Saturday, October 29, 2016

KHL 2016/17 - Day 68

Seven games on for today, starting a bit early, as...

Admiral Vladivostok hosts Kunlun Red Star Beijing. Artyom Zagidulin and Ivan Nalimov draw the starts in goal. Vladivostok got going in the second period with a Mikhail Fisenko, assisted by Vladimir Tkachyov. Beijing tied it on a power play goal by Janne Jalasvaara, powered by Sean Collins and Tuukka Mantyla. Admiral retook the lead with a shorthanded and unassisted Dmitry Sayustov goal in the third period. Vladivostok added on with a Viktor Alexandrov empty net goal, set up by Artyom Zemchyonok for the 3-1 win. The three stars went to Sayustov, Nalimov (32 for 33 in saves), and Fisenko.

Over in Togliatti, Lada welcomes Barys Astana. Henrik Karlsson and Ilya Ezhov are in goal. Astana led off in the first period with a Maxim Khudyakov goal, coming off of Corey Trivino and Vladimir Markelov. Barys added on with a Nigel Dawes penalty shot goal in the second period, after he was slashed by Vladimir Malenkikh. Togliatti got on the board with an unassisted Anton Shenfeld goal. Lada tied it with a Nikita Filatov goal, passed from Yefim Gurkin. Astana won 3-2 in overtime on a Dawes goal, assisted by Brandon Bochenski and Kevin Dallman. The three stars went to Dawes, Khudyakov, and Karlsson (27 for 29 in saves).

Down to Nizhnekamsk, where Neftekhimik brings in Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Alexander Sharychenkov and Ivan Lisutin man the nets. Khanty-Mansiysk began in the first period with an Evgeny Lapenkov goal, courtesy of Denis Gorbunov and Pavel Medvedev. Nizhnekamsk tied it on a Dan Sexton power play goal, powered by Richard Gynge and Gilbert Brule. Neftekhimik took the lead in the third period with a Sergei Konkov goal, coming off of Kirill Lyamin and Dmitry Makarov. The final stood at 2-1, with the three stars being Lisutin (38 for 39 in saves), Konkov, and Sexton.

Northwest to Cherepovets, with Severstal hosting Slovan Bratislava. Barry Brust and Jakub Kovar draw the starts in goal. Bratislava opened in the first period with a Marek Daloga power play goal, powered by Ziga Jeglic. Slovan added on in the second period with a shorthanded goal by Jeff Taffe, set up by Jonathan Cheechoo. Cherepovets got on the board in the third period with a Sergei Monakhov goal, helped along by Igor Magogin and Alexander Yevseyenkov. Bratislava replied on a Kyle Chipchura goal, made possible by the goalie Brust and Nick Plastino. This held for a 3-1 win, with the three stars given to Brust (38 for 39 in saves), Taffe, and Chipchura.

Nearby, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl brings in Jokerit Helsinki. Riku Helenius and Alexei Murygin protect the nets. Yaroslavl started in the first period with a Yegor Korshkov goal, assisted by Pavel Kraskovsky and Alexander Polunin. Helsinki tied it in the second period with a Peter Regin power play goal, powered by Brian O'Neill and Pekka Jormakka. Lokomotiv retook the lead in the third period with a Brandon Kozun goal, with a lone assist by Petri Kontiola. Yaroslavl added on with a Maxime Talbot goal, via Kozun and Kontiola. Lokomotiv extended the lead as Staffan Kronwall scored a power play goal, thanks to Kozun and Kontiola, the latter getting a sock trick. This made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars going to Kozun, Kontiola, and Murygin (32 for 33 in saves).

In Moscow, Spartak welcomes the Sochi Leopards. Konstantin Barulin and Markus Svensson are the masked men. Sochi struck first in the first period with a Vadim Shchegolkov goal, passed from Artyom Tomilin and Renat Mamashev. The Leopards added on with a Mamashev goal, guided in by Eric O'Dell and Igor Levitsky. Svensson was replaced by Nikita Bespalov in goal. Sochi extended the lead as Shchegolkov scored again, thanks to Mikhail Mamkin and Denis Tolpeko. The Leopards padded the lead in the second period with an Ivan Zakharchuk goal, helped along by Yury Alexandrov and Rinat Ibragimov. Moscow got on the board with a Vladislav Provolnev goal in the third period, courtesy of Sergei Shmelyov. Spartak got closer with a Dmitry Kalinin power play goal, powered by Konstantin Glazachev and Matthew Gilroy. Sochi iced it at 5-2 with a Pavel Padakin empty net goal, set up by Sergei Kuznetsov. The three stars went to Shchegolkov, Mamashev, and Barulin (38 for 40 in saves).

Finally, Ak Bars Kazan hosts Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Igor Ustinky and Emil Garipov are in the creases. Kazan was first to score in the first period with an Andrei Chibisov goal, assisted by Mikhail Zhukov and Stepan Zakharchuk. Ak Bars added on with an Andrei Popov goal in the second period, fueled by Atte Ohtamaa and Anton Glinkin. Kazan extended the lead as Artyom Lukoyanov scored a power play goal, thanks to Vladimir Tkachyov and Justin Azevedo. Ak Bars padded the lead in the third period with an Azevedo goal, helped along by Damir Musin and Alexander Svitov. Kazan iced it at 5-0 with a Michal Jordan goal, with a lone helper by Glinkin. The three stars were given to Azevedo, Glinkin, and Garipov (24 save shutout).

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NHL 2016/17 - Day 17

Six games for today, beginning with...

The Carolina Hurricanes hosting the New York Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Ward are the veterans in goal. New York started in the first period with a Mats Zuccarello power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. Carolina tied it with a Jeff Skinner goal, his third of the year, fueled by Noah Hanifin and Victor Rask. The Hurricanes took the lead in the second period on another Skinner goal, his second of the game and fourth of the season, assisted by Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin. The Rangers retied it with Zuccarello's second of the night and fourth of the year, coming off of Ryan McDonagh and the goalie Lundqvist. Carolina retook the lead on a Bryan Bickell power play goal, via Skinner and Rask. This held for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Skinner, Zuccarello, and Rask.

Up in New Jersey, the Devils welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. Corey Crawford and Keith Kinkaid receive the starting nods. New Jersey opened in the first period with a P.A. Parenteau power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Devante Smith-Pelly and Yohann Auvitu. Chicago tied it in the second period with an Artemi Panarin power play goal, his third of the year, with helpers from Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook. The Devils retook the lead on a John Moore goal in the third period, courtesy of Kyle Palmieri and Taylor Hall. The Blackhawks tied it on a Marian Hossa power play goal, his second of the season, assisted by Richard Panik and Jonathan Toews. Chicago won 3-2 in overtime with an Artem Anisimov goal, his fifth of the year, coming off of Panarin and Duncan Keith. The three stars went to Panarin, Anisimov, and Crawford (30 for 32 in saves).

Out in Alberta, the Calgary Flames bring in the Ottawa Senators. Andrew Hammond and Brian Elliott are in the blue paint. Calgary led off in the first period with a Dougie Hamilton goal, via Johnny Gaudreau and Jyrki Jokipakka. Ottawa tied it on an Erik Karlsson power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Mike Hoffman and Derick Brassard. The Senators took the lead with a Kyle Turris power play goal, his fourth of the year, coming off of Dion Phaneuf and Ryan Dzingel. Chris Driedger replaced Hammond to begin the second period. The Flames tied it in the second period with a Sam Bennett goal, his third of the season, assisted by Alex Chiasson and Hamilton. Calgary took the lead on a Hamilton goal, his second of the game, courtesy of Micheal Ferland and T.J. Brodie. The Flames added on in the third period with a Sean Monahan goal, his fourth of the year, guided in by Gaudreau and Chiasson. Calgary extended the lead as Michael Frolik scored his fourth of the campaign, with the help of Mikael Backlund and Matthew Tkachuk. This made it 5-2, the final, with the three stars given to Hamilton, Gaudreau, and Chiasson.

Down in Colorado, the Avalanche host the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson and Semyon Varlamov are the goalies. Winnipeg got going in the second period with a Shawn Matthias goal, his second of the campaign, helped along by Joel Armia and Josh Morrissey. This was the only goal, resulting in a 1-0 final, with the three stars awarded to Hutchinson (37 save shutout), Matthias, and Varlamov (20 for 21 in saves).

Back in Canada, the Vancouver Canucks welcome the Edmonton Oilers. Cam Talbot and Ryan Miller are the masked men. Edmonton dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Connor McDavid goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Milan Lucic and Anton Lander. The Oilers added on with an empty net goal by Lucic in the third period, his fourth of the year, set up by Adam Larsson. The final stood at 2-0, with the three stars being Talbot (26 save shutout), Lucic, and McDavid.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks bring in the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and John Gibson draw the starts, although Dustin Tokarski also saw time in the Ducks net. Columbus began in the first period with a Sam Gagner goal, passed from Scott Hartnell and Lukas Sedlak. The Blue Jackets added on with a Brandon Saad goal, his second of the season, assisted by Nick Foligno and Zach Werenski. Columbus extended the lead with another Saad goal, his third of the year, made possible by Foligno and Alexander Wennberg. The Blue Jackets padded the lead on a Gagner power play goal, his second of the game, powered by Foligno, who got a sock trick, and Wennberg. The score held at 4-0, with the three stars given to Gagner, Bobrovsky (35 save shutout), and Saad, while Foligno and Wennberg get the honorable mentions.

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Friday, October 28, 2016

KHL 2016/17 - Day 67

Five games for today, beginning with...

Traktor Chelyabinsk hosting Avangard Omsk. Dominik Furch and Vasily Demchenko are the goalies. Omsk got going with a Jonas Ahnelov power play goal in the second period, powered by Maxim Pestushko and Vladimir Sobotka. Chelyabinsk tied it on a Dmitry Pestunov goal, passed from Paul Szczechura and Alexei Kruchinin on the power play. Traktor took the lead with an Artyom Borodkin power play goal in the third period, guided in by Szczechura and Kruchinin. Chelyabinsk iced it at 3-1 with a Nikolai Belov empty net goal, set up by Szczechura. The three stars went to Szczechura (sock trick), Demchenko (25 for 26 in saves), and Kruchinin.

Next up, Metallurg Magnitogorsk welcomes Sibir Novosibirsk. Danny Taylor and Vasily Koshechkin are the masked men. Magnitogorsk started with an Evgeny Timkin goal in the first period, assisted by Vladislav Kaletnik. Metallurg added on with an Evgeny Biryukov goal, coming off of Viktor Antipin and Danis Zaripov. Alexei Krasikov relieved Taylor. Magnitogorsk extended the lead as Denis Kazionov scored, thanks to Chris Lee and Sergei Mozyakin. Novosibirsk got on the board in the second period with a Nikolai Glukhov power play goal, powered by Adam Polasek and Joonas Kemppainen. Sibir pulled closer with an unassisted Artyom Voroshilo goal. This only made it 3-2, with the three stars going to Kazionov, Biryukov, and Timkin.

Along to Ufa, where Salavat Yulaev hosts Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Mikhail Biryukov and Niklas Svedberg are the goalies. Ufa opened in the first period with a Kirill Kaprizov goal, with a lone assist by Linus Omark. Novokuznetsk tied it in the second period on an Evgeny Solovyov goal, fueled by Andrei Pervyshin and Alexander Komaristy on the power play. Metallurg took the lead with an Evgeny Viksna power play goal, powered by Kirill Lebedev. Salavat Yulaev retied it with an unassisted Denis Kulyash goal. Ufa took the lead with an Omark goal, courtesy of Zakhar Arzamastsev and Kaprizov. Novokuznetsk tied it on a Semyonov goal, with a lone helper by Timur Fatkullin in the third period. Salavat Yulaev retook the lead with a Sami Lepisto goal, helped along by Kaprizov. This stood for a 4-3 win, with Kaprizov, Omark, and Lepisto earning the three stars.

West to Podolsk, where Vityaz brings in Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Harri Sateri are in the blue paint. Podolsk struck first in the first period with a shorthanded and unassisted Nikita Vyglazov goal. Vityaz added on with an Alexei Kopeikin goal, fueled by Miro Aaltonen and Mario Kempe in the second period. Riga tied it on a shorthanded Gints Meija goal, going in unassisted. Podolsk shot back with an Aaltonen power play goal, powered by Kopeikin and Kempe. Dinamo got one back in the third period with a Pyotr Schastlivy goal, courtesy of Aleksandrs Jerofejevs and Jekabs Redlihs. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars going to Aaltonen, Kopeikin, and Kempe.

Finally, Dynamo Moscow hosts Jokerit Helsinki. Ryan Zapolski and Alexander Lazushin receive the starting nods in goal. Moscow dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Juuso Hietanen power play goal, powered by Lukas Kaspar and Andrei Mironov. Dynamo added on with an Ansel Galimov goal in the third period, coming off of Alexei Tsvetkov and Martins Karsums. Moscow extended the lead on a Kaspar empty net goal, set up by Tsvetkov and Karsums. The three stars of the 3-0 game were Lazushin (28 save shutout), Kaspar, and Tsvetkov, while Karsums gets an honorable mention.

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Thursday, October 27, 2016

NHL 2016/17 - Day 16

Nine games on a somewhat light Thursday, beginning in...

Buffalo, as the Sabres host the Minnesota Wild. Devan Dubnyk faces a lesser foe in Anders Nilsson in goal. Minnesota led off in the first period with a Joel Eriksson Ek goal, his second of the season, via Nate Prosser and Marco Scandella. The Wild added on with a Jason Zucker goal, his second of the year, coming off of Chris Stewart and Ryan Suter. Minnesota extended the lead in the third period as Suter scored his third of the season, thanks to Zach Parise and Christian Folin. The Wild iced it at 4-0 with a Mikko Koivu empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle. The three stars went to Suter, Dubnyk (38 save shutout), and Eriksson Ek.

In Philadelphia, the Flyers welcome the Arizona Coyotes. Louis Domingue and Steve Mason draw the starts in goal. Arizona opened in the first period with a Jamie McGinn goal, via Anthony Duclair and Brad Richardson. The Coyotes added on with an Oliver Ekman-Larsson goal, his fifth of the season, going in unassisted. Philadelphia got on the board in the third period with a Nick Cousins goal, made possible by Brayden Schenn and Dale Weise. The Flyers tied it on a Schenn goal, his second of the year, coming off of Shayne Gostisbehere and Claude Giroux on the power play. Arizona retook the lead with a Martin Hanzal goal in the third period, his second of the season, assisted by Max Domi and Michael Stone. The Coyotes extended the lead on a shorthanded Richardson goal, his third of the year, set up by Tobias Rieder. Philadelphia pulled back as Andrew MacDonald scored, thanks to Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny. Arizona shot back with a Ryan White goal, with a lone assist by Christian Dvorak. The Flyers edged back with a Wayne Simmonds power play goal, his fifth of the campaign, with helpers from Schenn and Mark Streit. The game ended at 5-4, with Schenn, Richardson, and White earning the three stars.

Across Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins bring in the New York Islanders. Jaroslav Halak and Marc-Andre Fleury are the masked men. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Patric Hornqvist power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel. New York tied it in the second period with a Travis Hamonic goal, fueled by Shane Prince and Brock Nelson. The Penguins retook the lead in the third period with an Evgeni Malkin goal, his third of the year, via Kessel and Chris Kunitz. The Islanders tied it again on a Prince power play goal, coming off of Nelson and Hamonic. Pittsburgh retook the lead with a Crosby goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Scott Wilson and Justin Schultz. The Penguins iced it at 4-2 with a Kessel power play goal, his third of the year, assisted by Malkin and Trevor Daley. The three stars went to Crosby, Kessel, and Malkin, while Hamonic, Prince, and Nelson get the honorable mentions.

In Montreal, the Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price guard the cages. Tampa Bay got going in the second period with an Alex Killorn goal, his sixth of the season, made possible by Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman. Montreal tied it in the third period with an Alex Galchenyuk goal, his second of the year, a power play goal via Andrei Markov and Jeff Petry. The Canadiens took the lead with a Max Pacioretty goal, his second of the season, courtesy of Greg Pateryn and Andrew Shaw. Montreal iced it at 3-1 with an unassisted empty net goal by Torrey Mitchell, his fourth of the year. The three stars went to Pacioretty, Price (30 for 31 in saves), and Galchenyuk.

Over in Ontario, the Toronto Maple Leafs welcome the Florida Panthers. Roberto Luongo and Frederik Andersen man the nets. Florida began in the first period with a Jonathan Marchessault goal, his fourth of the season, courtesy of Jaromir Jagr. Toronto tied it with a Tyler Bozak goal, his second of the year, guided in by Nikita Zaitsev and Mitchell Marner. The Panthers took the lead back with a Marchessault power play goal in the second period, his second of the game and fifth of the season, powered by Keith Yandle and the goalie Luongo. The Maple Leafs retied it with a James van Riemsdyk goal, his fourth of the year, fueled by Marner. Toronto took the lead on a Bozak goal, his second of the game and third of the campaign, helped along by Marner, who got a sock trick, and Nazem Kadri. The final stood from here at 3-2, with the three stars being Bozak, Marner, and Marchessault.

Back stateside, the St. Louis Blues bring in the Detroit Red Wings. Petr Mrazek and Jake Allen protect the nets. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Kevin Shattenkirk goal, his third of the season, made possible by Patrik Berglund. Detroit tied it on a Frans Nielsen shorthanded goal, his second of the year, set up by Darren Helm and Alexey Marchenko. In the shootout, Alexander Steen of the Blues got matched by Gustav Nyquist and topped by Henrik Zetterberg of the Red Wings for their 2-1 win. The three stars went to Mrazek (31 for 32 in saves), Zetterberg, and Allen (26 for 27 in saves).

Into Canada, the Winnipeg Jets host the Dallas Stars. Antti Niemi and Connor Hellebuyck are in the blue paint. Winnipeg struck first in the first period with a Tyler Myers goal, his second of the season, with a lone assist by Joel Armia. The Jets added on with a Kyle Connor goal, courtesy of Nikolaj Ehlers. Winnipeg extended the lead in the second period on a Patrik Laine power play goal, his fifth of the year, powered by Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele. Dallas got on the board in the third period with a Tyler Seguin power play goal, his fourth of the season, via John Klingberg and Jordie Benn. The Jets shot back with another Laine power play goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, with helpers from Blake Wheeler and Mathieu Perreault. This stood for a 4-1 win, with the three stars given to Laine, Hellebuyck (38 for 39 in saves), and Connor.

Out in California, the San Jose Sharks welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sergei Bobrovsky and Martin Jones are the solid goalies. San Jose was first to score with a first period Joonas Donskoi power play goal, powered by David Schlemko. The Sharks added on with a Tomas Hertl power play goal in the third period, his third of the season, with assists provided by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Schlemko. Columbus got on the board with a Scott Hartnell goal, his second of the year, helped along by Lukas Sedlak and Brandon Saad. San Jose shot back on a Hertl empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the campaign, set up by Joe Thornton. The final stood at 3-1, with the three stars given to Hertl, Jones (24 for 25 in saves), and Schlemko.

Finally, the Los Angeles Kings bring in the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and Peter Budaj have the green light in goal. Nashville cracked the scoresheet in the second period with a Craig Smith goal, his second of the season, assisted by Mike Ribeiro and Viktor Arvidsson. Los Angeles tied it on a Jake Muzzin power play goal, powered by Nic Dowd and Alec Martinez. The Predators took the lead back in the third period with a shorthanded and unassisted Arvidsson goal, his fourth of the year. The Kings retied it with a Tyler Toffoli goal, his second of the season, helped along by Dowd and Martinez. Los Angeles won 3-2 in overtime with a Jeff Carter goal, his second of the year, via Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. The three stars went to Dowd, Arvidsson, and Martinez.

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MLS Knockout Round 2016

The teams that made the playoffs but couldn't finish second or better in their conferences square off in these one-off games for the chance to continue their playoff dreams. We begin with two Wednesday games, the first seeing...

Toronto FC host the Philadelphia Union. Andre Blake and Clint Irwin man the nets. Toronto had a yellow card go to Michael Bradley for his fourteenth minute foul. Toronto led off in the fifteenth minute with a Sebastian Giovinco goal, assisted by Jozy Altidore. Philadelphia had a twenty-fifth minute yellow card for a C.J. Sapong foul, as did teammate Alejandro Bedoya in the forty-third minute. Toronto's Altidore took a yellow card for a foul in first half stoppage time. Toronto added on with a Jonathan Osorio goal in the forty-eighth minute, set up by Nick Hagglund and Giovinco. The Union got on the board with a seventy-third minute Bedoya goal, passed from Richie Marquez and Ilsinho. Toronto shot back in the eighty-fifth minute with an Altidore goal. Philadelphia's Ken Tribbett took a yellow card for a ninetieth minute foul. The game ended 3-1, with Toronto advancing on the back of Altidore's man of the match performance.

Out in Los Angeles, the Galaxy welcome Real Salt Lake. Nick Rimando and Brian Rowe are the goalies. Los Angeles began in the fourteenth minute on an Alan Gordon goal, set up by Giovani dos Santos and Landon Donovan. Salt Lake tied it in the twenty-first minute on a Joao Plata penalty kick goal. The Galaxy retook the lead with a twenty-sixth minute goal by Emmanuel Boateng, via Gordon. Los Angeles added on with another Boateng goal in the thirty-fourth minute, coming off of Gordon. Real saw yellow cards for Demar Phillips in the thirty-ninth minute and Chris Wingert in the forty-first minute, both for fouls. The Galaxy's Baggio Husidic took a yellow card for a sixty-second minute foul. Salt Lake saw a yellow card go to Sunny in the seventy-first minute for a foul. The game ended 3-1, with Boateng's winning brace making him the man of the match.

On Thursday, DC United brings in the Montreal Impact. Evan Bush and Bill Hamid are the gloved men. Montreal opened in the fourth minute with a Laurent Ciman goal, passed from Marco Donadel. The Impact added on with a forty-third minute Matteo Mancosu goal, assisted by Ignacio Piatti. Montreal extended the lead as Moncosu scored again in the fifty-eighth minute, thanks to Ambroise Oyongo. The Impact padded the lead on a Piatti goal in the eighty-third minute, via Mancosu. DC got on the board in the ninetieth minute with a Lamar Neagle goal, set up by Patrick Nyarko. United pulled closer with a Taylor Kemp goal in stoppage time. The game ended at 4-2, with the man of the match being Mancosu.

Finally, the Seattle Sounders FC host Sporting Kansas City. Tim Melia and Stefan Frei are in the six-yard boxes. Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso took a yellow card for a thirty-second minute foul. Kansas City had yellow cards for a foul by Seth Sinovic in the sixty-third minute and dissent by Benny Feilhaber in the seventy-first minute. The Sounders got going with an eighty-eighth minute Nelson Valdez goal, set up by Joevin Jones. Sporting's Roger Espinoza had a yellow card for a foul in stoppage time. The final held at 1-0, with the man of the match being Frei for his seven-save clean sheet.

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KHL 2016/17 - Day 66

There's seven games on today, and for the first time, we begin in...

China, as Kunlun Red Star Beijing hosts Amur Khabarovsk in Shanghai. Juha Metsola and Artyom Zagidulin are the goalies. Beijing started in the first period with a Zach Yuen goal, passed from Tomas Marcinko. This held up for a 1-0 win, with the three stars being Yuen, Zagidulin (16 save shutout), and Metsola (16 for 17 in saves).

In Russia, Lada Togliatti welcomes Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Igor Ustinsky and Edgars Masalskis are in the creases. Yekaterinburg opened in the first period with a Petr Koukal goal, via Niclas Andersen. Togliatti tied it on a Denis Zernov goal, made possible by Rafael Akhmetov. Lada took the lead with an Alexander Bumagin power play goal, powered by Taylor Aronson and Andrei Ivanov. This stood for the eventual 2-1 win, with the three stars going to Bumagin, Masalskis (32 for 33 in saves), and Zernov.

Next up, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk brings in Barys Astana. Henrik Karlsson and Rafael Khakimov play goal. Astana led off in the first period with an Evgeny Rymarev goal, passed from Vyacheslav Tryasunov. Barys added on with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Martin St. Pierre. Ivan Lisutin replaced Khakimov in goal. Astana extended the lead in the second period as St. Pierre scored, thanks to Maxim Semyonov and Kevin Dallman. The final held from here at 3-0, with the three stars being Karlsson (42 save shutout), St. Pierre, and Rymarev.

Along to Yaroslavl, with Lokomotiv hosting Dinamo Minsk. Ben Scrivens and Alexander Sudnitsin are between the pipes. Yaroslavl began in the first period with a Yegor Averin goal, assisted by Roman Manukhov and Stanislav Chistov. Minsk tied it on an Alexander Materukhin power play goal, with a lone assist by Matt Ellison. Lokomotiv retook the lead with an Andrei Loktionov shorthanded goal, set up by Denis Mosalyov. Dinamo tied it in the second period with an Ellison goal, made possible by Marc-Andre Gragnani and Sergei Kostitsyn on the power play. Yaroslavl retook the lead with a Brandon Kozun power play goal in the third period, powered by Pavel Koledov and Loktionov. Lokomotiv added on with a Maxime Talbot goal, going in unassisted. Yaroslavl extended the lead as Mosalyov scored, thanks to Manukhov. Mikhail Karnaukhov replaced Scrivens in goal. Minsk got one back with a Materukhin power play goal, with helpers from Andrei Stepanov and Kostitsyn. Lokomotiv iced it at 6-3 with a Mosalyov goal, via Daniil Apalkov. The three stars were Mosalyov, Loktionov, and Materukhin, while Ellison, Kostitsyn, Koledov, and Manukhov get the honorable mentions.

In Moscow, CSKA brings in Slovan Bratislava. Justin Pogge and Ilya Sorokin man the nets. Bratislava struck first in the first period with an unassisted Jonathan Cheechoo goal. Moscow tied it with an Alexander Popov goal, via Artyom Sergeyev and Grigory Panin. CSKA took the lead with an Alexander Kutuzov power play goal in the second period, powered by Andrei Svetlakov. Moscow added on with a Maxim Mamin goal, with a lone assist by Jan Mursak in the third period. Slovan got one back on a Vaclav Nedorost goal, passed from Andrej Meszaros and Cheechoo. CSKA capped it at 4-2 with a Jonas Enlund goal, going in unassisted. The three stars belonged to Mamin, Cheechoo, and Kutuzov.

Out to St. Petersburg, where SKA welcomes Medvescak Zagreb. Drew MacIntyre and Igor Shestyorkin draw the starts. St. Petersburg was first to score in the first period with an Evgeny Ketov goal, made possible by Ilya Kablukov and Alexander Khokhlachyov. SKA added on in the second period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, courtesy of Vyacheslav Voynov. St. Petersburg extended the lead as Pavel Datsyuk scored, with the help of Voynov and Alexander Barabanov. SKA padded the lead with a Nikolai Prokhorkin goal in the third period, fueled by Steve Moses. St. Petersburg kept going with a Barabanov goal, helped along by Nikita Gusev. SKA finished it at 6-0 with a Yegor Yakovlev power play goal, guided in by Datsyuk. The three stars went to Datsyuk, Voynov, and Barabanov.

Finally, Ak Bars Kazan hosts Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk. Vladislav Fokin and Stanislav Galimov are the masked men. Kazan drew first blood in the first period with a Vladimir Tkachyov goal, coming off of Andrei Chibisov. Ak Bars added on with an unassisted Tkachyov goal, his second of the game. Kazan extended the lead as Mikhail Glukhov scored, thanks to Anton Glinkin and Andrei Popov. Ak Bars padded the lead with a Tkachyov power play goal to complete his hat trick, powered by Alexander Svitov and Artyom Lukoyanov. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board in the third period on a Denis Khlystov goal, guided in by Nikita Dvurechensky and Pavel Medvedev. The final stood at 4-1, with the three stars being Tkachyov, Galimov (14 for 15 in saves), and Glukhov.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

NHL 2016/17 - Day 15

The third week of the season commences with four games tonight, beginning with...

The New York Islanders hosting the Montreal Canadiens. Al Montoya and Thomsa Greiss are the backups in goal. Montreal got going in the second period with a Paul Byron goal, his second of the season, helped along by Brendan Gallagher and Alexei Emelin. New York tied it with a John Tavares power play goal, his fourth of the year, going in unassisted. The Canadiens took the lead back in the third period with a Phillip Danault goal, his second of the season, coming off of Shea Weber and Torrey Mitchell. The Islanders retied it on a Dennis Seidenberg goal, his second of the year, via Calvin de Haan and Ryan Strome. Montreal regained the lead on a Weber power play goal, his third of the season, Jeff Petry and Max Pacioretty. The game ended at 3-2, with the three stars going to Weber, Danault, and Byron.

Also in New York, the Rangers welcome the Boston Bruins. Zane McIntyre is mismatched with Henrik Lundqvist in goal. Boston led off in the first period with a David Pastrnak goal, his fifth of the season, coming off of Brad Marchand and Zdeno Chara. The Bruins added on with an Austin Czarnik goal, made possible by David Krejci. New York got on the board in the second period with a Rick Nash power play goal, his third of the year, powered by Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey. The Rangers tied it on a Kevin Hayes goal, his second of the season, guided in by Jesper Fast and Ryan McDonagh. New York took the lead with a Brandon Pirri power play goal, his third of the year, with helpers from J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers extended the lead as Pirri scored his second of the game and fourth of the season in the third period, thanks to Marc Staal and Miller. New York padded the lead with a Vesey goal, his fourth of the year, courtesy of Nash and Stepan. The game closed with a 5-2 final, with the three stars awarded to Pirri, Vesey, and Nash, while Stepan and Miller get the honorable mentions.

Northwest to Edmonton, where the Oilers bring in the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby and Cam Talbot man the nets. Edmonton dented the scoreboard in the second period on a Benoit Pouliot goal, his second of the season, coming off of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers added on with another Pouliot goal, his second of the game and third of the year, via Nugent-Hopkins and Oscar Klefbom. Washington got on the board in the third period with an Alex Ovechkin goal, his fourth of the season, helped along by Matt Niskanen and Andre Burakovsky. Edmonton replied with a Patrick Maroon goal, his second of the year, guided in by Jesse Puljujarvi and Connor McDavid. The Oilers iced it at 4-1 with a Milan Lucic power play goal, his third of the campaign, powered by Andrej Sekera and McDavid. The three stars went to Pouliot, Talbot (34 for 35 in saves), and Nugent-Hopkins, while McDavid gets an honorable mention.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks host the Nashville Predators. Pekka Rinne and John Gibson are in the blue paint. Anaheim began in the first period with a Nick Ritchie power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Michael Sgarbossa and Antoine Vermette. The Ducks added on in the second period with a shorthanded Jakob Silfverberg goal, set up by Shea Theodore and Ryan Garbutt. Anaheim extended the lead as Silfverberg scored again, thanks to Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler on the power play. The Ducks padded the lead with an unassisted Corey Perry goal, his fourth of the year. Marek Mazanec replaced Rinne in goal. Anaheim continued on a shorthanded goal by Andrew Cogliano, his fourth of the season, going in unassisted. The Ducks struck again with a Ryan Kesler power play goal, with helpers from Fowler and Vatanen. Nashville got on the board in the third period with a Colin Wilson power play goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The final stood at 6-1, with the three stars being Silfverberg, Vatanen, and Fowler.

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