MOSCOW -- Maxim Kovtuns two confident quads gave him a big lead after Fridays short program in the Rostelecom Cup, the last of six Grand Prix events before the final. Michael Brockers Jersey . As the only competitor to try two quads, much less complete them, Kovtun ended the day nearly nine points ahead of Japans Tatsuki Machida, who opened with a clean quad but then stepped out of the triple toe loop that was the second jump in his combination. Javier Fernandez of Spain was in third despite falling on his quad. In the womens short program, Russian Julia Lipnitskaia was in the lead, followed by Carolina Kostner of Italy, the 2012 world champion. American teammates Agnes Zawadzki and Mirai Nagasu were one-hundredth of a point apart at third and fourth, though well behind the two leaders. Kovtun is gunning for the sole Russian mens slot in Sochi, which Turin Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko also wants. Plushenko was to have been part of the Rostelecom field, but withdrew from what would have been his first top-tier competition since back surgery this spring. Plushenko blamed his withdrawal on a knee injury. "I was interested in trying my strength against such a fantastic skater," Kovtun said. "But I hope I will have another chance at Russian nationals." Kovtun was strong throughout his flamenco-themed program, the only notable flaw that he was almost sitting on the landing of his second quad to keep his balance. Machida, who won gold at Skate America, lamented that he was not in good condition in Moscow, but said its not clear whats troubling him. "Actually, I dont know," he said when asked about the specifics. Fernandez, the European champion and world bronze medallist , expressed satisfaction despite his fall. "I think I just had a little problem in the pattern and I just need to keep my mind clear," he said. All four of the top women did triple-triple combinations. But Lipnitskaia landed a more difficult triple lutz-triple toe combo while Kostner, Zawadzki and Nagasu all did triple toe-triple toes. In pairs, four-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy led after the short program, followed by Russians Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov and Canadas Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch. Lipnitskaia, who won gold at Skate Canada, will qualify for the Grand Prix final with a medal of any shade in Moscow. Kostner would qualify with a gold, but Zawadzki, after a seventh-place finish in the Cup of China, is out of contention. The top six skaters in each discipline qualify for the final, which is Dec. 5-8 in Fukuoka, Japan. Lipnitskaias program began on a mysterious note, with her crouched down and drawing figures with her finger on the ice. Asked what thats all about, she chose to keep the meaning hidden. "Everyone can see what he wants to," she said. But once she rose from the crouch, the 2012 junior world champions program was crystal-clear: a clean triple-triple, a precisely landed double axel and a very fast combination spin at the end. The veteran Kostner, who said she is contemplating retirement after the season, said she was soothed by being back on the ice at Moscows Luzhniki Small Arena. The arena was the practice rink for the 2005 world championships, where she won her first world medal, a bronze. "It feels very special," Kostner said. "Its funny to see so much time has passed." The top pairs all struggled, notably Savchenkos hard fall on a throw triple axel, a challenging move that the pair daringly puts almost at the end of their program when their energy has flagged somewhat. "Its a risky element," Szolkowy acknowledged. "We tried it in several positions; we found at the end it is best." Bazarova put her hand down on the pairs opening triple toe loop and landed awkwardly on the throw triple loop, but said it was all an improvement over last weeks Trophee Bompard, where the pair was fourth. "Today, we got the maximum levels," she said. Moscovitch took his fall in stride, saying, "I was working on some yoga positions on the landing." Aaron Donald Jersey . -- Canadian ski cross star Marielle Thompson accomplished two goals in one race Saturday. Mark Barron Jersey .C. -- Only two Syracuse teams have won their first 20 games, and C.SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Spencer Smallman had two goals to pace the Saint John Sea Dogs offence on Saturday night in their 5-2 win over the Halifax Mooseheads in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.Justice Dundas, Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph also scored for Saint John (6-2-2).Winnipeg Jets first-round selection from the 2014 NHL Draft, Nikolaj Ehlers, scored his first goal since being reassigned to Halifax (3-5-2) while Vincent Watt rounded out the attack.Sebastien Auger made 30 saves for the Sea Dogs. Kevin Resop suffered the loss for the Mooseheads, turning aside 32 shots.Both teams failed to score on six power-play opportunities.---DRAKKAR 5 OLYMPIQUES 2GATINEAU, Que. — Simon Chevrier had two goals and added an assist while Baie-Comeau scored four times in the second period to power past the Olympiques.Jasmin Boutet, Luca Ciampini and Valentin Zykov rounded out the attack for the Drakkar (6-4-1).Pascal Laberge and Yakov Trenin replied for Gatineau (6-3-3) while Anthony Brodeur kicked out 41 shots in the loss. Troy Hill Jersey. ---FOREURS 5 WILDCATS 2VAL-DOR, Que. — Stephen Anderson found the back of the net twice on the power play as the Foreurs skated past Moncton.Anthony Richard also had two goals for Val-dOr (5-6-1) while Pierre-Maxime Poudrier had a goal.Conor Garland and Will Smith struck for the Wildcats (7-4-0).---ARMADA 4 VOLTIGEURS 1DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. — Nikita Jevpalovs scored twice in the first period to lead the offensive charge for Blainville-Boisbriand over the Voltigeurs.Danick Martel and Yvan Mongo supplied the rest of the offence for the Armada (3-6-2).Philippe Pelletier-Leblanc scored the lone goal for Drummondville (4-5-1).---HUSKIES 2 SCREAMING EAGLES 1ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. — Jeremy Auger and Julien Nantel both scored their fourth goals of the season in the third period as the Huskies came back to beat Cape Breton.Alexandre Belanger made 19 saves for Rouyn-Noranda (7-5-0) in the win.Jeremie Beaudin scored for the Screaming Eagles (5-6-1).--- Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap NHL Jerseys Canada Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Nike NHL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Football Jerseys Store Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Jerseys NCAA China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys' ' '