Archive for December, 2009
Hall leads Canada over Slovakia
December 29th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Taylor Hall notched three goals, and Canada won its 13th straight game, and got another convincing win with an 8-2 rout of Slovakia.
The matchup sets up the 2nd straight year Canada will play USA on New Years Eve, a game that decides who gets the bye to the semi’s, and who plays in the quarter finals.
Alex Pietrangelo, Luke Adam, Ryan Ellis, Brayden Schenn and Stefan Della Rovere added singles for Canada while Richard Panik and Martin Bakos replied for Slovakia.
Penalties hurt Slovakia, who landed in the box 9 times, Canada was able to convert on 3 of those.
Martin Jones was in net for Canada, but the shutout streak ended in the 2nd period when Panik scored on the power play. Canada had not let a goal in the net in 157:25 minutes of hockey.
The first period saw Taylor Hall score on the power play, and Alex Pietrangelo scored an even strength goal, Hall would pounce on a puck midway through the period, and put one over the glove, Canada had another big start.
The goal spelled the end of the night for Ciliak, who was subsequently replaced by Tomas Halasz in the Slovakian net.
The crowd got into it, as it was Canada’s most physical game of the tournament.
Not long after, Ryan Ellis took a pass from Hall and rocketed a shot past Halasz.
Slovakia would net one after Patrice Cormier landed in the box, but Taylor Hall got his third, and Brayden Schenn erased any chance of a Slovakian comeback.
First Period
Canada – Hall (Ellis, Eberle) PP, 7:18
Canada – Pietrangelo (Cormier, Bourque) 7:39
Canada – Hall (Unassisted), 10:43
Second Period
Canada – Adam (Della Rovere) 5:08
Canada – Ellis (Hall, Kadri) PP, 13:20
Slovakia – Panik (Hrasko, Rais) 17:25
Canada – Hall (Pietrangelo, Ellis) PP, 17:42
Canada – Schenn (Kozun, Pietrangelo), 18:39
Third Period
Canada – Della Rovere (Schenn) SH, 12:41
Slovakia – Bakos (Stastny), 13:43
Goaltenders
Canada – Martin Jones
Slovakia – Marek Ciliak, Tomas Halasz (10:43, 1st)
Vikings lose to bears in OT; New Orleans clinches NFC title
December 28th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
An Adrian Peterson fumble would result in disaster, as the Chicago Bears put the Minnesota Vikings plans to have home field advantage all through the NFC playoffs, on ice.
Devin Aromashodu caught a 39 yard TD pass from Jay Cutler in overtime, after Adrian Peterson fumbled the ball on what looked like a powerful Vikings drive.
This comes as a double whammy for the Vikings, who not only don’t get 1st in the NFC, they also potentially give up 2nd place in the NFC, if they are to lose next week and the Eagles are to win, the Eagles would get 2nd in the NFC.
Canada gets second straight shut out
December 28th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
Brand MacMillan had a 3 goal game, including one just as time was expiring and Canada cruised to a 6-0 win over Switzerland on Monday afternoon.
Jordan Eberle, who was voted the player of the game for Canada, had 1 goal and 4 assists, with the win Canada stays tied with USA for the Group A lead. Alex Pietrangelo and Nazem Kadri also had goals for Canada.
Canada, has two straight shutouts, Jake Allen has only faced 25 shots in two games, and made 15 today for the win.
After drubbing Latvia on Saturday, Switzerland was expected to give them a better run for their money, but just 23 seconds into the game, McMillan already had put Canada up 1-0. Alex Pietrangelo also scored midway through the first.
In the second, Canada scored 3 goals in under four minutes, and Switzerland couldn’t keep up to Canada’s always fast paced play.
In the third, Canada slowed down, and helped Jake Allen to his second straight shutout, but late in the frame McMillan notched his third of the game, on a wide open net.
SCORING SUMMARY
Canada 6, Switzerland 0
First Period
Canada – McMillan (Eberle, Schenn), 0:23
Canada – Pietrangelo (Hall, Eberle) PP, 8:14
Second Period
Canada – Kadri (Ellis, Hamonic) PP, 1:06
Canada – Eberle (Ellis, Kadri) PP, 1:26
Canada – McMillan (Eberle, de Haan), 3:42
Third Period
Canada – McMillan (Cowen, Eberle) PP, 19:23
Goaltenders
Canada – Jake Allen
Switzerland – Benjamin Conz
Bradys back on track
December 27th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
Tom Brady threw for four touchdown passes, and the New England Patriots clinched the AFC East division, with a 35-7 routing of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday morning.
Brady was nearly flawless, completing 23-of-26 passes for 267 yards as New England finished with an untarnished home record this season.
Wes Welker had 138 yards on 13 receptions for the Patriots (10-5), who are one win away from matching last seasons total, a record that didn’t even get them into the playoffs, a year ago.
Sammy Morris had one touchdown on 12 carries, and 95 yards.
The Jaguars were doomed in the red zone, turning the ball over 5 times on potential scoring drives, David Gerrard threw for 185 yards and went 19 for 25 effiency and had Jacksonville’s lone touchdown on the ground, but threw two interceptions.
The loss nearly eliminates the Jaguars from playoff contention.
Day one of the World Juniors
December 27th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, World Juniors
It could be summed up in any way, most teams that were favored, dominated the opposition. Examples come from Canada’s 16-0 routing of Latvia, Swedens 10-1 demolishing over the Czech Republic, or USA’s come from behind 7-3 win over Slovakia.
Records were almost broken with Gabriel Borque’s 7 point preformance, that included two goals and five assists, he was one of three players that had two goals for Canada.
USA’s win wasn’t one player in particular, seven different USA players were able to find twine. John Carlson, Jeremy Morin, Derek Stepan, Matt Donovan all scored, making the game 4-2 for the Americans. Jordan Schroeder also had a goal, he has played for USA in two previous tournaments.
But what’s more surprising, is that the Czech’s still havent picked up from opening game last year. Last year, they were defeated 8-2 by Canada, this year 10-1 by Sweden. Slow starts are affecting their play? Its tough to say, but in I think anyones experience the mindset isn’t great after a loss like that.
Canada dominates Latvia
December 26th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports
Gabriel Borque tied the all time Canadian single-game scoring record, and Canada routed Latvia 16-0.
The first goal was scored 36 seconds into the game by Borque, giving Canada the early 1-0 lead, and the whole team was able to take over from there. Before the game was even seven minutes in, Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Borque had already made the game 3-0.
Latvia’s Raimonds Ermics was pulled at 9:09, and Luke Adam made it 4-0 quickly after that. Canadian captain Patrice Cormier made it 5-0, 3 different canadians had 2 goals, including alternate captain Jordan Eberle.
Travis Hamonic, Kadri, Brandon Kozun and Adam Henrique added singles to make it 11-0 through 40 minutes.
Jake Allen got the shutout for Canada, who haven’t lost a tournemant opener in over 12 years. The Latvians were able to manage just 10 shots through three periods.
Canada’s next game is against Switzerland, on monday.
Kaeding kicks the Bengals out of San Diego
December 20th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
Nate Kaeding kicked a 52 yard field goal to win, lifting the San Diego Chargers to a 27-24 victory over the heavy-hearted Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chargers, had blown an 11 point 4th quarter lead, after the bengals tied it with very little time left in the 4th quarter.
Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers went 24-38 and 308 yards, with 3 touchdowns, and two picks, including two to Vincent Jackson who had 108 yards recieving and two touchdowns for the Chargers, who clinched the AFC West title, thanks to their nine straight wins.
For the Bengals, Carson Palmer had a season high 314 yards, and completed 27 out of 40 passes, and two touchdowns, but the Bengals have now lost two in a row.
Keith Rivers would provide good field position for the Bengals after he intercepted Phillip Rivers, and it took the Bengals just two plays to get the score.
One of the bigger plays came when the Bengals were driving, and Andre Caldwell caught a pass, but it was quickly jarred loose by Tim Dobbins, the ball would be recovered by the bengals, but would set the Bengals up on 2nd and 36. It resulted in a field goal.
The Chargers winning drive started on their own 20 after Darren Sproles took a knee in the endzone, the first play was an 11 yard pass to Darren Sproles, Rivers quickly spiked the ball after that play. Then found Jackson for a 20 yard pass, two plays later Malcolm Floyd made a big catch at the 34, setting up the game winning field goal.
Titans keep hopes alive, defeat Dolphins.
December 20th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
It all came down to the right leg of place-kicker Rob Bironas, and he delivered a 46-yard field-goal, and gave the Titans a 27-24 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.
The win came at a critical time for the Titans, who are batteling with the Houston Texans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2nd in the AFC South, and a shot at a playoff spot.
The loss also eliminated Miami’s playoff hopes, even after a rally in the fourth quarter, and winning the coin toss in overtime, Chad Henne threw an interception to safety Michael Griffin, and Bironas took over from there.
They’ll Take it
December 20th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
It wasn’t Tom Brady’s best game, but it got the New England Patriots that much closer to the AFC East title.
The Patriots, who coninue to dominate the Buffalo Bills, pulled out a 17-10 win, thanks to one touchdown passes from Tom Brady.
The passes were to Randy Moss, who was accused of not contributing enough in the passing game, and running-back Lawrence Maroney added one touchdown on the ground.
Brady went 11-23 with just 115 yards and one touchdown pass, plus one interception for the Patriots (9-5), and Ryan Fitzpatrick went 17 for 25 for 178 yards, one touchdown and a pick.
In the fourth quarter, Trent Edwards took over for Fitzpatrick, and converted two fourth downs, but not a third on 4th and inches inside the 10.
The Bills were eliminated from playoff contention.
Breakin out of the Cribb
December 20th, 2009
Posted in Krnsports, NFL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The always speedy Joshua Cribbs brought his A-Game today, and broke the NFL record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
His first return of the day was number 7 on his career and broke the record he had shared with five others.
On that one, he broke free from at least six players who got their hand on him. In his second, he took the ball three yards deep in the end zone, cut left, then right and was hardly touched. The 103-yard return was a yard short of the Browns record. Cleveland’s 269 yards in returns were a team record.
Cribbs already had brough 5 kickoff return touchdowns into the season.
Cribbs had been tied with Dante Hall, Gale Sayers, Mel Gray, Travis Williams and Ollie Matson.
The two returns in a game tied the league record.