Month: December 2024

Utah HC Comes Up Empty Again At Home In 4-1 Loss To Colorado 

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Colorado Avalanche Artturi Lehkonen (62) gets the puck past Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karl Vejmelka (70) in third period action at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Fri Dec 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Tom Walker

SALT LAKE CITY–Utah would have liked to put their 2024 home record behind them after going 1-3-2 in December the pain continues as Utah took a three goal loss to Colorado 4-1 on Friday night at the Delta Center.

The Utah Hockey Club wrapped up their 2024 home schedule on Friday night against the visiting Colorado Avalanche. It was the third and final matchup of the season between the division rivals, with the two teams splitting their previous encounters.

The first period wound up scoreless, with Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka stopping 14 shots and his Colorado counterpart, Mackenzie Blackwood, stopping 11.

Nearly 12 minutes into the second period, Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen gave Colorado the first lead of the game with his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Malinski. Utah failed to respond in a period which concluded in a fight between MacKinnon and Barrett Hayton with eight seconds remaining.

At 2:36 of the third period, Avs forward Mikko Rantanen went to the penalty box for tripping against Olli Määttä. A little over a minute into the man-advantage, Utah evened the score when Logan Cooley fed the puck to Mikhail Sergachev who ripped a shot from deep in Utah’s offensive zone which was tipped in by Nick Schmaltz for his sixth goal of the season.

With a little more than five minutes remaining in the third, Artturi Kehkonen struck again with his 12th goal of the season, assisted by Valeri Nichushkin and Nathan MacKinnon. As the clock ticked down, Utah pulled Vejmelka for an extra attacker, but the strategy failed when Mikko Rantanen atoned for his penalty with an empty net goal, his 20th of the season, assisted by MacKinnon. As fans began to head to the exits, Artturi Kehkonen completed the hat trick into an empty net unassisted with 26 seconds remaining.

The loss gives Utah a 1-3-2 record at home in December with the regulation losses coming against their closest division rivals competing for the wild card positions. Asked in the locker room about the team’s challenges winning at home, defenseman Mikhail Sergachev commented, “I don’t know. Honestly, we’re coming in every game with the same approach to win and to play our best. At home, it doesn’t show. I don’t think we were changing anything. I don’t know. … Obviously, we want to win in front of our fans, and they get us going every game, but it sucks. We’re trying to win every game. It’s not like we’re not trying at home. I think fans see that we’re not giving up ever. We’re coming in. We’re hitting, going strong, skating well. It’s just unfortunate.”

Head coach André Tourigny, commenting on his team’s performance, “I think we played against a really good team who were ready to play. They played hard the first two periods. I will say, especially in the first period, I think we tried to do a little bit too much with the puck, and we could not get inside. They defended well. I think in the second period, we had a good forecheck and quite good offense from it. In the third period, I think we had a great push. Our goalie was really good. I think we played against a team who will raise their level and that was good hockey.”

Utah, which is 11-6-2 on the road this season, hopes to continue their road success during their next four games in Seattle, Edmonton, Calgary, and Dallas. They will return to Salt Lake City on January 8 to face the Florida Panthers for the first of seven consecutive games at home where they hope to turn the corner in 2025.

Sharks Add Another Loss in Hertl’s Homecoming 6-3

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Tomar Hertl laps around the ice during his tribute video at SAP Center in San Jose during his return as a Golden Knights player on Dec 27, 2024 (Photo by Golden Knights Media)

The San Jose Sharks are back at the Tank to close out 2024 with a series of seven games at home with a very special one among those nights

By: Fernando Abarca

SAN JOSE, CA –– After all the Christmas noise, celebrations, and much more, having the guys back in town is always nice after their trip to Canada. On their last road trip, they played Edmonton and Vancouver, performing well and showing good hockey, but they could not convert in the game’s final instances, losing by one goal in both games.

Vegas is coming Red Hot, winning four of their last five games.

The game also had a different taste as former Shark Tomas Hertl made his return to the tank for the first time after being traded to Vegas early this year. Before puck drop, the team prepared a tribute showing on the jumbotron some of the most remarkable moments of his stint with the Sharks. A standing ovation that was well-received.

In the first period, The 2023 Stanley Cup champions struck first and took advantage of the poor defensive labor to retrieve the puck with a shot on goal by Noah Hanifin, assisted by Victor Olofsson, making it a 1-0 for the Golden Knights.

The building was noisy as the Sharks tried to find ways to score with lots of shots on goal and back and forth hockey.

Late in the first period, Shakir Mukhamadullin made it even with a powerful shot deflected against the boards to give some joy to the fans.

Before the end of the first period, the young San Jose star Macklin Celebrini was sent to the box for a penalty against Jack Eichel for Hooking.

During the second period, The Sharks completed dominated with intensive chemistry, intensive unity, and aggressive hockey. Not to mention the outstanding performance from both San Jose and Vegas goaltenders, again. the chemistry between Smith and Celebrini seems like a good pairing every time they are on the ice.

The Golden Knights scored first in the second period, with Mark Stone putting the second for the Knights.

The Sharks quickly recovered from that goal and showed heart by scoring two goals by Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli, assisted by Macklin Celebrini and Mikael Grandlund, taking the lead by 3-2.

The momentum did not last long, In the third, the Vegas Golden Knights showed why they are top of the standings. Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel helped the Knights put two more shorthanded goals in favor of the visitors in less than a minute.

It was not enough, four minutes later, Pavel Dorofeyev sealed the fifth one for the Knights. The Teal clearly showed themselves vulnerable, lacking depth, and lacking ideas for execution, errors that cost them the good game they were having.

Tense moments and fights took place in the final minutes of the game. In a 4 4, the Golden Knights took advantage to close the night with six goals and completely ruin a night that the Sharks seemed to have dominated and controlled.

Clearly, it is a loss that certainly hurts.

The Teal is back at home tomorrow night against the Calgary Flames.

Kings fire coach Mike Brown after going 13-18; Doug Christie named interim coach

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Former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown shouts instructions to his players against the Denver Nuggets at Golden 1 Center on Mon Dec 16, 2024. Brown was fired by the Kings on Fri Dec 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Sacramento Kings on Friday afternoon announced that they have fired head coach Mike Brown. Brown had signed a three contract extension back in June worth $8.5 million per year. Brown was 13-18 when he was fired and the Kings were on a five game losing streak after losing to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night 114-113 at Golden 1 Center.

The Kings at the time of Brown’s firing are in dead last in the NBA Pacific and are 12th in the Western Conference. Brown had coached a team practice Friday morning and had met with the media after practice and was notified by the team that he had been fired. The Kings were prepared to board a flight to Los Angeles after practice as the Kings face the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Brown is a two time NBA Coach of the Year Award winner and had won the award in 2023 after turning the Kings around who had won 30 games in 2022 to a 48-34 record and got the Kings into the post season. Last season’s winning record got Brown the three year contract extension and put Brown amongst the top eight highest paid coaches in the NBA.

Brown finishes his tenure with the Kings with a winning record at 107-88. Under Brown in the playoffs the Kings lost to the Golden State Warriors in a six game first round. Brown has been an assistant coach at the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Warriors. He had been on NBA teams that won the Championships one with the Spurs and three with the Warriors.

No class no balls says Mike Malone: Former Kings and current Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said that the way the Kings fired Brown was “no class no balls” as Malone described it on social media Brown had coached Friday’s practice and Brown met with the media and Brown was driving to the airport to fly with the team to Los Angeles when he got the call on the way to the airport that he had been fired. Malone said he got fired by the same person and what really angered Malone was the Kings who lost their fifth in a row lost on fouling Detroit Piston’s jump shooter Jaden Ivey in a narrow 114-113 decision on Thursday.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s President David Kaval resigns; At one time Kaval had promised A’s would be rooted in Oakland

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From left, analyst Jeremy Aguero, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill and Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval during a presentation to a Senate committee of the whole on the team’s proposed stadium funding during the 35th special session of the Legislature on June 7, 2023, in Carson City. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent)

A’s President resigns

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In a few weeks, there will be a change in the White House for a new President of the United States. Here in California, in the state capital of Sacramento, there are also changes, but in the world of sports, with their new baseball team, with just five days until the new year. Also, this was a change at the top, as Dave Kaval, President for the past eight years for the Oakland A’s, resigned to pursue new business opportunities in California. December 31, 2024, will be his last day with the team,

“We are grateful for Dave’s contributions and leadership over the past eight years. He guided our organization through a period of significant transition, and we sincerely thank him for his unwavering commitment to the team,” said A’s Owner John Fisher.” Sandy Dean, a longtime business partner of the Fisher family, will serve as interim President. Eventually, the team will hire a new President as they begin a search next year.

The A’s will play for at least three years in Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Kaval, 49, served as the seventh president of the Athletics in the franchise’s 123-year history, which began in Philadelphia in 1901. Seven Presidents in 123 years for a franchise is not that many, considering the A’s are now working on their fourth city to be their home base: Philadelphia, Kansas City, Oakland, and Sacramento, with plans for Las Vegas as their potential fifth different city.

Although not a done deal if Las Vegas doesn’t materialize, Sacramento, who is scheduled to be in the Major Leagues, might be in the Major Leagues for decades to come as the A’s will have to settle there permanently, not what Mr.Fisher is planning for, but there is a possibility. Since in our country, only two things are certain “death and taxes.”

“I will be staying in California to explore new opportunities at the crossroads of business and government. I am grateful to A’s ownership for the opportunities they have given me.” -Dave Kaval. His resumé includes working for private business, government, and sports teams.

He has also taught Sports Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business for the past decade. This should not surprise anybody because this team still transitioning, and not a surprise also, especially in professional sports, where Presidents, General Managers, Field Managers, and players come and go regularly. Only God knows where this is all headed. All I can tell you and make an easy prediction—actually with certainty—is that 2025 will be here in a few days. Happy New Year! Felíz Año Nuevo!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: McLellan new Red Wings head coach; Wings become McLellan’s 4th team

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Former Los Angeles Kings head coach Todd McLellan has been hired by the Detroit Red Wings on Thu Dec 26, 2024 to replace Derek Lalonde. McLellan formerly coached the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. (AP file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday hired former San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan who signed a multi year contact. The Wings fired former head coach Derek Lalonde. McLellan who was fired from his last job with the Los Angeles Kings on Feb 2. McLellan is 598-412-134 in 1444 games. McLellan also was head coach for the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, before joining the Kings and has a 42-46 playoff record. McLellan ranks sixth among winningest head coaches. Lalonde is the fourth NHL coach to be fired this year.

#2 For McLellan this is his fourth NHL team and when you consider him the sixth ranking winningest NHL head coach that makes a NHL team looking for an head coach no doubt look for the best in who’s available.

#3 For the Red Wing general manager Steve Yzerman is a third of the way into his third season and had to make a move as the Red Wings were on a three game losing streak previous to Thursday’s coaching change. The Wings have lost nine of their last 12 games and 21 of their first 34 games this season.

#4 Yzerman didn’t see any improvement from Lalonde as the Wings are just above the last place Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference. Lalonde was midway into his third season with the Wings. Lalonde had success as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay winning two Stanley Cup Championships there.

#5 Former San Jose coach and the Red Wings associate coach Bob Boughner was also fired from the Wings and replaced by Trent Yawney to work as an assistant coach. McLellan has a success record out nine of 14 seasons McClellan has led his teams to the post season.

Len Shapiro does the NHL podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Poison Ivey: Pistons Jayden Ivey scores winning shot to beat Kings 114-113; Sac coughs up 19 point lead for 5th straight loss

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Detroit Pistons Malik Beasly guard (5) congratulates guard Jayden Ivey (right) after Ivey’s game winning basket in the fourth quarter at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Dec 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were in free fall and back in action on Thursday night. After having two days off for Christmas, the Kings welcomed the Detroit Pistons to town. Previously, the Kings had lost their last four games and were reeling. On Thursday, they looked to get back on track against a Detroit team that had been performing well on their road trip. The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis, who was sidelined due to illness, and Alex Len stepped into the starting lineup in his place. The Kings continued to falter as they lost to the Pistons 114-113.

In the first quarter, it took the Kings a few minutes to adjust to life without Sabonis on the court. They started slowly, falling behind 7-2 early, but eventually found their rhythm. By the end of the quarter, the Kings had outscored the Pistons 37-34 to take an early lead. Keegan Murray led the way for Sacramento with nine points in the opening quarter, while Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with 12 points.

In the second quarter, the Kings extended their lead. A strong defensive effort held the Pistons to just 19 points in the period. On offense, Sacramento scored 31 points, fueled by a breakout 15-point quarter from Trey Lyles. This was a welcome sight for Kings fans, as Lyles had struggled in recent games. Meanwhile, Cunningham continued his strong performance, finishing the first half with 21 points. The Kings entered halftime with a commanding 68-53 lead.

The third quarter saw the Kings ease up slightly. Their shooting cooled off, and the Pistons outscored them 24-23 in the period. However, De’Aaron Fox came alive, scoring 14 points in the quarter to keep the Kings in control. Malik Beasley led the Pistons’ offense with eight points in the quarter. Heading into the final quarter, Sacramento held a 91-77 lead and appeared poised to secure a decisive home victory.

The final quarter proved to be a battle, as a determined Detroit team refused to back down. The Kings’ 14-point lead steadily evaporated, dwindling to just two points with 1:20 remaining in the game. It became a nail-biter. With 18.7 seconds left, De’Aaron Fox hit a clutch pull-up jumper to put Sacramento ahead 111-108. But Detroit wasn’t finished.

With 3.1 seconds left, Jaden Ivey sank a contested, and-one three-pointer over Fox and converted the free throw, giving the Pistons a 114-113 lead. The Kings were unable to respond, and the game ended in heartbreak.

Fox led Sacramento in scoring with 26 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Cade Cunningham starred for Detroit, finishing with 33 points as the Pistons improved to 14-17 on the season. With the loss, the Kings dropped to 13-18.

After the game, head coach Mike Brown was visibly frustrated by his team’s lack of focus in the closing moments. Brown lamented the failure to properly defend Ivey’s decisive three-pointer, stating, “The only thing that hurts us is a three.”

When asked postgame about where the Kings go from here and how they’ll prepare for their next game in Los Angeles, Fox offered a terse response: “Just get ready to play.” It was not an encouraging sign from the team’s star player after five consecutive loses.

Up Next: The Kings will travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Saturday at 7:30 PM PST inside the Crypto.com Arena.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings drop fifth straight game in loss to Pistons 114-113

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The Detroit Piston’s Tobias Harris (12) takes a jump shot while the Sacramento Kings DeMar DeRozan (10) and Keegan Murray (13) can only hope it’s a brick at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Dec 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Jeremiah, two teams both with identical records at 13-17 the Detroit Pistons and the Sacramento Kings going into Thursday’s game and it went right down to the wire with the Pistons coming back down 19 points to edge the Kings at Golden 1 in Sacramento 114-113. The Pistons now 14-17 and the Kings 13-18.

#2 The Kings had been a struggling bunch occupying 12th in the Western Conference and dropped their fifth straight loss and are now 6-12 at home.

#3 The Kings previous game last Sunday a tough embarrassing loss at home 122-95 against the Indiana Pacers was a game that the Kings would hope to give them incentive and fire them up a bit for the Pistons game. The Kings couldn’t break out of it Thursday night as their defense collapsed allowing the Pistons to get back in.

#4 Jeremiah, the Pistons towards to the end of Thursday’s game made a go of it trying to close the gap at one time down by 19 points but made a fourth quarter came back. The Pistons top scorer Cad Cunningham was a big difference maker leading with 33 points.

#5 It doesn’t get any easier for the Kings they now head to the Southland and face the Los Angeles Lakers who took two games from them in Sacramento. The Lakers are sixth in the Western Conference have won five of their last ten and are 9-4 at home. The Kings road record are 7-6. Tip off at Crypto.com Arena at 7:30pm PST in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Join Jeremiah for the Kings podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal MBB podcast with Michael Roberson: Cardinal-Tiger game could be a well fought game on New Years

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Maxime Raynaud (42) forward for the Stanford Cardinal defends against the Oregon Ducks guard Jackson Shelstad (3) at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Dec 21, 2024 (Stanford Cardinal MBB X photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal (9-3) are having a good years so far despite running into a brick wall called the Oregon Ducks (11-1) last Sat Dec 21 at SAP Center in San Jose losing to the Ducks 76-61.

#2 The Ducks got scoring help from Kwame Evans Jr led with 13 points and guard Jackson Shelstad with ten points.

#3 The Cardinal really relied on Maxime Raynaud topped out in scoring for Stanford with 20 points but Maxime couldn’t do it all as the Cardinal fell short against a very talented Ducks team.

#4 One of the halves that made a difference was the first half as Stanford scored only 19 points to Ore’s 36 points.

#5 Stanford gets ready for the Clemson Tigers in their next game on New Years Day Jan 1st LittleJohn Coliseum at Clemson. The Tigers are 10-3 and are 7-1 at home. The Cardinal are 9-3 and are 2-0 on the road. This could very well be a tight, physical well fought game?

Join Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears WBB podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal battles Clemson Thursday night Jan 2 at Littlejohn Coliseum

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Cal Bears guard Ioanna Krimili (21) and guard Lulu Twidale (10) has been making it happen in leading Cal in score such as they did against the Temple Owls on Sun Dec 22, 2024 (Cal Bears X photo)

On the Cal Bears WBB podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 The Cal Bears (13-1) continue to roll with a decisive 89-63 win over the Temple (6-6) Owls last Sunday at Cal Berkeley.

#2 Cal now 13-1 is steamrolling and Sunday was no exception outscoring Temple is ever quarter of the game.

#3 Cal’s top scorer’s from Sunday’s contest guard Ioanna Kimilli and guard Lulu Twidale both finishing with 20 points they’ve both been having great seasons.

#4 “Just really proud of where we are as we wrap up non conference, being 13-1,” Cal head coach Charmin Smith said. “This is a good spot for us to be in as we get to go home and get some rest.”

#5 Cal gets set for another contest Thursday night Jan 2 at 4:00pm PST against the Clemson Tigers (8-4). The Tigers have won two of their last three games and have a 5-2 home record and Cal has won seven straight games and are second in the ACC. How do you see this match up between the Bears and Tigers?

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phllips is heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Lions on a roll will bring A game to Levi Stadium on Monday Night Football

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff poured it on against the Chicago Bears. Goff threw for three touchdowns at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sun Dec 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 The 49ers continue to fall they lost their second in a row to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday and are in the basement of the NFC West at 6-9.

#2 There has been commentary that quarterback Brock Purdy doesn’t have the impact that he once had in previous seasons and that he isn’t his old Mr. Relevant self isn’t who he once was?

#3 The 49ers host the Mighty Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football Dec 30th at 5:15pm. The Lions are on a tear at 13-2 and are getting the best out of quarterback Jared Goff. Talk about your thoughts on how you see the Lions and 49ers match up on Monday night.

Join David Zizmor for the 49ers podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com