Month: January 2020

Without Couture Sharks Beat Blazing Blue Jackets 3-1

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

sfgate.com photo: San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) skates with the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE–Despite missing their captain and top line center, the San Jose Sharks (20-22-4) managed to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 Thursday night at the SAP center.

Joe Thornton scored a power play goal and Kevin Labanc and Brent Burns tallied even-strength markers for San Jose. Aaron Dell made 30 saves to pick up his 7th win of the season, only giving up a goal to Sonny Milano off a turnover in an otherwise stellar showing.

Columbus (21-16-8) has only lost two games in regulation over their last 16 games, but both the losses in regular time are at the hands of the Sharks. San Jose also beat the Blue Jackets 3-2 in Columbus last Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Sharks announced Logan Couture would be out for at least 6 weeks after fracturing his ankle in a game against the St. Louis Blues. For all the doom and gloom that came with the Sharks looking at substantial time without their lone All-Star this year, Thursday didn’t feel like the beginning of the end. Instead, San Jose looked energized to try to build momentum while awaiting his return.

The Sharks fired 33 shots on netminder Elvis Merzlikins and even managed to pick up a power play goal despite missing Couture from the top power play unit. Kevin Labanc, one of the forwards who will be expected to step up and help shoulder the offensive load, started his two-point night by scoring off a rebound 1:01 into the 2nd period.

Later in the period, Joe Thornton scored a very un-Jumbo goal on the power play. With the umbrella shifting, Thornton found himself at the point with the puck. Barclay Goodrow was providing the perfect screen, so the model of the paradigm of pass-first decided instead to shoot the puck. Thornton’s shot beat Merzlikins up high for a 2-0 Sharks lead with 6:32 left in the middle period.

Late in the second, Brent Burns was dogged by Gustav Nyquist and chose to clear the puck out of his corner by wheeling it back up the middle. He didn’t feel the pressure from Milano crashing in while being dogged by his former teammate, so he turned the puck over to Milano right in the slot. Milano dodged the Dell poke check and slipped the puck in the net to ruin Dell’s shutout.

Burns atoned later in the game, scoring a backhand goal of his own off a rebound of a Kevin Labanc shot 2:09 into the 3rd. Labanc picked up an assist for a two-point night and the Sharks held the Blue Jackets scoreless over the remainder of the game to win their first game without their team leader in points.

Saturday night the Sharks welcome back a familiar face to the Shark Tank, with another former captain Joe Pavelski making his first appearance in San Jose since signing with the Dallas Stars in the offseason. Patrick Marleau will be appearing in career game 1,700.

Cal Bears podcast with Michael Duca: Bears go for their first Pac 12 conference win tonight against WSU

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On the Cal Bears podcast with Michael:

#1 It’s been a while since Cal (6-8) played it’s last basketball game on Jan 2nd at Stanford (12-2) in a game they lost 68-52 they’ve had a lot of practices since that game.

#2 Talk about Grant Anticevich and Matt Bradley and what they brought to the offense for Cal

#3 The Bears have struggled in the second half of recent games they are in Pac 12 Conference play what do they have to do differently to right the ship.

#4 Morris was saying in his last game recap and podcast that the Bears in their lacked a shot they need to get their offense up to speed.

#5 Tonight they have Washington State (9-5) at Haas Pavilion is the Cougars a good opportunity to get that first conference win?

Join Michael for Cal Bears basketball podcasts heard each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cardinal host Washington Huskies tonight at Maples in Pac 12 Conference action

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gostanford.com photo: The Stanford Cardinal Tyrell Terry dribbles up the floor against the Cal Bears in the Pac 12 Conference game opener on Jan 2. The Cardinal host the Washington State Cougars tonight at Maple Pavilion

On the Cardinal podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Daejon Davis led the Stanford Cardinal (12-2) in scoring in Thu Jan 2nd’s game at Stanford in the Cardinal’s 68-52 win, talk about what Davis has meant to the Stanford offense.

#2 The Cardinal’s Tyrell Terry scored 14 points for second in scoring on Jan 2nd proving why the Cardinal have such a potent offense.

#3 The Cardinal are a consistent team and have won five of their last six games. The Cardinal head coach Jerod Haase has a lot of confidence in what this team can do.

#4 Oscar Da Silva saw some extra coverage scored only eight points but everyone is aware of what he can do with the basketball.

#5 Stanford hosts the Washington Huskies 11-4 tonight at Maples Pavilion the Huskies are a very offensive consistent team and have won four out of their last six games.

Join Jerry for the Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda match franchise record for goals in 9-0 blowout victory

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by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The San Jose Barracuda made a huge statement to start their four-game homestand. A five-goal second period was just one of the highlights in a 9-0 shutout pounding over the Ontario Reign on Wednesday evening at SAP Center. The nine goals matched a franchise record they set earlier this season in a 9-2 win against the same Ontario team back on December 6th, 2019.

San Jose has won two games in a row after dropping their previous four games and they also snapped a four-game losing streak at home. Ontario have lost two games in a row as they ended a five-game road trip.

San Jose (12-18-0-2) drew first blood early in the first period. Jayden Halbgewachs fed a pass back up to the point where a trailing Dylan Gambrell fired a shot wide right. A pinching Trevor Carrick collected the puck off the boards and banked it off Reign goalie Cal Petersen for his sixth goal of the season at the 2:42 mark.

The ‘Cuda came out with a ton of energy in the opening 20 minutes as its forecheck kept Ontario on their heels for the first 13 minutes and ended outshooting their SoCal rival by a 17-9 margin.

San Jose had a huge 5-on-3 penalty kill midway through the opening frame where Ontario had almost a full two minutes on the two-man advantage due to the double minor penalty to Danil Yurtaykin for high sticking.

“It was definitely a momentum changer for sure,” said co-head coach Michael Chiasson of his team’s penalty killing on the night. “I think it was great for our group. I think we had three, four or maybe five big time blocks on that kill. It just shows the guys were committed to the PK tonight and guys were committed to the win.”

The ‘Cuda doubled its lead near the end of the first period when Yurtaykin won a battle along the boards behind the Reign net. Sasha Chmelevski swooped in behind the net and centered a pass out to a wide open Noah Gregor who buried the puck top-shelf to the left side for his fifth goal of the season at the 16:09 mark.

San Jose then tripled its lead 18 seconds later on a play almost exactly similar to Gregor’s goal. Another battle along the boards behind the net led to Manny Weiderer retrieving the puck then skating to the left where he centered the puck to a crashing Alex True. True one-timed it past Petersen for his 10th goal of the season. Jeffery Viel was credited with the secondary assist.

Ontario’s (16-16-3-1) frustration boiled over multiple times in the last five minutes of the period as Chaz Reddekopp and Thomas Gregoire exchanged fisticuffs at the 14:54 mark. There were multiples bouts of pushing and shoving between both teams at the end of the first period. Boko Imama received an unsportsmanlike conduct peanlty after the period expired.

San Jose jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the power play just 57 seconds into the second period. Carrick sent a pass over to Joachim Blichfeld from the point. Blichfeld skated to right faceoff circle snapped a wrist shot past the five-hole of Petersen for his 12th goal of the season.

“We were hoping we were going to get some (offensive) production. It’s good for a lot of guys to get some points, but it’s good for guys to play the right way too,” said Chiasson.

Less than three minutes later after a shot attempt from Lukas Radil on a 2-on-1 rush sailed along the left boards, Carrick threw a shot at the net that was redirected by Blichfeld for his second goal of the game and team-leading 13th of the season at the 3:52 mark.

“I think I had a pretty slow start (to the season). I think when I get more comfortable, I play even better. Just being comfortable is what I think makes me a good hockey player,” said Blichfeld.

The ‘Cuda made it 6-0 with a 4-on-4 goal. Gambrell tossed a pass over to Halbgewachs and he buried a wrist shot past Petersen for his 12th goal of the goal at the 6:06 mark.

The would end the night for Petersen who gave up six goals on 23 shots. He was replaced by backup netminder Matthew Villalta.

Chemelevski joined the scoring party after he collected a turnover inside the Reign defensive zone. He skated in from the left shot and lasered in a shot just inside the post to make it 7-0 at the 15:07 mark.

San Jose scored their fifth goal of the middle frame when Jonny Brodzinski battled for the puck at the top of the right faceoff circle. The puck leaked out to Gambrell and he skated around Brodzinski and snapped home a backhand shot for his first goal as a member of the Barracuda at the 16:25 mark.

“I think it (this result) sends a bit of message that we’re coming together. We’re playing the right way. We gotta keep it going,” said Gambrell.

The ‘Cuda weren’t done with their onslaught to start the third period. Weiderer connected on an outlet pass up to center ice to Viel who skated in on a breakaway and his wrist shot beat Villalta for his fifth goal of the season at the 3:00 mark. It snapped a 13-game goal-less draught for Viel.

‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko, who made just his second career start, did not have quite the busy night his counterparts did as he stopped all 24 shots he faced for his first career shutout and second win of the season. Villalta made 19 saves on 22 shots in mop up duty.

“I think the biggest thing is when you’re called upon is doing your job,” said Sawchenko discussing his transition from the ECHL to the AHL. “You gotta do your job right? If I gotta face 45 (shots), if I gotta face 24, at the end of the day my job is to stop the puck.”

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 1-for-3 on the power play. Ontario was 0-for-6.

San Jose had nine players with multi-point games.

Gambrell recorded his first career four-point game (1G, 3A). The last ‘Cuda player to record a four-point game was True back on 12/16/18.

The announced attendance was 2,563.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda continue their four-game homestand when they host the Stockton Heat on Saturday 1/11 at 1:15pm at SAP Center.

Bucks struggled to subdue Warriors 107-98; Sixth straight loss for Golden State

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jsonline.com photo: Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) drives around the Warriors’ Willie Cauley-Stein (2) with the help of a pick by Giannis Antetokounmpo

By Jerry Feitelberg

San Francisco- The Milwaukee Bucks landed in town Wednesday night to face the short-handed Golden State Warriors. The Bucks, behind the leagues’ MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, entered the game with the best record, 32-6, in the NBA.

They lost their last game to the San Antonio Spurs, and they were looking forward to a comfortable win over the team with the second-worst record, the Warriors. They managed to accomplish what they came for with a 107-98 victory over Golden State at Chase Center on Wednesday night.

The Warriors were still without D’Angelo Russell and Kevon Looney. Most people thought the Warriors would be a pushover for the Bucks. However, things happen in sports that defy conventional wisdom. The young Warriors fought the Bucks tooth and nail for the entire 48 minutes.

They did it with great defense. They just did not have enough offensive firepower to pull off the upset. They played hard and never quit. They continued to show improvement, especially on defense. They held the highest-scoring team in the league, the Bucks, to 40% from the floor.

The Warriors defense held the Bucks to 9-for 41 from beyond the three-point arc. They had trouble stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo. Everybody in the league has trouble stopping Giannis.

Both teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter. The quarter ended with the score 19-19. The Warriors played great defense, but they could not get the offense going.

It was more of the same in the second quarter. The Bucks did outscore the W’s 28-20, but the Warriors were still close. The half ended with Milwaukee leading 47-39.

Giannis and Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 11 and 13. The Warriors did not have a single player in double-figures. Alen Smailagic, the 19-year old rookie from Serbia, led the W’s with eight. Alec Burks had seven. The Bucks shot 34% from the floor. The Warriors were worse as they finished with just 30%.

In the second half, The Bucks offense perked up. The Warriors did not fold, and they kept pace with the Bucks. Milwaukee must have felt that the upstart Warriors could actually beat them. The Warriors cut the deficit to three 59-56.

It was at this point the Milwaukee went on a 13-3 run. The W’s Omari Spellman made two three-point shots to help close the gap to nine. The Bucks outscored the W’s 34-33 in the period and led 81-72 after three periods of action.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors held their own. Each team scored 26 points. The Warriors made several threes, and Ky Bowman lit up the arena with a steal and layup to bring the Warriors to within five 93-88.

There were about six minutes left to play. The Warriors then made three trips up the court and were stopped all three times. The Bucks increased the lead to 11, but the W’s kept coming back. They trailed 101-96 when Omari Spellman knocked down a three with about 1:45 left to play. The Warriors fouled Giannis in the hopes that he wouldn’t make the free throws. Giannis made enough to secure the win for the Bucks 107-98.

Game Notes and Stats- With the loss, the Warriors drop to 9-30. The Bucks improved to 33-6.

The Warriors had six players in double figures. Alec Burks led the club with 19 points. Alec made three threes. Glenn Robinson had 15, Damion Lee 15 and four threes, Omari Spellman 11. Spellman knocked down three threes. Willie Cauley-Stein had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Alen Smailagic, in just 11 minutes of play, scored a career-high 10 points. Draymond Green finished with five points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. The Warriors shot 38% from the floor.

The Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis finished the night with 30 points. Khris Middleton had 21. Brook Lopez 12, and Eric Bledsoe had 16.

In other news, the Warriors announced that they put Marquese Chriss on waivers. Chriss did not have a guaranteed contract. The Warriors needed to make room on the roster to sign Damion Lee to a full-season contract. Lee was a two-way player with the Warriors and the G-League team in Santa Cruz.

The Warriors meet the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in LA at the Staples Center. The game will start at 7:30 pm.

 

49ers set to square off against the Vikings in the NFC Divisional Round

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photo from mercurynews.com: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and quarterback Adam Cousins (8) both are jubilant following Cousins winning touchdown pass to Thielen in New Orleans last Sunday at the Superdome 

By Joe Hawkes
SRS Contributor

In the first game of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup, the Minnesota Vikings stunned the New Orleans Saints, winning 26-20 in overtime to earn their first postseason road victory since Jan. 9, 2005. With the win, the Vikings will travel to Levi’s Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Vikings have now eliminated the Saints in two of the last three postseasons. For the Saints, it makes the third-straight postseason that they were bounced out of the playoffs on the game’s final play.

Minnesota won the toss in overtime and took the ball and never looked back. The key play for the Vikings was the 43-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Adam Thielen to move Minnesota to the Saints’ 2-yard line. On 3rd-and-4, Cousins would find Kyle Rudolph in the left corner of the end zone for the game winning score and punching the Vikings’ (11-6) ticket to Santa Clara, Calif.

The sixth-seeded Vikings’ shocking upset over the heavily favored three-seeded Saints (13-4) was largely due to the play of Cousins, who completed 19-of-31 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Thielen, who fumbled on the game’s opening drive, shook off the turnover to lead all Vikings pass catchers with seven catches for 129 yards. After missing the final two games of the season, running back Dalvin Cook returned to the lineup and rushed for 94 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. Cook also registered 36 receiving yards on three catches.

Minnesota’s offense racked up 22 first downs while racking up 362 net yards on the Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

For the top-seeded 49ers (13-3), it is the first time that Levi’s Stadium gets to host a playoff game in the six years that the stadium has been opened. San Francisco, who earned a much needed first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after taking down their bitter rival, the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 at CenturyLink Field, won the NFC West for the first time since 2012.

That season, the 49ers would advance to Super Bowl XLVII.

San Francisco is getting healthy at the right time, as they expect linebacker Kwon Alexander (torn pectoral) and edge rusher Dee Ford back in the fold for the game. Alexander, who was cleared to practice this week, had been on Injured Reserve since Week 9.

Ford missed three weeks with lingering hamstring issues.

Safety Jaquiski Tartt, who missed the final four games of the year with a fractured rib, will be ready to go Saturday.

The 49ers are 4-0 all-time in the divisional round as a top seed. Kickoff for the 49ers’ first playoff game since 2013 is at 1:35 p.m. PT and will be on NBC with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth on the call. Michelle Tafoya will be reporting from the sidelines.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Will baseball lose it’s tax exemption status over cutting 42 minor league teams; Patriots and their future; plus more

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dodgerblue.com: Rob Manfred MLB Commissioner speaks with the media in undated file photo

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 The fight is on to stop MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred from closing up shop on 42 minor league teams. MLB could face loosing it’s tax exemption status if they drop the teams.

#2 How realistic is it that New England quarterback Tom Brady will retire from football and is this the end of the Patriots as we knew them?

#3 The Sacramento Kings ended their losing streak with a win over the Golden State Warriors Monday then the Kings turned around Tuesday and beat the Phoenix Suns in the Valley of the Sun. Can the Kings keep it going.

#4 For a long time the 49ers Joe Staley who played in only seven games this season this will be his first playoff game since 2013 when the 49ers were in it last.

#5 The Baltimore Ravens who are favorites to make the Super Bowl host the Tennessee Titans. Ravens quarterback LaMar Jackson can do a lot of things. London sets this game up for us.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsrsadioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Barracuda host Ontario tonight at SAP Center; Cuda looking to win two straight

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SJ Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The San Jose Barracuda opened up early on the Tucson Roadrunners last Saturday with three goals in the first period to set the tone early.

#2 In the third period the Roadrunners scored twice and the Barracuda once which tied up the game at 4-4 and force a shootout.

#3 The Barracuda win snapped a four game losing streak and it had to be a relief for co-coaches Jimmy Bonneau and Michael Chiasson to back in the win column

#4 Marko talks about Barracuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko (1-0-0) who made 37 saves in getting the win.

#5 The Barracuda face off tonight against the Ontario Reign the puck drops at SAP Center at 7:00pm

Join Marko Ukalovic for exclusive beat coverage of the San Jose Barracuda tonight following the game at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks drop 8 out of 10 in 3-2 loss to the Blues

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sfgate.com photo:St. Louis Blues’ Ryan O’Reilly (90) watches as the puck sails past San Jose Sharks goaltender Aaron Dell (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in St. Louis.

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The Sharks (19-22-4) further backed themselves in the corner dropping their eighth out of ten games this time in a one goal game to the St Louis Blues (27-10-7) 3-2.

#2 The Sharks fell short again scoring two goals in the third period but the Blues also scored in the third period to edge the Sharks.

#3 The Sharks got goal help from Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson although short on scoring Meier and Karlsson have been on point on offense.

#4 For Aaron Dell stopped 24 out of 27 shots in goal for the Sharks but it wasn’t enough as the Blues got by.

#5 The Columbus Blue Jackets (20-15-8) are at San Jose on Thursday night the Sharks are desperate to get into the win column after this slide.

Catch Len Shapiro for all the Sharks podcasts on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sharks Captain hurt as Sharks one goal shy again; Lose to St Louis Blues 3-2

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sfgate.com photo: San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau falls as he reaches for the puck during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, in St. Louis. The Blues won 3-2.

~ By Pearl Allison Lo 

~ San Jose nearly made a comeback a la their previous opponent, the Washington Capitals, but time expired as the Saint Louis Blues prevailed in regulation 3-2 Tuesday.  

After facing the first team overall, the Sharks got the top team in the Western Central.  Saint Louis broke a 0-2-1 slide. 

Erik Karlsson made it 3-2 with 3:10 to go, but goalie Aaron Dell was not sent to the bench until under half a minute remained. 

With just under 12:30 showing on the clock in the second, Vince Dunn and Captain Logan Couture both went for the puck. Dunn slammed Couture as Couture’s left knee went right into the end boards. He had played 9:19 up until then and did not return to the ice.  

Dell has only won one game this season when he has given up three goals. Meanwhile, opposing goalie Jordan Binnington got back into the win column after giving up seven goals in his last outing. 

San Jose’s special teams excelled. Though they committed a penalty in each period, they stifled any scoring and have now done so through their last 11 penalties. Karlsson’s goal came shorthanded and the Sharks’ first goal came on the power play.

San Jose’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic took his first penalty of the season at 12:21 of the first for holding. Dell helped stop a 2-on-1 while facing 10 shots. Binnington battled five.  

The Sharks came out of the locker rooms with a 4-0 shot advantage before experiencing insult and injury. Insult occurred when the Blues put San Jose in a 2-0 hole in less than 90 seconds.  

The Sharks’ Timo Meier passed back to Evander Kane but Brayden Schenn was able to poke the puck loose and send it to Alexander Steen with speed. Steen drop passed the puck as well for Tyler Bozak, who with three players mostly to his left and behind, had space to roof the biscuit at 5:39. It was Steen’s 299th assist for his team. 

Next, Ivan Barbashev went on a breakaway which Dell halted. The puck was corralled by Couture but won by Oskar Sundqvist. With three Sharks in between them, Sundqvist fed Barbashev from along the boards and Barbashev one-timed the puck five seconds after his initial attempt while down on one knee at 6:59.

Saint Louis then added injury to insult with the Couture mishap not long after, though not intentionally. 

The third had a bit of promise as Schenn was whistled for hooking at 1:39 and Goodrow won the faceoff. 17 seconds later, Meier had a shot. Joe Thornton and Karlsson were able to keep the puck from going out as it went around the horn to Karlsson near the blue line twice. Meier took the puck from Karlsson the second time and San Jose got the man advantage goal with Goodrow in Binnington’s face at 2:14. 

The shine of the goal lasted less than two minutes though. Off a faceoff win, David Perron’s shot deflected off Stefan Noesen’s glove and flew by Dell at 4:07. 

The Blues’ Zach Sanford nearly scored 22 seconds later too.

Saint Louis kept at it and it would have been 4-1 when Schenn connected with Jordan Kyrou and him the net, but the tally was brought back for being offsides.

Goodrow was called for cross-checking at 15:41, but it ended up working in the Sharks’ favor. Tomas Hertl passed to Karlsson who got the puck in behind Bennington, but not over the line. Then, when Ryan O’Reilly tried to rescue the disk, it went the wrong way.  

Up Next: The Blues’ Niko Mikkola made his NHL debut and spent 12:31 on ice. 2020 will hit SAP Center for the first time as San Jose plays host for two games, beginning with the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday at 7:30pm.