Month: April 2022

Powered by Rodon, Long Balls, Giants Move into First Place with 8-2 Whupping Of A’s

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Jason Vosler goes to field a hot grounder hit by Oakland Athletics’ Elvis Andrus, who Vosler threw out at first base in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Tony “The Tiger”Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants used the phenomenal power arm of pitcher Carlos Rodon and home runs by Wilmer Flores and Austin Slater to dismantle the visiting Oakland A’s 8-2 Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

The win improved the Giants record to 13-5 as San Francisco leapfrogged the Dodgers -who lost 5-3 at Arizona – into first place in the NL West by half a game.

Meanwhile San Francisco Rodan continued a historically significant start to his Giants career, pitching six lock down innings, while allowing one earned one run on three hits to improve his record to 3-0, with a 1.17 ERA.

Rodon struck out nine, giving him 38 for the season, the most by a Giants pitcher in his first four starts of the season since 1901.

Oakland’s run off Rodon came of a solo round tripper by Sheldon Neuse.

With the Giants up 2-1 in the third, Flores murdered a fastball by A’s starter Daulton Jefferies, sending a searing bolt into the left field seats for a three run home to put the Giants up 5-1. Flores had a hot bat swinging for five RBIs in his last ten games when the Giants were on their last 11 game road trip. Flores was the Giants designated hitter who touched up Jefferies for in the second inning.

The lead held until the seventh, when the A’s Seth Brown pummeled a run scoring double off Dominic Leone.

With two runners on in the bottom of the frame Slater sliced an opposite field sizzler off the right field tin roof to put San Francisco up 8-2.

Giants Jottings: San Francisco right-handed reliever John Brebbia was placed on the injured list before the game and replaced with RHP Kervin Castro. Castro struck out the side in the ninth to close out tonight’s win.

The Giants also completed a trade, picking up infielder Kevin Padlo in a cash deal with Seattle. Padlo was recently designated for assignment by the Mariners. Padlo was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento.

Starting pitchers for Wednesday night: Starting for Oakland right hander Paul Blackburn (2-0 ERA 1.80) and for San Francisco left hander Sam Long (0-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch is 6:45 pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Sharks Fall 5-2 to the Ducks in Final Home Game of 21-22 Season

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Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (44) gets a floating corner shot top shelf goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Apr 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks fell 5-2 to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The Ducks got goals from Trevor Zegras, Max Comtois, Josh Mahura, and Zach Aston-Reese. Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves for the win. Brent Burns and Scott Reedy scored for the Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen made 26 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner talked about the loss:

“I just thought the longer the game went on, I was okay with our game, I really was. It felt like they capitalized on their chances and we didn’t. Stolarz played well. I just thought it was one of those games, it would have been nice to win our last home game but I think that we just couldn’t find that goal we needed early.”

Scott Reedy has now played 33 games with the Sharks and has six goals. He scored four of those since April 14, showing major improvement at the NHL level. Boughner talked about what Reedy brings to the team:

“He’s got a knack around that net. Sometimes you can’t teach that, that hand-eye. He sticks around there. He scored 18 in 30-something games in the American League, and he comes here and he’s got six all of a sudden. You’d like to see what he could do at this level for a whole year.”

Trevor Zegras gave the Ducks an early lead with a power play goal at 4:05. His shot went over Kahkonen’s shoulder on the short side and lodged between the net and the camera, so hardly anyone realized he had scored until they could not find the puck out on the ice. Adam Henrique got an assist.

At 6:47, Troy Terry seemed to score but the goal was called back after a review. The puck had been directed with a distinct kicking motion.

Max Comtois made it 2-0 for real at 5:26 of the second period. Comtois carried the puck into the zone and then dropped it back to a trailing Kevin Shattenkirk. Shattenkirk passed it back for Comtois to take the shot. The puck went up over Kahkonen’s shoulder on the short side, again. Assists went to Shattenkirk and Simon Benoit.

Sonny Milano made it 3-0 less than a minute later. Troy Terry brought the puck into the zone and then made a drop pass to Milano in the slot. Milano used a backhand shot to send the puck over Khkonen’s right shoulder and in. Assists went to Terrry and Dominik Simon.

Brent Burns got the Sharks on the board at 15:32 with a power play goal. It was his second shot from the middle of the blue line in just a few seconds. Assists went to Logan Couture and Thomas Bordeleau.

Scott Reedy brought the Sharks within one at 18:36, redirecting a shot from Jaycob Megna. Assists went to Megna and Sasha Chmelevski.

Josh Mahura made it 4-2 at 10:47 of the third. His shot went just past Kahkonen’s glove, off the post and in. Assists went to Milano and Comtois.

Zach Aston-Reese scored and empty net goal at 19:18, with an assist going to goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

The shot counts for the Sharks went down with each period. They started out 17-7 in the first, then were even at 10 in the second, and the Ducks out-shot them 14-6 in the third. That last number is misleading as the Sharks had a lot of chances and pressed hard to start the third, but hit some posts.

In the face-off circle, the Ducks prevailed, winning 52% of the draws. The Sharks had two penalties to kill and gave up the one goal and no other shots. They had three power plays and had four shots and one goal.

The Sharks will play next on Thursday in Edmonton against the Oilers at 6:00 PM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants Pederson a huge feature to open two game series against A’s at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants rookie Luis Gonzalez slugs what would be the game winning home run at Miller Park in the top of the ninth inning in Milwaukee against the Milwaukee Brewers on Mon Apr 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, no doubt that the San Francisco Giants (12-5) outfielder Joc Pederson has been a rock for the team in the last two games in Washington on Sunday with two homers, three hits and three RBIs and hit a two run homer in the eighth inning to tie up the ball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

#2 Morris, Pederson was touted when it was first learned that he was coming to San Francisco after seeing what he has done recently are you surprised?

#3 Rookie Luis Gonzalez couldn’t wait to get into the act with a two run homer of his own that put the Giants in the drivers seat for keeps it was Gonzalez’ first MLB home run to help win the ball game.

#4 Morris, Alex Wood got a groin injury on the trip in New York last week he got to do a 30 pitch session off the mound and is expected back pretty soon.

#5 Morris, talk about the match up tonight for the Oakland A’s (9-8) Daulton Jefferies (1-2 ERA 1.17) and for the Giants Carlos Rodon (2-0 ERA 1.06) a 6:45 pm PDT first pitch at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Morris does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays was on for a special Tuesday edition at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s expect to have lots of fans behind them at Oracle Park

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Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin combined with the bullpen for a shutout over the Texas Rangers on Sun Apr 24, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (9-8) have been getting lots of mileage out of centerfielder Cristian Pache with the defensive job that he’s done with the glove.

#2 Jerry, was Pache everything you expected him to be coming over from the Atlanta Braves in the Matt Olson trade in March?

#3 Daulton Jefferies starts for the A’s tonight (1-2 ERA 1.17) he’ll be opposed by the San Francisco Giants Carlos Rondon (2-0 ERA 1.06) Jefferies has been great at not allowing runs but Rodon has been lights out in April for the Giants.

#4 Jerry, the A’s have been playing in front of empty crowds at the Oakland Coliseum what will be ironic they’ll be playing in front of a capacity Oracle Park tonight and a good number of those customers will be A’s fans should be an interesting to have a few more vocal fans in an opposing team’s park?

#5 The A’s two games in San Francisco sandwich between homestands the A’s just completed a seven game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers and after this two game series in San Francisco they start a six game series in Oakland against the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jerry did a special Tuesday edition of the A’s podcast and does the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Fly In Win: Giants beat Brewers 4-2 with dramatic finish

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By Morris Phillips

For struggling National League offenses–and there are a bunch of them–knowing opponents’ aces aren’t quite ready to pitch deep into games is a welcome break.

The Giants caught a break Monday. Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes mowed down hitters into the seventh but was lifted, leading 1-0 in deference to the shortened spring due to the lockout. Teams just aren’t going to risk their best arms to finish a game this early in a long season.

Burnes won the Cy Young last season and has looked the part again thus far. The St. Mary’s alum allowed two hits and registered 11 strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 1.75.

But then he was gone.

And in Burnes’ absence the Giants’ early-season magic appeared. This time to cap their best, lengthy road trip in 28 seasons with a pair of dramatic home runs. Manager Gabe Kapler sensed his club’s locked in mentality that had them engaged despite having just one day off thus far this season and needing to rally in the environment of a rare, one-game trip to Milwaukee.

“I’m not always sure what day of the week it is,” Kapler said. “You come to the ballpark, you prep for the game, you’ve got a good understanding of all the teams around the league.”

And you rake.

Joc Pedersen–fresh off a two home run game in D.C. on Sunday–struck first. With fans audible behind the Giants’ dugout, Pedersen responded to their heckling with a two-run blast off Trevor Gott that put San Francisco on the scoreboard for the first time on the eighth inning.

And after Milwaukee’s Wily Adames answered with a homer to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the inning, rookie Luis Gonzalez took over in the ninth.

The base hit off Burnes (earlier in the fifth inning) really gave him a lot of confidence,” Kapler said of Gonzalez. “In that situation, it was the best time for his first Major League home run to show up and so clutch. Also aesthetically, really pretty.”

In only his 23rd official MLB plate appearance–all over the previous week on the road–Gonzalez delivered, with two outs and a man on off reliever Jake Cousins. In a two-strike count, and by just barely avoiding the right field foul pole with his shot that silenced American Family Field.

“It’s just incredible,” Gonzalez gushed. “I’m just loving life right now.”

The Giants completed the road trip 8-3, a record last achieved on a trip of 11 games in July 1994. They swept the Guardians and Nationals each in three-game sets.

“The road trip finished in dramatic fashion with one of our newer players introduced with his first Major League home run. I think we’re going to enjoy the flight home and get ready for when we get back.”

The Giants open a two-game set on Tuesday with the A’s. Carlos Rodon faces Oakland’s Daulton Jeffries at 6:45pm.

Preview of A’s series with San Francisco Giants; Two game series begins Tuesday night at Oracle Park

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay pictured here during 2022 Spring Training Cactus League will lead the A’s into Oracle Park in San Francisco for a two game series beginning Tue Apr 26, 2022 (photo from the San Francisco Chronicle)

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN FRANCISCO–After playing 17 straight games, the Oakland A’s have a day off on Monday to rest up before facing the San Francisco Giants in the annual Battle of the Bay interleague series. The A’s were 9-8 in that stretch and surprised many baseball experts.

Many still think the youthful A’s will end up near the bottom of the standings in the AL West. A’s manager Mark Kotsay doesn’t feel that way. He knows he has some talent on his team, and he implores his players never to quit.

The young A’s have quite a task ahead of them. They have to find a way to make up for the loss of key players such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, and pitchers Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea.

This past weekend, the A’s offense was nearly non-existent in the series with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers took two out of three from Oakland. Cole Irvin’s great pitching helped the A’s earn a win in Sunday’s game.

The A’s lineup will feature catcher Sean Murphy. Either Billy McKinney or Christian Bethancourt will play first base. McKinney can also play in the outfield, and Bethancourt can also catch. Tony Kemp has been busy for Oakland this season.

Kemp is usually at second base. He has played several games as the left fielder. Christian Lopes or Nick Allen are backup choices to play second. Elvis Andrus will be at shortstop. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will use Nick Allen to backup Andrus. Sheldon Neuse will be at third base.

Neuse can play other infield positions, too. Rookie Cristian Pache will be in centerfield. Stephen Piscotty is off the IL and will resume his position in right field. Chad Pinder is on the IL. Ramon Laureano, currently serving a 27-game suspension for using a banned substance, will be eligible to return to the A’s on May 8th.

The A’s bullpen is a work in progress. Yusmeiro Petit, who was a stalwart in the bullpen, is gone. Lefty Jake Diekman now works for the Boston Red Sox. Sergio Romo left as a free agent. Lou Trivino, the closer, is on the 10-day IL.

Dany Jimenez has the job for the time being. The new names in the bullpen are righties Domingo Acevedo and Dany Jimenez. The A’s have four left relievers. They are A.J.Puk, Kirby Snead, Sam Moll, and Adam Kolarek.

The Giants swept the Washington Nationals three straight in the Nation’s Capitol. The Giants have started the season and are 11-5 this season. The Giants are playing a one-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee Monday before returning home to face the A’s for two games starting Tuesday night.

The Giants, who won a team record 107 games last year, had most of their key personnel return for the 2022 season. However, several of their key players are on the injured list. They include third baseman Evan Longoria, second baseman Tommy LaStella, outfielder La Monte Wade, Jr, Steven Duggar, Mike Yastrzemski, and pitchers Anthony DeSclafini, Alex Cobb, and Matthew Boyd.

Giants’ manager Gabe Kapler is fortunate to have players on his squad who can play different positions. Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater, and Mauricio Dubon all can play well at different positions in the Giants’ lineup.

The Giants signed Palo Alto product Joc Pederson to a one-year deal. Pederson, a member of two World Series championship teams, the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, has started the season well. He has hit five dingers and is hitting over .300.

Even with all the players on the IL, the Giants can put a very good lineup on the field. Brandon Belt, the Captain, will be at first base. Thairo Estrada will be at second. Brandon Crawford, who won the Gold Glove last year, will be at shortstop, and Wilmer Flores will play third base. Joc Pederson will be in left field, Austin Slater in center, and Darin Ruf in right field.

The probable pitchers for the two-game series look to be righty Daulton Jefferies going for Oakland Tuesday night. Jefferies has pitched well in the early going. He is 1-2 and owns a sparkling 1.17 ERA. The Giants’ lefty, Carlos Rodon, has also been impressive.

Rodon, who came over to San Francisco as a free agent from the Chicago White Sox, is 2-0 with a minuscule ERA of 1.06. He has struck out 29 hitters, too.

The A’s Paul Blackburn will pitch Wednesday night. Blackburn is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. The Giants have not announced their starter yet. The Giants have three starters on the IL right now.

The teams are meeting very early in the season. They usually don’t meet until later. Nevertheless, it should be an entertaining set. There will be a lot of fans in the seats at Oracle Park. The first game of the series will start at 6:45 pm Tuesday.

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Nuggets get a reprieve defeat Warriors by five 126-121 in game four

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The Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins (left) reaches up to try and defend the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic (right) in game 4 of the NBA Playoffs at the Ball Center in Denver on Sun Apr 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast:

#1 The Denver Nuggets had to the home floor and pretty much stayed ahead of Golden State in the first half but this is a Warriors team you could never count out.

#2 In that first half the Nuggets defense seemed to have something on Warriors top scorers Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry keeping them off balance on their shots with some improved defense.

#3 The Nuggets held the lead in both halves and got offensive help from Nikola Jokic who led with 37 points, Monte Morris 24 points, and Aaron Gordon 21 points.

#4 Jokic is one of the tougher Nuggets to defend he and his teammates will need that same kind of energy they had in game four to stay alive in game five but facing players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole on offense will be another big test.

#5 Wednesday night will be game #5 with the Warriors up four games to one, can Warrior head coach Steve Kerr might think “no pressure” going into what could be the Nuggets last game of the season in Denver?

Join Barbara for the Golden State Warriors playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremy Harness: Giants face Brewers in one game match today at Miller Park after three game sweep of Nationals

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San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford (35) adds to the score on an RBI single by Wilmer Flores as Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz, left tries to apply the tag in vain at Nationals Park in DC on Sun Apr 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Jeremy:

#1 The Giants have had a lot of success in the early innings of games this season and they went right to work in the first two innings of Sunday’s game leading after two innings 4-1 in Washington. Joc Pederson hit a home run to lead off in the first inning and he did not look back.

#2 The Giants continued to extend their lead in the second inning when Joc Pederson hit a sacrifice and Thairo Estrada scored from third base. Pederson at the plate has been keeping the offense going and the Giants continuing to pile on in the three game series sweep of the Washington Nationals.

#3 Brandon Belt came to bat and tripled in the second driving Joey Bart home to extend the lead 4-1. Belt seeing the ball well and contributing in big ways towards Giant leads.

#4 The Giants added six more runs in the top of the ninth inning and ran away with an uncontested game 12-3 this was second in this three game sweep where the Giants have won by six or more runs.

#5 The Giants get right back at it again with a one game match up later today in Milwaukee’s Miller Park against the Brewers (10-6) starting for the Giants Sam Long (0-0 ERA 0.00) and for the Brewers Corbin Burnes (1-0 ERA 2.37) a 3:10 pm PDT first pitch.

Join Jeremy Harness filled for Morris Phillips for the San Francisco Giants podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s vs. Giants Bay Area Rivalry on Tap

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The Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants open up a brief two game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 26, 2022 (photo from sfgate.com)

A’s vs Giants: Bay Area Rivalry On Tap

That’s Amaury News and Commentry

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–The two Bay Area teams will face each other in a quick two-game set at Oracle Park this Tuesday and Wednesday, with both games’ first pitch scheduled for 6:45. Two teams right now on different paths. A’s rebuilding and with an uncertain future, the Giants try to prove they can win again over 100 games and advance into the playoffs over the heavily favorite LA Dodgers.

This is a friendly rivalry, with many families split with their support of their favorite team. April is usually the lowest attendance month of the baseball season but there should be no problem with attendance at Oracle during this mid-week series between the A’s and the Giants, maybe not sellout crowds but definitely plenty of people.

This regional rivalry had it’s epic moment during the 1989 World Series, interrupted by a strong Earthquake which postponed that October Classic for 11 days.

The A’s swept the Giants during that historic and memorable 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Those were different times, the Giants were playing at Candlestick Park one of the most maligned major league stadiums in history and the A’s were playing in the middle of their very successful late 1980’s when they advanced to three consecutive World Series with the direction of their Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa.

In 1988 World Series the A’s lost to the Dodgers, in one of the biggest upsets in history. 1989 they swept the Giants and in 1990 they lost to Cincinnati.

Nobody was talking about the Oakland Coliseum and how bad it was because the team was winning, and winning cures everything. For many hardcore A’s fans they still talk about the great team that should had won those three consecutive World Series.

The A’s are only the second team do to such when they won three consecutive World Series in 1972,1973 and 1974. Only the New York Yankees under various dynasties, winning as many as five World Series in a row during the 1950’s.

The A’s have a rookie manager in Mark Kotsay and a cast of inexperienced players, mixed with veterans like Jed Lowrie and Stephen Vogt. The Giants under skipper Gabe Kapler in his second season trying to disprove most of the experts that predicted they will not win as many games again as last season.

That prediction is not fair, because 2021 was a great surprise for the Giants as many of their players (including veterans Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford) enjoyed their best season. In a way the Giants have a chip on their shoulders.

They still are not getting a lot of respect from the national baseball media. The Giants organization would like nothing more than to win this year’s World Series, and in the process, tie the A’s with a fourth World Series title.

The history of these two major league franchises is similar in many ways. With the A’s today threatening to possibly leave Oakland for Las Vegas, if the plan for the new Howard Terminal stadium is not approved.

In 1992 the Giants under owner Bob Lurie who agreed to sell the Giants and move them to Florida almost came to fruition. The Giants have longer roots in the Bay Area, they arrived from New York (1958) 10 years prior to the A’s arriving from Kansas City (1968).

Oracle Park is one the most attractive major league parks. I broadcast their inaugural game in the year 2000, doing their Spanish play by play, today, the park that has shared four names: Pac Bell, ATT, SBC Park and now Oracle Park, is 22 years old, hard to believe.

It is always fun to see the A’s and Giants playing on the same field.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Win 5-4 in SO Over Vegas, Bordeleau Scores Shoot Out Winner; SJ’s third win in last four games

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San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) congratulates Thomas Bordeleau (23) who scored the shootout goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Sun Apr 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks won a nail-biter in Las Vegas Sunday, winning 5-4 in the shootout. Thomas Hertl, Nick Bonino (2) and Timo Meier scored for San Jose, and Thomas Bordeleau scored the shoot-out winner. James Reimer made 42 saves for the win. Chandler Stephenson, Max Pacioretty, William Carrier and Nicolas Roy scored for Vegas. Logan Thompson made 25 saves in the loss.

Thomas Hertl gave the Sharks a lead by cleaning up a rebound at 11:43 of the first period. Assists went to Alexander Barabanov ands Jaycob Megna.

Chandler Stephenson tied it at 14:23 on a power play, cleaning up a rebound from a Max Pacioretty shot. Assists went to Pacioretty and Alex Pietrangelo.

Pacioretty gave Vegas a 2-1 lead with a shot from the right circle at 7:46 of the second period. An assist went to Shea Theodore.

William Carrier made it 3-1 at 9:59 with a one-timer off a pass from Keegan Kolesar. Assists went to Kolesar and Nicolas Roy.

Nick Bonino cut the lead back down to one at 18:55, redirecting a Jaycob Megna shot. Ab assist also went to Matt Nieto.

Nicolas Roy made it 4-2 for Vegas at 6:35 of the third period with a shot off a William Karlsson pass. Assists went to Karlsson and Shea Theodore.

Nick Bonino scored his second of the night to make it 4-3 at 17:54 with a shot from the point.

Timo Meier tied the game 4-4 with one second left. Brent Burns took and initial shot from the blue line and Couture and Meier took turns trying to knock it into the net.

The game went through a scoreless overtime and into the shootout. The only skater to score was Sharks rookie Thomas Bordeleau, the sixth and final shooter.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:30 PM PT.