightning iced it at 6-4 with a Tom Pyatt empty net goal, his second of the season, with Stamkos picking up the only assist. The three stars were given to Malone, Salo, and Turris, while the honorable mentions include Stamkos, Hedman, St. Louis, Conacher, Gonchar, and Alfredsson.

Northwest to Detroit, as the Red Wings host the Minnesota Wild. Josh Harding and Jimmy Howard are between the pipes. Detroit started early in the second period with a Damien Brunner goal, his second of the season, coming off of Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall on the power play. The Red Wings added on with a Todd Bertuzzi goal, passed from Valtteri Filppula and Brendan Smith. Minnesota got on the board as Zach Parise potted his second of the year, a power play goal powered by Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu. The Wild tied it on a Tom Gilbert goal, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Jonas Brodin. Detroit pulled back with a Zetterberg goal, made possible by Pavel Datsyuk and Filppula. The Red Wings struck again as Datsyuk scored his second of the season, a power play goal set up by Kronwall and Johan Franzen. Detroit extended the lead in the third period as Bertuzzi scored his second of the game, with the help of Datsyuk and Filppula, the latter getting a sock trick. Minnesota shot back as Parise scored his second of the game and third of the year, courtesy of Gilbert and Koivu. They got no closer, losing 5-3, with the three stars belonging to Datsyuk, Bertuzzi, and Parise, while Zetterberg, Filppula, Kronwall, Gilbert, and Koivu pick up the honorable mentions.

Up in Canada, the Winnipeg Jets welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tomas Vokoun and Ondrej Pavelec make the starts. Pittsburgh opened in the first period as Sidney Crosby scored a goal, via Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang as his second of the season. The Penguins added on with Crosby's second of the game and third of the year, thanks to Matt Niskanen. Winnipeg got on the board in the second period as Evander Kane scored his second of the season, with the help of Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets tied it with a Byfuglien power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Tobias Enstrom and Andrew Ladd. Winnipeg gained the lead as Ladd scored his second of the season, and Bryan Little had the only assist. The Jets iced it at 4-2 when Wheeler scored his second of the year into an empty net, set up by Kane. The three stars were Kane, Ladd, and Byfuglien, while Crosby and Wheeler got the honorable mentions.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Vancouver Canucks. Cory Schneider and Jonas Hiller will guard the cages. Vancouver got things going in the first period as Daniel Sedin scored a power play goal, his second of the season, assisted by Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler. The Canucks added on with a Mason Raymond power play goal, his second of the year powered by Alexandre Burrows and Dan Hamhuis. Vancouver padded the lead in the second period as Aaron Volpatti scored, going in unassisted. The Canucks extended the lead in the third period on a Zack Kassian power play goal, his third of the season, made possible by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Vancouver iced it at 5-0 in the third period on another Raymond goal, his second of the game and third of the year, coming off of Jordan Schroeder. The three stars went to Daniel Sedin, Schneider (30 save shutout), and Saku Koivu, while Raymond or Henrik Sedin would slot in nicely in the third slot.

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

NHL January 24th 2013

Ten games to roll with tonight. The first comes from...

Washington, with the Capitals hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Michal Neuvirth receive the starting nods. Montreal got going in the second period with a power play goal by Tomas Plekanec, his second of the season, assisted by Andrei Markov and Raphael Diaz. The Canadiens padded the lead as Markov scored a power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole. Montreal added on with a Brian Gionta goal, his second of the season, thanks to Rene Bourque and Diaz. The Canadiens kept going as Josh Gorges scored, with the help of Francis Bouillon and Pacioretty. Washington got on the board in the third period with a Joey Crabb goal, via Jason Chimera and Jay Beagle. This was as close as it got, with the final being 4-1, and the three stars went to Price (30 for 31 in saves), Markov, and Pacioretty, while Diaz gets an honorable mention.

Into Canada, as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the New York Islanders. Evgeni Nabokov and Ben Scrivens are the underwhelming goalies. Toronto began with a first period goal by Carl Gunnarsson, coming off of Cody Fransomn. New York tied it with a Matt Moulson goal, with a lone assist by John Tavares. The Maple Leafs retook the lead as Nazem Kadri scored his third of the season, thanks to John-Michael Liles and Matt Frattin. Toronto added on as Mikhail Grabovski scored his second of the year, with the help of Frattin and Gunnarsson. The Islanders pulled back in the second period as Mark Streit drained a power play goal, courtesy of Brad Boyes and Tavares. New York tied it on a Boyes goal, fueled by Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner. Grabner gave the Islanders the lead in the third period with his second of the season, made possible by Boyes and Nielsen. New York extended the lead as Keith Aucoin scored a goal, passed from David Ullstrom and Colin McDonald. The Islanders got another as Moulson scored his second of the game, going down unassisted. The Maple Leafs pulled back as Frattin scored, with helpers provided by Kadri and Gunnarsson. New York iced it at 7-4 with Grabner's second of the game and third of the year, an empty net goal needing no assists. The three stars were handed to Moulson, Boyes, and Grabner, while the honorable mentions include Nielsen, Tavares, Gunnarsson, Frattin, and Kadri.

Back stateside, the Philadelphia Flyers bring in the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Ilya Bryzgalov are in the blue paint. Philadelphia finally started in the second period as Wayne Simmonds scored, via Nicklas Grossmann and Matt Read. The Flyers struck again as Jakub Voracek scored a power play goal, powered by Sean Couturier and Simmonds. New York got on the board in the third period with a Taylor Pyatt power play goal, his third of the season, made possible by Marian Gaborik. They failed to tie it, falling 2-1, with the three stars going to Simmonds, Bryzgalov (18 for 19 in saves), and Lundqvist (31 for 33 in saves).

South to Raleigh, where the Carolina Hurricanes host the Buffalo Sabres. Jhonas Enroth and Cam Ward will wear the pads. Carolina finally opened in the second period with Jeff Skinner's second of the season, assisted by Jordan Staal and Zac Dalpe. The Hurricanes added on as Justin Faulk scored a shorthanded goal, set up by Jordan Staal. Buffalo got on the board with a Cody Hodgson goal, his third of the year, made possible by Jordan Leopold and Thomas Vanek. The Sabres tied it as Jason Pominville potted his second of the season, with the help of Christian Ehrhoff and Alexander Sulzer. Carolina regained the lead as Skinner scored his second of the game and third of the year, an unassisted goal. The Hurricanes padded the lead with an Eric Staal goal, guided in by Jamie McBain and Joni Pitkanen. Buffalo chipped back in the third period on another Pominville goal, his second of the game and third of the season, helped along by Vanek and Robyn Regehr. Carolina responded as Eric Staal scored his second of the game, with a lone helper coming from Pitkanen. The Hurricanes iced it at 6-3 when Eric Staal finished his hat trick into the empty net, and Dalpe provided the assist. The three stars were given to Eric Staal, Skinner, and Jordan Staal, while Pominville, Pitkanen, Dalpe, and Vanek get the honorable mentions.

Further to the south, the Florida Panthers host the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and Jose Theodore man the creases. Florida led off with a first period Tomas Fleischmann power play goal, powered by Brian Campbell and Tomas Kopecky. Ottawa tied it as Chris Phillips scored a power play goal, passed from Marc Methot and Zack Smith. The Senators took the lead with Erik Karlsson's second of the season, an unassisted goal in the second period. Ottawa iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Jason Spezza, going down unassisted. The three stars were awarded to Anderson (25 for 26 in saves), Karlsson, and Theodore (34 for 36 in saves).

Northwest to St. Louis, with the Blues welcoming the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Jaroslav Halak are the masked men. St. Louis struck first in the first period as T.J. Oshie scored his third of the season, a power play goal, powered by Patrik Berglund and David Backes. The Blues added on in the second period as Berglund scored his second of the year on a penalty shot. St. Louis extended the lead in the third period as Vladimir Tarasenko scored his fourth of the season, with the help of Alex Steen and Vladimir Sobotka. This made it 3-0, a final, with the three stars handed to Berglund, Tarasenko, and Halak (13 save shutout).

Down in Dallas, the Stars welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Kari Lehtonen guard the cages. Dallas was first on the board in the first period with just one second left as Loui Eriksson scored a shorthanded goal, passed from Derek Roy and Alex Goligoski as his second of the season. The Stars added on in the second period with a Ray Whitney goal, his second of the year, via Cody Eakin. Chicago got on the board when Patrick Sharp scored a power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Patrick Kane and Nick Leddy. The Blackhawks tied it as Jonathan Toews scored his second of the year, a power play goal set up by Sharp and Duncan Keith. Chicago finished it in overtime with Marian Hossa's fifth of the season, a power play goal courtesy of Kane and Sharp. The three stars went to Hossa, Lehtonen (38 for 41 in saves), and Toews, while Sharp and Kane

Northwest again to Colorado, as the Avalanche bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Semyon Varlamov are the Russian-conditioned goalies, spending time in the KHL during the lockout. Colorado started in the first period as P.A. Parenteau scored his second of the season, assisted by Matt Duchene and Jan Hejda. The Avalanche added on with a Duchene goal, fueled by Chuck Kobasew and Milan Hejduk. Colorado extended the lead in the third period as John Mitchell potted his second of the year, coming off of Hejduk and Ryan Wilson. The Avalanche ended the scoring at 4-0 as Duchene scored his second of the game, with the help of Parenteau. The three stars were awarded to Varlamov (33 save shutout), Duchene, and Erik Johnson, while Parenteau or Hejduk would be a better choice for the third star.

Up in Canada again, the Edmonton Oilers host the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick and Devan Dubnyk are between the pipes. Los Angeles finally got going in the second period as Jeff Carter scored, with a lone Kyle Clifford assist. Edmonton tied it in the third period with just five seconds left on a Nail Yakupov goal, his second of the season, coming off of Taylor Hall and Justin Schultz. The Oilers won it with a Sam Gagner power play goal, powered by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Schultz. This made it 2-1, a final, with Dubnyk (30 for 31 in saves), Quick (37 for 39 in saves), and Yakupov getting the three stars, while Schultz gets an honorable mention.

Finally, we end with the San Jose Sharks hosting the Phoenix Coyotes. Jason LaBarbera and Antti Niemi will protect the nets. San Jose began with a first period Logan Couture power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton. Phoenix tied it in the second period as Steve Sullivan scored a power play goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Radim Vrbata and Mikkel Boedker. The Coyotes got the lead in the third period on an Antoine Vermette goal, his second of the season, coming on the power play via Sullivan and Derek Morris. Phoenix added on as Lauri Korpikoski scored his second of the year, thanks to Boyd Gordon and David Moss. The Sharks replied as Patrick Marleau scored his fifth of the season, with the help of Thornton and Matt Irwin. San Jose tied it when Martin Havlat sank his second of the year, assisted by Ryane Clowe and Couture. The Sharks took the lead with another Marleau goal, his second of the game and sixth of the season, fueled by Pavelski and Thornton, the latter getting a sock trick. San Jose iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Thornton, passed from Pavelski, who got a sock trick, and Marleau. The three stars went to Marleau, Thornton, and Couture, while Pavelski and Sullivan get the honorable mentions.

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KHL January 24th 2013

Only two games on today, as the winding down continues. First up...

Vityaz Chekhov hosts Donbass Donetsk. Christopher Holt and Ivan Lisutin are the masked men. Donetsk opened with a first period goal by Tuomas Kiiskinen, coming on the power play from Petr Podhradsky and Vaclav Nedorost. Chekhov tied it as Ainars Podzins scored a goal, with the help of Brian Fahey and Roman Kudinov. Vityaz gained the lead in the third period on a Josh Hennessy goal, fueled by Dinar Khafizullin and Artemy Panarin. This made it 2-1, the final, with Hennessy, Lisutin (41 for 42 in saves), and Podzins getting the three stars.

The other game for today featured CSKA Moscow hosting Dinamo Minsk. Lars Haugen and Rastislav Stana will protect the nets. Moscow got going in the second period with a power play goal by Niklas Persson, powered by Evgeny Ryasensky and Alexander Radulov. Minsk tied it as Sergei Drozd scored, via Andrei Mikhalyov and Cory Murphy. CSKA gained the lead back in the third period on an Igor Radulov goal, guided in by Yakov Rylov and Persson. This produced the 2-1 final score, with Persson, Stana (30 for 31 in saves), and Igor Radulov picking up the three stars.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

NHL January 23rd 2013

Four games on tonight, beginning with...

The Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs. James Reimer and Marc-Andre Fleury will receive the starting nods. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period as Evgeni Malkin scored a power play goal, powered by Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Toronto tied it in the second period with a Clarke MacArthur goal, fueled by Nazem Kadri and Nikolai Kulemin. The Maple Leafs gained the lead as James van Riemsdyk scored, with the help of Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. The Penguins tied it as Crosby scored, thanks to Pascal Dupuis. Toronto retook the lead with an unassisted goal by van Riemsdyk. The Maple Leafs padded the lead in the third period as Grabovski scored a goal, with Kulemin, who got a sock trick, and van Riemsdyk picking up the helpers. Toronto iced it at 5-2 with a Tyler Bozak power play goal, his second of the season, assisted by MacArthur and Mike Kostka. The three stars went to van Riemsdyk, Kulemin, and Crosby, while Grabovski and MacArthur get honorable mentions.

Over in New York, the Rangers host the Boston Bruins. Tuukka Rask and Henrik Lundqvist are in the blue paint. New York was first to score in the first period with a Marian Gaborik goal, assisted by Rick Nash and Brad Richards. The Rangers added on as Gaborik scored his second of the game, via Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal. Boston got on the board in the second period as Brad Marchand potted his second of the season, thanks to Dougie Hamilton and Rich Peverley on the power play. The Bruins tied it with Milan Lucic's second of the year, made possible by Zdeno Chara and David Krejci. New York regained the lead as Taylor Pyatt scored his second of the season, coming off of Derek Stepan. Boston tied it in the third period as Nathan Horton scored, courtesy of Gregory Campbell. The Rangers won 4-3 in overtime as Gaborik completed the hat trick with an unassisted goal. Gaborik, Nash, and Richards received the three stars.

Way out west, the Phoenix Coyotes welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Steve Mason and Mike Smith protect the nets. Eleven minutes into the game, Jason LaBarbera relieved Smith, with the latter being pulled due to injury. Columbus started in the second period as Fedor Tyutin scored, with the help of Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett. Phoenix tied it as Steve Sullivan scored a goal, assisted by Antoine Vermette and Shane Doan. The Coyotes took the lead with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, via Matthew Lombardi and Mikkel Boedker. Phoenix extended the lead in the third period as Sullivan scored again, a power play goal, powered by Boedker and Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes padded the lead when Sullivan finished his hat trick, with assists provided by Derek Morris and Vermette. Phoenix kept going as Ekman-Larsson potted his second of the night, courtesy of David Moss and Boyd Gordon. This produced the 5-1 final, with the three stars going to Sullivan, Ekman-Larsson, and Boedker, while Vermette gets an honorable mention.

Up north, we end in Vancouver, as the Canucks bring in the Calgary Flames. Miikka Kiprusoff and Cory Schneider are the masked men. Vancouver opened in the second period with a Zack Kassian goal, his second of the season, going down unassisted. The Canucks added on as Mason Raymond scored a power play goal, powered by Daniel Sedin and Dan Hamhuis. Calgary got on the board as Alex Tanguay scored his second of the year, thanks to Curtis Glencross. The Flames tied the game as Mikael Backlund scored a power play goal, with the help of Jarome Iginla and the goalie Kiprusoff. The game went into a shootout, where Alexandre Burrows was matched by Tanguay, before Vancouver prevailed on a Kassian goal for a 3-2 win. The three stars belonged to Kassian, Tanguay, and Chris Tanev, while any point getter can take Tanev's slot in third star.

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KHL January 23rd 2013

Three games on today in what will be a light hockey schedule on both sides of the planet. First up in Russia...

Traktor Chelyabinsk hosts Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Ari Ahonen and Michael Garnett tend the twines. Chelyabinsk led off with a first period goal by Jan Bulis, coming on the power play from Stanislav Chistov and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Traktor added on in the second period as Bulis scored again, and it was assisted by Chistov and Kuznetsov again as well. Magnitogorsk got on the board in the third period when Sergei Mozyakin scored, with the help of Enver Lisin and Justin Hodgman. Chelyabinsk replied with a power play goal by Petri Kontiola, powered by Maxim Yakutsenya and Konstantin Panov. Traktor iced it at 4-1 with an Alexander Shinin power play goal, with a lone assist from Deron Quint. The three stars went to Bulis, Kuznetsov, and Garnett (33 for 34 in saves), while Chistov gets the honorable mention.

Over in Ufa, Salavat Yulaev hosts Sibir Novosibirsk. Sergei Gaiduchenko and Iiro Tarkki are in the blue paint. Ufa began in the first period with an Ildar Isangulov goal, fueled by Igor Musatov. Salavat Yulaev added on as Alexander Svitov scored, with the help of Igor Mirnov and Oleg Saprykin. Ufa padded the lead in the third period with an Antti Pihlstrom goal, coming off of Sergei Zinovyev and Anton Slepyshev. Novosibirsk avoided the shutout with a late Jori Lehtera goal, made possible by Jonas Enlund. This resulted in a 3-1 final, with the three stars being Tarkki (25 for 26 in saves), Svitov, and Isangulov.

Finally, we end in Kazan, with Ak Bars hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Yury Klyuchnikov and Emil Garipov receive the starting nods. Kazan got going in the first period with a Nikolai Zherdev goal, assisted by Kirill Petrov. Ak Bars added on in the second period as Alexei Tereshchenko scored a power play goal, powered by Zherdev and Petrov. Kazan extended the lead on a Janne Pesonen goal, made possible by Jarkko Immonen and Denis Kulyash. Ak Bars kept going in the third period as Dmitry Obukhov scored a power play goal, courtesy of Immonen and Pesonen. Kazan padded the lead as Niko Kapanen scored an unassisted goal. Novokuznetsk got on the board as Alexander Mereskin scored, with Anton Lazarev getting the only assist. This ended the scoring at 5-1, with the three stars being Zherdev, Pesonen, and Immonen, while Petrov and Garipov (36 for 37 in saves) receive the three stars.

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