NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Montreal Legend Lafleur passes at 70; Wild’s Kaprizov passes 100 points for the season; plus more

Former Montreal Canadien Guy LaFleur was a staple in Montreal sports, LaFleur was a five time Stanley Cup Champion and scored 50 or more points for six consecutive seasons (file photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 He was called the cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty, scoring at least 50 goals for six straight seasons for the Habs superstar Guy Lafleur died at age 70 after a three year battle with cancer. LaFleur played from 1971 to 1985 and returned to playing from 1988-91 and was a five time Stanley Cup Champion.

#2 The Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov scored his 100th point and then eclipsed it on Friday against the Seattle Kraken at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul in a 6-3 win. Kevin Fiala set a Wild record with five assists for points in nine consecutive games.

#3 The Ottawa Senators goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 33 shots enough to hold back the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday night in Columbus. The Senators won in a shootout 2-1. The Sens Tim Stutzle scored the only goal in the shootout enough for Ottawa to get by Columbus.

#4 The Toronto Maple Leafs Wayne Simmonds was fined $2250 for charging the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev at 15:21 of the third period of Thursday’s game in Tampa Bay. The money goes to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.

#5 The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks are at SAP Center in San Jose. The Blackhawks have won two of their last 11 games, more recently winning two of their last five games. The Sharks come into tonight’s game winning one of their last 11 games.

Matt does the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Kevin Weekes named as a top contender for Sharks GM job

Former New Jersey Devils goaltender and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes is a top contender for the San Jose Sharks general manager job (photo from Kevin Weekes twitter account)

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Sharks are on a course to look for a new general manager for retired Doug Wilson. The Sharks who had lost nine of their last 11 games have struggled in the last few months of the season are looking for someone who can be like Wilson and consistently build a team that makes the post season each year. Kevin Weekes a former NHL goaltender and NHL Network analyst has been placed as a contender for the Sharks GM job.

#2 Wilson who reportedly got a persistent cough and had to step away from his general manager job how much did his absence at the helm impact the Sharks as an organization and the players efforts on the ice.

#3 You look back on the season the Sharks did have some bright spots with some good offensive scoring from Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, and Logan Couture who were the top three scorers for the Sharks this season.

#4 Mary Lisa when you look at the current slump the team is in and some of the struggles they’ve had getting here what are some of the areas that you can point to where they really need improving.

#5 Just a couple hours away the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks will face off at SAP Center in San Jose. The Blackhawks have won two of their last 11 games, more recently winning two of their last five games. The Sharks come into tonight’s game winning one of their last 11 games. Puck drops at 5:00 pm PDT.

Mary Lisa does the Sharks podcasts Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Bill Gould: Why was Don Orsillo the late Jeremy Remy’s broadcast partner at the Red Sox left out of Remy’s tribute?

Autographed signed photo of former Boston Red Sox broadcasters Jeremy Remy (left) and Don Orsillo (right) (photo from worth point)

Former Boston Red Sox broadcaster and former Sox second baseman Jeremy Remy who passed away after the 2021 season on Oct 30, 2021 had a tribute at Fenway Park at the Sox home game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thu Apr 21.

What overshadowed the tribute was Remy’s longtime broadcast partner Don Orsillo was left out of the tribute. Orsillo and Remy broadcasted together on NESN Sports for 15 years. Remy did not renew his NESN contract and left the Sox broadcasts after the 2015 season and Orsillo left to do play by play TV for the San Diego Padres.

Remy who was given the tribute but most notably was Orsillo who was his broadcast partner all those years who had a prepared speech recorded on video was not presented on the Fenway Park video board. This was widely noticed by the media, fans, employees and front office people. Orsillo couldn’t make the tribute in person because he had to broadcast a Padres game but was also surprised when the video was not played during Thursday night’s tribute at Fenway.

Bill Gould Sportstalk analyst shares his views as to what happened and what a shame it was that the Orsillo video was not played recognizing one of the Red Sox most memorable TV analysts Jerry Remy.

Giants take game two from Nationals 5-2

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Camilo Doval, left, is congratulated by catcher Curt Casali after defeating the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Take Game Two In Nationals Series 5-2

By Barbara Mason

After stomping the Washington Nationals (6-11) yesterday in their series opener to the tune of 7-1 the San Francisco Giants (10-5) took on the Nationals in Game Two Saturday afternoon.

The Giants got on the board in the first inning when Brandon Crawford hit a single that drove in Darin Ruff for the early 1-0 lead.

San Francisco would take that lead into the fifth inning. That’s when the hits just kept on coming for the Giants. Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Curt Casali and Austin Slater all scored for a 5-0 San Francisco lead.

Tha Nationals would try to make a comeback in the same inning but fell short. Riley Adams and Victor Robles both scored runs making the score 5-2 which would turn out to be the final. Adams would hit a solo homer 385 feet. While the Nationals did make a bit of noise in the fifth inning it was not enough to catch San Francisco.

San Francisco’s starting pitcher Alex Wood pitched five very solid innings and the bullpen would close this game out. Wood allowed two runs and four hits. The lefty struck out five Nationals and walked one. He was relieved by Dominic Leone, John Brebbia, Tyler Rogera with Camilo Duval closing the game for his third save this season.

Sunday the Giants will send Logan Webb (1-1, 2.55 ERA) to the mound. He pitched in San Francisco’s loss to the Mets last Tuesday. He gave up three runs and six hits in the loss.

The Nationals rookie pitcher Joan Adon will get the nod for Washington. He threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks las Tuesday for his first major league win. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 AM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Murphy ends slump with a flurry a HR and three RBIs to defeat O’s 6-4

Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy belts a single in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Anthony Bemboom in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy who came into Thursday’s game 0-10 ended the slump with a home run, double and three RBIs to help lift the A’s to a 6-4 win Thursday over the Baltimore Orioles at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 Baltimore’s Trey Mancini was yanked after trading barbs with first base umpire Rob Drake when Drake called Mancini out after he ran through the bag at first base. Mancini said he only turned left and was not headed for second base once being called out he and manager Brandon Hyde were later ejected.

#3 Mancini said during the post game presser that he wanted to apologize to Drake for the language he used to get booted from the game. That said Mancini didn’t agree with the call.

#4 A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn had himself an outing going five innings allowed a run, three hits, striking out four hitters and didn’t walk a batter. Blackburn picked up his second win of the season.

#5 The A’s meet the Texas Rangers for three games starting Friday night. Adam Oller (0-1 ERA 13.50) will pitch for the A’s, and Spencer Howard (0-0 ERA 18.00) for the Rangers will oppose him.

Jerry F filled in for Jeremiah Salmonson on the A’s podcasts heard each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Silver Knights take down Barracuda 6-4, losing streak reaches 14 in a row

San Jose Barracuda defenseman Anthony Bitetto (2) looks for the puck Henderson Silver Knights defenseman #94 Brayden Pachal (right) at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson on Fri Apr 22, 2022 (photo from the San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

Gage Quinney scored two goals to help the Henderson Silver Knights defeat the San Jose Barracuda 6-4 on Friday evening at Dollar Loan Center.

San Jose continued its franchise worst 14-game losing streak. Henderson has won four games in a row and have 71 points.

Henderson (33-28-4-1) drew first blood late in the first period. Alan Quine received the puck along the right wing. Quine faked a centering pass and beat ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Emond with a wrist shot to the short side for his sixth goal of the season at the 17:50 mark.

San Jose (20-41-4-2) evened the score 39 seconds later. Dillon Hamaliuk sprung Zachary Gallant up the middle for a breakaway. Gallant sneaked a backhander through the five hole of Silver Knight’s goalie Isiah Seville for the first of his two goals at the 18:29 mark.

The Silver Knights regained the lead over a minute later when Gage Quinney poked home a loose puck in the crease for his 10th goal of the season with 19 seconds left in the opening frame.

The Barracuda once again tied up the game thanks to Gallant’s second goal of the game. Nick Cicek fed a pass up the ice to Gallant. The second year forward for the ‘Cuda skated down the left wing and wired a wrist shot from a tough angle that beat Seville for his third goal of the season.

Gannon Laroque earned his first point in a ‘Cuda uniform as he picked up the secondary assist on Gallant’s goal.

Henderson scored three unanswered goals in the middle frame to take control of the game.

Ben Jones redirected a shot from the point by Quine for his 25th goal of the season at the 12:33 mark. Jones has 11 points in seven games against San Jose this season.

The Silver Knights doubled its lead with a short-handed goal less than three minutes later. A turnover at the red line led to a breakaway for Jonas Rondbjerg. The Danish forward beat Emond with a backhand to forehand move for his 13th goal of the season at the 15:45 mark.

Quinney scored his second goal of the game 59 seconds later to put the game away when he cleaned up a rebound off of a Bradyen Pachal shot, his 11th of the season at the 16:44 mark.

Quinney has four games in his five games against San Jose.

Anthony Bitteto gave the ‘Cuda a brief sign of hope when he scored his sixth goal of the season and second with the Barracuda at the 11:11 mark of the third period.

Henderson regained its three-goal lead two and a half minutes later on the power play. Jake Leschyshyn redirected a shot from Brendan Brisson at the 13:50 mark.

Adam Raska made the score look respectable with a power play goal with four seconds left in the game. Raska cleaned up a loose puck to the right of the crease for his fifth goal of the season.

Seville (5-1-0) finished the game stopping 27 of the 31 shots he faced to earn the victory. Emond (3-4-2) made 25 shots on 31 saves in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 1-for-7 on the power play. Henderson was 1-for-4.

The Three Stars of the Game were: 1) Quine 2) Quinney 3) Brisson

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its regular season schedule on Saturday 4/23 at 4:00pm at Dollar Loan Center.

Slater’s big game with glove and bat lifts Giants past Nats 7-1

San Francisco Giants’ Austin Slater singles during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington on Fri Apr 22, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, April 22, 2022

Austin Slater had himself a night to remember on Friday in the nation’s capital.

The San Francisco outfielder saved a pair of runs with a sparkling catch in the field, then clubbed his first home run of the season, sparking the Giants to a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

In the bottom of the first inning, Slater, batting .105 and making his third start of the season, made a diving catch on a sinking liner to left field off the bat of that likely prevented two runs from scoring.

Just minutes later, in the top of the second, Slater hit a three-run homer to right-center,
Slater’s blast sparked a seven-run rally that chased Nats starter Patrick Corbin (0-3).

San Francisco batted around in the second, with six hits and two walks, including a three-run double by Brandon Crawford. Mike Yastrzemski’s RBI single to center started the rally.

Crawford finished 3-for-5 with a run and three runs batted in. Slater, Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf and Thairo Estrada each collected two hits.

The Nationals’ lone run came in the bottom of the eighth, when Maikel Franco hit his second home run of the season to left field off Giants reliever Yunior Marte.

Corbin worked 1 2/3 innings and has an ERA of 11.20 through four starts. Washington owes him $70 million on a free agent contract he signed after the 2018 season.

With Alex Wood’s next start pushed back to Saturday, the Giants forged a bullpen game with Sam Long serving as the opening pitcher, throwing two scoreless innings. Jakob Junis (1-0) worked the next five innings, striking out four and giving up three hits and no walks, to get his first win of the season, Jarlin Garcia gave up one walk in s scoreless ninth.

Off the field, the Giants placed outfielder Steven Duggar on the 60-day injured list with a strained left oblique, and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani is on the 10-day IL to address right ankle inflammation.

On Saturday, Wood (1-0, 1.93) will face Washington starter Paolo Espino (0-0, 4.91) in a 10:05 a.m. PDT start.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: Mets Carrasco strikes out seven goes seven in 6-2 win

The New York Mets starter Carlos Carrasco pitches to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at Citi Park in New York (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Daniel:

#1 The New York Mets (6-8) starter Carlos Carrasco pitched 7.2 innings, four hits, two earned runs, no walks, and seven strike outs in their 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants (8-5) on Thursday.

#2 The Mets Francisco Lindor had three hits and a homer and teammate Eduardo Escabar also hit a home run to help the Mets in their four run victory on Thursday.

#3 The home run by Escobar was the go ahead run as the Mets took three games from the Giants at Citi Field to conclude the long series for the Giants.

#4 Lindor exclaimed after the game “Were the New York Mets” and “Were a good team” also it was the return of manager Buck Showalter after he was out for a medical procedure on Wednesday and managed Thursday’s win.

#5 The Giants starting pitcher Sam Long (0-0 ERA 0.00) goes in Washington against the Nationals for Friday night at Nationals Park. The Nats will start Patrick Corbin (0-2 ERA 7.50) at 4:05 pm PDT

Join Daniel Dullum for the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors take 3-0 lead in Denver win game 3 118-113

Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) reacts after hitting a basket and drawing a foul against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on Thu Apr 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Take A 3-0 Series Lead in Denver win game 3 118-113

By Barbara Mason

Last Saturday and Monday night the Golden State Warriors took care of the Denver Nuggets and now find themselves leading in the series 2-0. Thursday night the Warriors got a taste of playoff basketball at Ball Arena. The Nuggets had their fan base behind them in this game which always gives the home team a definite edge.

The Warriors needed to expect something very different from games one and two if they hope to take a commanding lead in this series. Golden State had to adapt to whatever it was that the Nuggets come out with in game 3. The Warriors needed to dictate the pace and as always protect the ball. They pulled it off with a five point win to take game 3, 118-113.

The first two games of this series saw a very competitive first quarter. The Nuggets led in both of those first quarters by a single digit. The Warriors turned both games around in the second half winning by double digits.

They needed a better start in game three and things were a whole lot easier for the Warriors and Golden State defended better. The team had the same lineup as the first two games with Stephen Curry on the bench to start the game.

Game 3 recap: The Warriors wanted to have a better start and in the first five minutes of the first quarter they had a great start, a start that was lacking in the first two games.

They had a 15-8 lead and so far so good. For the moment they were not facing battling from behind. In basketball momentum can change on a dime and this was the case in the first quarter of the game.

The Nuggets led by Nikola Jokic tied up the game at 22 with 4:29 left in the opening quarter. Both teams were shooting 60%. The Warriors led at the end of one 34-32. Jokic had already shot for 12 points and both teams were playing at a very high level.

The back court and the guards for Golden State were getting the job done in the second quarter. Both teams continued to shoot lights out. Four minutes into the second quarter the Warriors were shooting at 63% and Denver at 61%.

The Warriors have been very good on the road as if they enjoy going into hostile territory. It seems to bring out the best in them. The Warriors were 11 of 19 from beyond the arc with 4:24 left in the first half and had their largest lead in this game 60-49.

In the closing minutes of the second quarter, the Warriors had some untimely turnovers but despite that they led at the half 69-59. The Nuggets made a run in the final minutes of the half but the Warriors pushed back. At halftime Golden State was shooting at 68%.

The Warriors had bottled up Aaron Gordon big time allowing only five points in the half. They also did a good job on Jokic allowing only six points in the second quarter.

The Warriors would need to keep him out of the paint in the second half. Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Curry and Gary Payton II all finished the first half of basketball in double digits. The team was 12 of 21 on three’s threw two quarters.

It was all Denver in the third quarter outscoring the Warriors 30-18. The Nuggets led after three quarters 89-87. This was the best game that Denver had played in this series by far. It was a crazy final quarter of basketball.

The Nuggets were playing for their playoff lives. The final four minutes was a free throw fest. Both teams had lost their rhythm and were spending most of their time shooting free throws. With 3:20 remaining the Nuggets took a 111-109 lead. There had been eleven ties in the game and this one was going down to the wire.

With 40.8 left on the clock the Warriors were holding onto a 116-111 lead. After a miserable third quarter Golden State came roaring back in the fourth. Curry would finish off Denver with a single free throw. The final was 118-113 and the Warriors had taken a 3-0 series lead.

Poole and Curry both finished with 27 points apiece and Thompson had 26 points in an amazing effort. Curry’s minute restriction appears to have been lifted. He played 31 minutes in this game. The heartbeat of the team Draymond Green had 10 rebounds.

“I don’t think we played very well,” said Green after the game. “We’ve got to get out of here with a win,” was what he told the team. That was the word from Green and the team responded. The Warriors had survived an ugly third quarter to take this game home in the fourth.

The fourth game of this series will be played on Sunday in Denver. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30.

Mets get to Giants DeSclafani early; New York gets four run win 6-2

San Francisco Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani pitches against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York on Thu Apr 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants lost a series for the first time this season, falling 6-2 to the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon. Along with getting defeated in the series 3-1, the Giants had their longest streak in the majors without an opposing player hitting a homer, snapped.

It happened in the first inning.

“We weren’t not going to give up a home run all year,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “When you go through a stretch where those things are not happening, you are pleased with the results. But you also always know there are going to be some times that aren’t perfect.”

Giants starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani had a slow start, allowing the Mets to get nine hits and five earned runs in five innings. DeSclafani has allowed 22 hits in his first 13 1/3 innings. Kapler said “he doesn’t have his best stuff right now.”

“I think it’s just one of those things where we have to hang in there with him. We trust Tony, he was a great pitcher for us last year, and he went through some starts last year where he didn’t have his best stuff as well,” Kapler said. “I think they were getting some pretty good swings off but there were some balls that weren’t hit particularly well – that happens, that’s just part of it.”

Too many balls stayed up, DeSclafani said, including the pitches resulting in homers. The second one happened on a changeup to Eduardo Escobar.

“I definitely don’t feel crisp at all,” DeSclafani said. “I feel like I’m kind of coming off the ball early, not staying back, and (pitches) are kind of left up in the zone.”

The Giants had a run in the second inning and one in the eighth, but the Mets also had one in that inning to lead San Francisco 6-2.

Giants center fielder Steven Duggar suffered a left oblique injury as he fouled off a pitch against Mets starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco in the second inning. He will go on the injured list.

The Giants (8-5) continue their East Coast road trip with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. First pitch for Game 1 is at 4:05 p.m. PT.