Saturday, October 10, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 4

Fourteen games are on the first Saturday of the season, with the first a matinee from...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop faces a lesser foe in Chad Johnson in goal. Tampa Bay got going in the second period on an Erik Condra goal, via Victor Hedman and Valtteri Filppula. Buffalo tied it on a Nicolas Deslauriers goal, guided in by Sam Reinhart and Josh Gorges. The Lightning retook the lead on a Nikita Kucherov goal, passed from Tyler Johnson and Anton Stralman. Tampa Bay added on with a Steven Stamkos goal in the third period, coming off of Ryan Callahan. The Lightning extended the lead as J.T. Brown scored, thanks to Jason Garrison and Braydon Coburn. The final remained at 4-1, with the three stars going to Bishop (24 for 25 in saves), Kucherov, and Stamkos.

At the normal times, the Boston Bruins welcomed the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and Tuukka Rask tend the twines. Montreal struck first in the first period with a David Desharnais power play goal, powered by Andrei Markov and Alex Galchenyuk. The Canadiens added on with a Lars Eller goal in the second period, made possible by Alexander Semin and Galchenyuk. Montreal extended the lead on another Eller goal, via Galchenyuk, who got a sock trick, and Semin. Boston got on the board with a Matt Beleskey goal, coming off of David Krejci and David Pastrnak. The Canadiens answered in the third period on an empty net goal by Tomas Plekanec, set up by Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher. The Bruins got one back with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, with assists provided by Pastrnak and Torey Krug. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars given to Eller, Galchenyuk, and Semin, while Pastrnak gets an honorable mention.

Down in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Cam Ward receive the starting nods in goal. Detroit dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Henrik Zetterberg goal, fueled by Dylan Larkin and Justin Abdelkader. Carolina tied it on a Victor Rask goal, with a lone assist by Noah Hanifin. The Hurricanes took the lead with a Nathan Gerbe goal, from Ryan Murphy. The Red Wings retied it as Teemu Pulkkinen scored in the third period, an unassisted goal. Detroit took the lead on Pulkkinen's second goal of the game, via Tomas Tatar. The Red Wings added on with an Abdelkader goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. Carolina shot back on a power play goal by Justin Faulk, powered by John-Michael Liles and Kris Versteeg. This only made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars being Pulkkinen, Abdelkader, and Zetterberg.

Back north, the New York Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Henrik Lundqvist protect the nets. New York was first to score in the first period on an Oscar Lindberg goal, his third of the season, assisted by Kevin Hayes. The Rangers added on with a Lindberg goal, his second of the game and fourth of the year, courtesy of J.T. Miller and Viktor Stalberg. New York extended the lead as Dominic Moore scored, thanks to Jarret Stoll and Keith Yandle. The Rangers chased Bobrovsky late in the second period on a Derick Brassard power play goal, powered by Dan Boyle and Yandle. Curtis McElhinney took over in the third period. New York padded the lead on a Derek Stepan goal, his second of the season, made possible by Chris Kreider and Stalberg. Columbus got on the board with a Ryan Johansen goal, guided in by Fedor Tyutin and Nick Foligno. The Blue Jackets pulled closer on a Boone Jenner power play goal, with a lone assist by David Savard. This produced the 5-2 final, with the three stars going to Lindberg, Stalberg, and Yandle.

Into Canada, where the Battle of Ontario rages on with the Toronto Maple Leafs bringing in the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson and James Reimer are called on to start. Ottawa got started in the second period with a Kyle Turris power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Erik Karlsson and Mark Stone. The Senators added on with an Alex Chiasson power play goal, with assists provided by Mika Zibanejad and Patrick Wiercioch. Ottawa extended the lead as Milan Michalek scored on the power play, with helpers from Karlsson and Turris. Toronto got on the board with an unassisted Joffrey Lupul goal. The Maple Leafs pulled closer on a Tyler Bozak goal, with a lone assist by Dion Phaneuf. Toronto tied it on a Peter Holland goal in the third period, coming on the power play from P.A. Parenteau and Phaneuf. The Senators regained the lead with a Stone goal, via Mike Hoffman and Karlsson, the latter getting a sock trick. The Maple Leafs tied it again with a Daniel Winnik goal, coming off of Brad Boyes and Nick Spaling. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Parenteau got matched by Bobby Ryan and then bested by Hoffman, for a 5-4 Senators win. The three stars went to Stone, Karlsson, and Turris, while Phaneuf, Parenteau, and Hoffman get the honorable mentions.

Back stateside, the Washington Capitals welcome the New Jersey Devils. Keith Kinkaid is mismatched with Braden Holtby in goal. Washington led off in the first period with a shorthanded goal by Jason Chimera, set up by Justin Williams and John Carlson. The Capitals added on with a Brooks Orpik goal, fueled by Tom Wilson and Chimera. New Jersey got on the board with an Adam Henrique goal, courtesy of Jiri Tlusty and Kyle Palmieri. The Devils tied it on a power play goal by Eric Gelinas, powered by Lee Stempniak and Mike Cammalleri. Washington took the lead in the third period on an Alex Ovechkin goal, with a lone assist from Matt Niskanen. The Capitals extended the lead as Marcus Johansson scored a power play goal, assisted by Ovechkin and Carlson. Washington padded the lead on a Niskanen power play goal into the empty net, helped along by Williams and Dmitry Orlov. New Jersey got one back on an unassisted Cammalleri goal. The final held at 5-3, with the three stars being Ovechkin, Chimera, and Niskanen, while Williams, Carlson, and Cammalleri get the honorable mentions.

South to Florida, where the Panthers host the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Roberto Luongo are in the creases. Florida began in the first period on a Vincent Trocheck goal, assisted by Jussi Jokinen and Willie Mitchell. The Panthers added on with a Nick Bjugstad power play goal, powered by Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau. Florida extended the lead as Reilly Smith potted a power play goal, with the help of Brandon Pirri and Trocheck. The Panthers chased Mason on a Jokinen goal, with a lone assist from Trocheck. Florida padded the lead with a Jaromir Jagr goal in the second period, made possible by Aleksander Barkov. Philadelphia got on the board with a Mark Streit power play goal, with assists from Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. The Panthers shot back in the third period on a Jagr goal, his second of the game, courtesy of Brian Campbell and Barkov. Florida finished it at 7-1 on a Smith power play goal, his second of the game, helped along by Trocheck, who got a sock trick, and Pirri. The three stars were awarded to Jagr, Smith, and Trocheck, while Jokinen, Pirri, and Barkov get the honorable mentions.

Northwest to Nashville, where the Predators host the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Pekka Rinne are in the blue paint. Nashville drew first blood in the second period on a Craig Smith goal, his second of the campaign, fueled by Colin Wilson. The Predators added on in the third period with a Filip Forsberg goal, with a lone assist by Mike Ribeiro. This made it 2-0, the final, with the three stars handed to Rinne (31 save shutout), Smith, and Forsberg.

Further to the north, the Minnesota Wild welcome the St. Louis Blues. Jake Allen and Devan Dubnyk are the unproven goalies. Minnesota started in the first period on a Charlie Coyle goal, going in unassisted. St. Louis tied it in the second period on an Alexander Steen goal, guided in by Vladimir Tarasenko and Paul Stastny. The Wild retook the lead with a Zach Parise power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Ryan Suter and Mikael Granlund. Minnesota added on with Coyle's second of the game, via Thomas Vanek and Suter. The Blues shot back with a Tarasenko power play goal in the third period, his second of the year, made possible by Kevin Shattenkirk and Steen. They failed to tie the game, losing 3-2, with the three stars given to Coyle, Tarasenko, and Steen, while Suter gets an honorable mention.

Backtracking to Chicago, where the Blackhawks bring in the New York Islanders. Jean-Francois Berube and Scott Darling are the unheard of backups in goal. Chicago opened with a Trevor van Riemsdyk goal in the first period, assisted by Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. The Blackhawks added on with a Panarin goal in the second period, his second of the season, fueled by Kane. Chicago extended the lead on a Kane goal, his third of the year, guided in by van Riemsdyk and Panarin. The Blackhawks padded the lead with a third period power play goal by Brent Seabrook, powered by Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw. New York got on the board with a Cal Clutterbuck goal, going in shorthanded and unassisted. The final was 4-1, and the three stars were handed to Kane, Panarin, and van Riemsdyk.

Out west, the Colorado Avalanche host the Dallas Stars. Antti Niemi and Semyon Varlamov are the reliable goalies. Dallas led off in the first period with a Mattias Janmark goal, his second of the season, guided in by Jason Demers and Antoine Roussel. Colorado tied it on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, via Alex Tanguay and Gabriel Landeskog. The Stars took the lead back on a Cody Eakin goal, made possible by Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Dallas added on in the second period with an Eakin power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Demers and Ales Hemsky. The Avalanche pulled back on an Erik Johnson power play goal, his second of the season, coming off of Carl Soderberg and Francois Beauchemin. Colorado tied it on a Jarome Iginla power play goal, his second of the year, with assists provided by Landeskog and MacKinnon. The Avalanche pulled ahead with a John Mitchell goal in the third period, his second of the season, assisted by Jack Skille and Cody McLeod. Colorado extended the lead as Landeskog scored his second of the year, thanks to Tanguay and Beauchemin. The Avalanche padded the lead on another Landeskog goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, helped along by MacKinnon and Nick Holden. This made it 6-3, the final, with the three stars named as Landeskog, MacKinnon, and Eakin, while Tanguay, Beauchemin, and Demers get the honorable mentions.

Crossing into Canada again, we have the Vancouver Canucks bringing in the Calgary Flames. Jonas Hiller and Ryan Miller are the goalies with rhyming names. Calgary began in the first period on a Dougie Hamilton power play goal, powered by Johnny Gaudreau and Jiri Hudler. Vancouver tied it in the second period on a Bo Horvat power play goal, with helpers from Sven Baertschi and Ben Hutton. The Canucks took the lead with a Jared McCann goal, coming off of Jannik Hansen and Brandon Prust. The Flames retied it in the third period on a Sean Monahan goal, passed from Hudler and Gaudreau. Calgary won 3-2 in overtime with a Gaudreau goal, courtesy of Dennis Wideman. The three stars belonged to Gaudreau, Hudler, and Monahan.

Way to the south, the Arizona Coyotes welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Mike Smith man the nets. Arizona got going in the second period with a Tobias Rieder goal, his second of the season, guided in by Anthony Duclair and Martin Hanzal. Pittsburgh tied it on an unassisted goal by Phil Kessel. The Coyotes retook the lead with a Jordan Martinook goal, via Steve Downie and Boyd Gordon. The final remained at 2-1, with the three stars given to Smith (27 for 28 in saves), Martinook, and Rieder.

Finally, the San Jose Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen and Martin Jones are the masked men. San Jose dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Patrick Marleau goal, made possible by Logan Couture and Joel Ward. The Sharks added on with another Marleau goal in the third period, coming off of Ward. This stood for a 2-0 win, with the three stars handed to Marleau, Jones (27 save shutout), and Andersen (42 for 44 in saves), while Ward gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Major League Soccer Week 32

With the international break in effect, there are just three games all week. The first two are on Wednesday, as...

The New York Red Bulls host the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Luis Robles get the starts in goal. Montreal went down to ten men as Ambroise Oyongo took a straight red card in the fifteenth minute for a handball in the box, and New York started with a penalty kick goal by Sacha Kljestan in the sixteenth minute. In the twenty-seventh minute, the Impact's Marco Donadel received a yellow card for dissent. Montreal's Donny Toia took a yellow card for his thirtieth minute foul. The Red Bulls added on in the thirty-ninth minute through a Lloyd Sam goal. New York's Ronald Zubar took a yellow card in the sixty-seventh minute for his dissent. The Impact got on the board with a sixty-eighth minute Didier Drogba penalty kick goal. Montreal's Laurent Ciman got a yellow card for his dissent in the seventy-first minute. The Red Bulls took yellow cards for fouls by Connor Lade in the seventy-sixth minute and Sal Zizzo in the eighty-ninth minute. The final stood at 2-1, with the man of the match being Sam for his winner.

Wednesday's other game sees the Vancouver Whitecaps FC welcoming FC Dallas. Jesse Gonzalez and David Ousted man the nets. The game saw no goals and no disciplinary action, ending in a 0-0 draw. The man of the match was Ousted for his four-save clean sheet to pull the Whitecaps into the playoffs officially.

On Saturday, the Colorado Rapids ended the week bringing in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush opposes Zac MacMath in goal this time. Colorado had a yellow card go to Dillon Powers for a fourteenth minute foul. Montreal opened on a fifteenth minute goal by Didier Drogba. The Rapids saw a yellow card given to Juan Ramirez for dissent in the thirty-seventh minute. The Inmpact's Laurent Ciman took a yellow card for his forty-third minute foul. The final held at 1-0, with the man of the match being Drogba.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion. 

2015/16 KHL Season - Day 47

Six games fill the schedule for today, beginning with...

Avangard Omsk hosting Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Vladislav Podyapolsky and Denis Kostin are the backups in goal. Novokuznetsk was first to score in the first period with a Vadim Mitryakov goal, passed from Alexander Romanov and Nikita Lyamkin. Metallurg added on with a Kirill Kaprizov goal, fueled by Maxim Kazakov on the power play. Novokuznetsk extended the lead as Ilya Musin scored, thanks to Alexei Razumov. Omsk got on the board with an Ilya Zubov goal in the second period, made possible by Sergei Shirokov. Metallurg shot back with a Ryan Stoa goal, assisted by Kaprizov and Kazakov. This held up for a 4-1 win, with the three stars going to Kaprizov, Podyapolsky (33 for 34 in saves), and Kazakov.

Along to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra welcomes Admiral Vladivostok. Igor Bobkov and Vladislav Fokin receive the starting nods in goal. Khanty-Mansiysk got going in the second period on a Kirill Rasskazov goal, fueled by Andrei Ivanov and Igor Volkov. Yugra added on with another Rasskazov goal, via Ivanov. Khanty-Mansiysk iced it at 3-0 in the third period with a power play goal by Stanislav Kalashnikov, set up by Rasskazov and Volkov. The three stars belonged to Rasskazov, Fokin (38 save shutout), and Ivanov, while Volkov gets an honorable mention.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana brings in Sibir Novosibirsk. Alexander Salak and Jan Laco protect the nets. Novosibirsk struck first in the first period on a David Ullstrom goal, with a lone assist by Artyom Voroshilo. Sibir added on with a Stepan Sannikov goal, coming off of Sergei Shumakov and Konstantin Alexeyev. Astana got on the board with a Vadim Krasnoslobodtsev goal, guided in by Talgat Zhailauov and Alexei Litvinenko. Barys tied it on a Brandon Bochenski goal, with a lone helper from Nigel Dawes. Astana took the lead on a Martin St. Pierre power play goal, powered by Dawes and Kevin Dallman. Novosibirsk retied it in the second period with an Alexei Kopeikin goal, helped along by Oleg Gubin. Sibir took the lead as Shumakov scored, thanks to Alexeyev and Sergei Gimayev. Novosibirsk extended the lead on a third period Ullstrom goal, courtesy of Calle Ridderwall. Sibir iced it at 6-3 with a shorthanded empty net goal by Gubin, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Shumakov, Ullstrom, and Alexeyev, while Gubin and Dawes get the honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Jakub Kovar guard the cages. Yekaterinburg dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Anatoly Golyshev power play goal, powered by Alexei Simakov and Dmitry Megalinsky. Avtomobilist added on with an unassisted goal from Artyom Gareyev. The final stood at 2-0, with the three stars awarded to Kovar (23 save shutout), Golyshev, and Gareyev.

West to Moscow, where Spartak welcomes the Sochi Leopards. Konstantin Barulin and Atte Engren are the veteran goalies. Moscow led off in the first period with a Charles Genoway power play goal, with a lone assist by Lukas Radil. Spartak added on with an Igor Levitsky power play goal, powered by Maxim Potapov and Dmitry Korobov. Sochi got on the board in the second period with a shorthanded and unassisted goal from Ilya Krikunov. The Leopards tied it with an Andrei Kostitsyn power play goal, made possible by Krikunov and Igor Ignatushkin. Moscow pulled ahead again in the third period on a power play goal by Filipp Toluzakov, assisted by Vsevolod Sorokin. Sochi tied it on a penalty shot goal by Ben Maxwell after Genoway threw his stick in desperation. Spartak regained the lead on an Alexander Vasilyev goal, coming off of Andrei Yermakov. This gave them a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Vasilyev, Toluzakov, and Krikunov.

Finally, SKA St. Petersburg brings in Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Alexei Murygin and Mikko Koskinen are the masked men. Yaroslavl began in the first period with an Andrei Loktionov goal, assisted by Mikhail Grigoryev and Denis Mosalyov. Lokomotiv added on with a Petri Kontiola goal, guided in by Daniil Apalkov. Yaroslavl extended the lead as Yegor Averin scored in the second period, with the help of Staffan Kronwall and Kontiola on the power play. The scoring ended here at 3-0, with the three stars given to Kontiola, Murygin (31 save shutout), and Loktionov.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Friday, October 9, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 3

Five games on for tonight, beginning with...

The New Jersey Devils hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Cory Schneider draw the starts in goal. Winnipeg dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Mark Scheifele goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Nikolaj Ehlers and Mathieu Perreault. The Jets added on with a Blake Wheeler goal, his second of the year, made possible by Andrew Ladd and Tyler Myers. New Jersey got on the board with a Jiri Tlusty power play goal, powered by Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Winnipeg fired back on a Ladd power play goal, assisted by Perreault and Wheeler. This was it for the scoring, with the final holding at 3-1, and the three stars went to Wheeler, Ladd, and Perreault.

West to Columbus, where the Blue Jackets welcome the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Sergei Bobrovsky tend the twines. New York started in the first period on a Mats Zuccarello goal, going in unassisted. Columbus tied it in the second period with a Cam Atkinson goal, via Brandon Dubinsky. The Blue Jackets took the lead in the third period as Brandon Saad scored a power play goal, powered by Ryan Murray and Ryan Johansen. The Rangers tied it again on a Oscar Lindberg goal, his second of the season, coming off of J.T. Miller. New York pulled ahead on a Kevin Hayes goal, passed from Dan Girardi and Derek Stepan. The Rangers finished it at 4-2 on Zuccarello's second of the game, an unassisted goal. The three stars belonged to Zuccarello, Hayes, and Lindberg.

Up in Detroit, the Red Wings host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Bernier and Jimmy Howard are in the creases. Detroit led off in the first period with a Justin Abdelkader goal, assisted by Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg on the power play. The Red Wings added on with another Abdelkader goal, his second of the game, guided in by Dylan Larkin and Jakub Kindl. Detroit extended the lead in the second period with a Larkin goal, with assists provided by Zetterberg and Mike Green. James Reimer took over for Bernier in goal. The Red Wings padded the lead when Abdelkader completed his hat trick, helped along by Zetterberg, who got a sock trick, and Kyle Quincey. This held up for a 4-0 win, with the three stars going to Abdelkader, Larkin, and Howard (22 save shutout), with Zetterberg taking an honorable mention.

Back to the east, as the New York Islanders bring in the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Thomas Greiss are the goalies. Chicago opened in the first period on a shorthanded and unassisted Artem Anisimov goal. New York tied it on a John Tavares goal in the second period, fueled by Johnny Boychuk and Casey Cizikas. The Blackhawks retook the lead with a Patrick Kane goal, via Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith. The Islanders tied it again in the third period as Marek Zidlicky scored, thanks to Brock Nelson and Nikolay Kulemin. Chicago won 3-2 in overtime on a Kane goal, his second of the game, coming on the power play from Marian Hossa and Keith. The three stars went to Kane, Crawford (34 for 36 in saves), and Keith.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings host the Arizona Coyotes. Mike Smith and Jonathan Quick are the experienced goalies. Arizona began in the first period with a Zbynek Michalek goal, assisted by Tobias Rieder. The Coyotes added on with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, passed from Max Domi and Martin Hanzal. Arizona extended the lead in the second period as Domi scored, thanks to Connor Murphy. The Coyotes padded the lead on a Rieder goal, helped along by Anthony Duclair and Hanzal. Los Angeles got on the board with a Tyler Toffoli shorthanded goal, set up by Jeff Carter. This only made it 4-1, the eventual final, with the three stars given to Domi, Smith (40 for 41 in saves), and Rieder, while Hanzal gets an honorable mention.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

2015/16 KHL Season - Day 46

Seven more games come from Russia and surrounding lands for Friday. The first is in...

Chelyabinsk, as Traktor hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Vasily Demchenko are in the creases. Riga began in the first period on a Mikelis Redlihs goal, with a lone assist by Eriks Sevcenko. Chelyabinsk tied it in the second period on a power play goal by Danil Gubarev, powered by Semyon Kokuyov. Traktor took the lead with a Dmitry Pestunov goal, made possible by Anton Glinkin. Dinamo retied it on a Miks Indrasis goal, passed from Ville Leino. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Alexander Rybakov and Maxim Yakutsenya lifted Traktor to a 3-2 win. The three stars were Pestunov, Gubarev, and Rybakov.

East a little to Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Gasper Kroselj and Niklas Svedberg receive the starting nods in goal. Zagreb struck first in the first period on a Patrick Bjorkstrand goal, assisted by Geoffrey Kinrade and Jesse Saarinen. Medvescak added on with a Radek Smolenak goal, fueled by Mark Katic and Marek Kvapil. Zagreb extended the lead as Colby Genoway scored, with the help of Edwin Hedberg and Stefano Giliati. Ufa got on the board in the second period with a Sergei Soin goal, coming off of Anton Lazarev. Salavat Yulaev pulled closer on a Denis Khlystov goal, via Alexander Nesterov. Medvescak answered on a Kinrade goal, passed from Gilbert Brule and Saarinen. Zagreb padded the lead in the third period with a Giliati goal, made possible by Kinrade and Hedberg. This produced the 5-2 final, with the three stars being Giliati, Kinrade, and Hedberg, while, Saarinen gets an honorable mention.

Along to Magnitogorsk, where Metallurg brings in Slovan Bratislava. Barry Brust and Vasily Koshechkin are the masked men. Bratislava led off in the first period on an Andrej Stastny goal, courtesy of Rok Ticar. Slovan added on with a Ladislav Nagy goal, coming off of Tomas Surovy. Ilya Samsonov replaced Koshechkin in the second period. Bratislava extended the lead in the second period on a Patrik Lusnak goal, guided in by Michal Sersen. Magnitogorsk got on the board with a Vladislav Kaletnik goal, assisted by Wojtek Wolski and Oskar Osala. Metallurg chipped closer in the third period on an Osala goal, fueled by Viktor Antipin and Jan Kovar. This was not enough to avoid a 3-2 loss, with the three stars being Lusnak, Osala, and Brust (33 for 35 in saves).

Westward to Togliatti, where Lada hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Lazushin and Ivan Kasutin are the experienced goalies. Moscow opened in the first period with a Maxim Pestushko goal, fueled by Ilya Nikulin and Dmitry Vishnevsky. Dynamo added on with a Denis Barantsev goal, helped along by Alexei Tereshchenko. Moscow extended the lead as Tereshchenko scored in the second period, thanks to Nikita Filatov and Daniil Tarasov. Dynamo padded the lead in the third period on a Pestushko power play goal, powered by Vishnevsky and Nikulin. Moscow finished it at 5-0 on a Mat Robinson goal, with a lone assist by Konstantin Gorovikov. The three stars went to Pestushko, Tereshchenko, and Lazushin (14 save shutout), while Vishnevsky and Nikulin get the honorable mentions.

Nearby, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk brings in Jokerit Helsinki. Henrik Karlsson and Vitaly Koval are between the pipes. Helsinki was first to score in the first period on a Jesse Joensuu goal, passed from Jani Rita and Saku Salminen. Jokerit added on with a third period goal by Pekka Jormakka, via Mathis Olimb on the power play. Helsinki finished it at 3-0 with an empty net goal by Tommi Huhtala, set up by Topi Jaakola and Joensuu while shorthanded. The three stars were awarded to Joensuu, Karlsson (24 save shutout), and Jormakka.

Northwest to Kazan, as Ak Bars welcomes Vityaz Podolsk. Harri Sateri and Jussi Rynnas guard the cages. Podolsk started with a Maxim Afinogenov goal in the first period, coming off of Alexander Kucheryavenko and Alexei Makeyev. Vityaz added on with a Roman Horak goal, guided in by Roman Kudinov and Dmitry Shitikov. Podolsk extended the lead in the second period on another Horak goal, helped along by Shitikov and Afinogenov. Vityaz padded the lead as Mario Kempe scored, with the help of Kucheryavenko and Dmitry Kostromitin on the power play. Emil Garipov replaced Rynnas in goal. Kazan got on the board with a Mikhail Varnakov power play goal, powered by Justin Azevedo and Albert Yarullin. Ak Bars pulled closer with a Stepan Zakharchuk goal, via Artyom Lukoyanov and Alexander Svitov. This was it for the scoring, with the final staying at 4-2. The three stars belonged to Horak, Afinogenov, and Shitikov, while Kucheryavenko gets an honorable mention.

Finally, in Moscow, CSKA hosts Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Ilya Proskuryakov and Ilya Sorokin are named the starting goalies. Nizhny Novgorod drew first blood with a first period Artyom Alyayev power play goal, powered by Alexei Sopin and Linus Videll. Torpedo added on with a Nikita Dvurechensky goal, guided in by Dmitry Semin and Vyacheslav Kulyomin. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead in the third period on a Kaspars Daugavins goal, assisted by Vladimir Galuzin. Moscow got on the board with a Bogdan Kiselevich goal, passed from Jan Mursak and Alexander Radulov. Torpedo iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Galuzin, set up by Sopin. The three stars went to Galuzin, Proskuryakov (35 for 36 in saves), and Sopin.

Follow me on Twitter @KipperScorpion.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

2015-16 NHL Season - Day 2

Seven games on as more teams get their seasons underway. The first is in...

Boston, with the Bruins hosting the Winnipeg Jets. Ondrej Pavelec is mismatched with Tuukka Rask in goal. Boston opened on a first period goal from David Krejci, going in unassisted. Winnipeg tied it on a Mark Scheifele goal in the second period, passed from Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets took the lead on a Blake Wheeler goal, helped along by Andrew Ladd. Winnipeg added on with a Drew Stafford goal, assisted by Adam Lowry and Ben Chiarot. The Bruins got one back in the third period on a David Pastrnak goal, via Matt Beleskey and Kevan Miller. The Jets shot back with a Chris Thorburn goal, guided in by Stafford and Alex Burmistrov. Winnipeg extended the lead as Nic Petan scored, thanks to Andrew Copp and Mark Stuart. The Jets padded the lead on a Burmistrov goal, going into the empty net unassisted. Winnipeg took the game 6-2, and the three stars went to Stafford, Burmistrov, and Petan.

Over to Buffalo, where the Sabres welcome the Ottawa Senators. Craig Anderson faces former teammate Robin Lehner in goal. Ottawa began in the first period on a Kyle Turris goal, via Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone. Chad Johnson replaced Lehner about midway through the second period. The Senators added on with another Turris goal in the second period, made possible by Hoffman and Stone. Buffalo got on the board with a Jack Eichel power play goal, coming off of Marcus Foligno and Evander Kane. Ottawa iced it at 3-1 with a Curtis Lazar empty net goal, set up by Mika Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan. The three stars belonged to Turris, Hoffman, and Stone.

Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Steve Mason and Ben Bishop are the experienced goalies. Tampa Bay got going in the second period as Jason Garrison scored, thanks to Ryan Callahan and Jonathan Drouin. Philadelphia tied it on a Matt Read goal, courtesy of Scott Laughton and R.J. Umberger. The Flyers took the lead on a Brayden Schenn power play goal, with assists provided by Umberger and Yevgeni Medvedev. The Lightning tied it with a Callahan power play goal, passed from Victor Hedman and Drouin. Tampa Bay won 3-2 in overtime on a Garrison goal, his second of the game, via Alex Killorn and Valtteri Filppula. The three stars went to Garrison, Callahan, and Drouin, while Umberger gets an honorable mention.

Northwest to St. Louis, where the Blues host the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Brian Elliott are called on to start. Edmonton was first to score in the first period on a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins power play goal, an unassisted goal. St. Louis tied it in the second period as Vladimir Tarasenko scored, with the help of Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester. The Blues took the lead in the third period on a Robby Fabbri goal, assisted by Jori Lehtera and Jaden Schwartz. St. Louis finished it at 3-1 on a Troy Brouwer empty net goal, set up by Schwartz. The three stars went to Elliott (23 for 24 in saves), Schwartz, and Fabbri.

Back to Nashville, where the Predators bring in the Carolina Hurricanes. Cam Ward and Pekka Rinne are the veterans in goal. Nashville struck first in the first period on a Craig Smith power play goal, powered by Ryan Ellis and Seth Jones. The Predators added on with a Viktor Arvidsson goal, coming off of Calle Jarnkrok and Jones. Carolina got on the board in the third period with a Victor Rask goal, made possible by Eric Staal and Justin Faulk. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Rinne (25 for 26 in saves), Arvidsson, and Smith.

South to Dallas, where the Stars welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury and Antti Niemi tend the twines. Dallas led off in the first period on a Mattias Janmark goal, fueled by Ales Hemsky and the goalie Niemi. The Stars added on with a Hemsky power play goal, powered by Alex Goligoski and Niemi again. Dallas extended the lead with a Jamie Benn power play goal, guided in by Jason Spezza and John Klingberg. This stood for a 3-0 win, with the three stars going to Niemi (34 save shutout + two assists), Hemsky, and Janmark.

Finally, the Colorado Avalanche host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk and Semyon Varlamov are in the blue paint. Colorado started in the first period on a Jarome Iginla power play goal, powered by Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie. The Avalanche added on with an Erik Johnson power play goal, guided in by Francois Beauchemin and Carl Soderberg. Colorado extended the lead with a Gabriel Landeskog goal, made possible by Beauchemin and MacKinnon. Minnesota got on the board in the second period with a Zach Parise goal, via Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville. The Avalanche replied on a John Mitchell goal, assisted by Johnson and Beauchemin, the latter getting a sock trick. The Wild shot back with a third period goal by Parise, his second of the game, fueled by Pominville and Matt Dumba. Minnesota edged closer on a Nino Niederreiter goal, with a lone helper by Jason Zucker. The Wild got an equalizer on a Thomas Vanek goal, passed from Granlund and Charlie Coyle. Minnesota pulled ahead on a Parise power play goal, securing his hat trick with assists provided by Ryan Suter and Mikko Koivu. The three stars went to Parise, Beauchemin, and Johnson, while MacKinnon, Granlund, and Pominville get the honorable mentions.

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2015/16 KHL Season - Day 45

Five games for today, beginning with...

Avangard Omsk hosting Sibir Novosibirsk. Alexander Salak and Dominik Furch are between the pipes. Omsk was first to score in the first period on a Michal Kempny goal, passed from Ilya Zubov and Alexander Popov on the power play. Novosibirsk tied it on an Igor Fefelov goal, assisted by Vitaly Menshikov and Stepan Sannikov. Sibir took the lead in the second period on a Tomas Vincour goal, coming off of Menshikov and Oleg Gubin on the power play. Avangard tied it as Popov scored in the third period, with the help of Ivan Lekomtsev and Ilya Mikheyev. Omsk took the game 3-2 in the shootout with a lone tally by Vladimir Sobotka. The three stars went to Popov, Menshikov, and Sobotka.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana welcomes Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Andrei Kareyev and Jan Laco are the masked men. Astana struck first in the first period on a Kevin Dallman goal, fueled by Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. Barys added on with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, courtesy of Vyacheslav Tryasunov. Novokuznetsk got on the board with a Mark Skutar power play goal, powered by Cade Fairchild. Astana shot back with a Mike Lundin power play goal, made possible by Bochenski and Dallman. Metallurg pulled back with a Robert Kousal goal, via Alexander Romanov. Barys answered in the third period on a Bochenski goal, with a lone helper by Dallman. The final stood at 4-2, with the three stars going to Dallman, Bochenski, and Lundin.

Back in Russia, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Ivan Nalimov and Jakub Kovar occupy the creases. Vladivostok dented the scoreboard in the second period on an Alexander Gorshkov goal, assisted by Stanislav Alshevsky and Nikita Lisov. Yekaterinburg tied it on an Alexander Pankov goal, helped along by Yegor Zhuravlyov. Admiral took the lead back with an Oskars Bartulis goal, fueled by the goalie Nalimov and Jonathon Blum. Vladivostok iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Konstantin Makarov, set up by Alexander Kuznetsov while shorthanded. The three stars went to Nalimov (25 for 26 in saves), Bartulis, and Gorshkov.

Over to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra brings in Amur Khabarovsk. Juha Metsola and Georgy Gelashvili protect the nets. Khabarovsk got going in the second period on a Vladimir Pervushin, guided in by Vyacheslav Litovchenko and Tomas Zohorna. This was it for the scoring, with Amur taking the 1-0 win. The three stars were awarded to Metsola (26 save shutout), Pervushin, and Gelashvili (19 for 20 in saves).

Finally, Dinamo Minsk hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Sergei Magarilov and Dmitry Milchakov receive the starting nods. Cherepovets led off in the first period on a Mattias Karlsson goal, passed from Dmitry Kagarlitsky and Pavel Chernov. Severstal added on in the second period with a Chernov goal, with a lone helper by Kagarlitsky. Minsk got on the board with a Nick Bailen power play goal, powered by Alexander Materukhin and Paul Szczechura. Cherepovets finished it at 3-1 with an empty net goal from Roman Berdnikov in the third period, going in unassisted. The three stars went to Chernov, Kagarlitsky, and Magarilov (15 for 16 in saves).

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