Category: NHL

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: It might be early but will Marleau be Sharks missing link?

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AP File Photo: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, left, talks with forward Patrick Marleau, right, during NHL hockey training camp in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

On the SJ Sharks Podcast with Len:

1 With the Sharks losing two straight does it become clear that their missing their old leader Patrick Marleau?

2 In Saturday’s game it was all Kings defense and whenever the Sharks had the puck they just dissolved

3 Joe Pavelski says it’s only two games in and after two loses this is not a time to panic

4 Sharks Logan Couture says that was garbage hockey referring to Saturday’s game with the Kings will be words that will wake up the dressing room

5 The Sharks take on Buffalo this Thursday at SAP will being back on the home ice make a difference?

Len takes you through it on the SJ Sharks Podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sharks Lose 4-1 to Kings

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San Jose Sharks’ Mikkel Boedker, left, celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in San Jose , Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by M. Walsh

SAN JOSE– After Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, Sharks Captain Joe Pavelksi said:

“It’s two games in, we’re not panicking by any means but we need results and that’s on us as players. We’ve been given something that we know inside out and the commitment to do it has to be there. There’s just too many odd man rushes, a few too many battles that we lose and we’re not getting those second chances. So there’s just a commitment level that has to go up and doing it the right way.”

That described the game quite accurately. Logan Couture’s comments were more sweeping:

“That was just horrible. You can’t make excuses because that was a very very poor effort. From the first minute to the sixtieth minute, from power play to penalty kill. That was just garbage hockey.”

For Los Angeles, two goals came from Anze Kopitar, one from Dustin Brown and one from Nick Shore. Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick made 24 saves on 25 shots. The lone goal for the Sharks came from Mikkel Boedker, while Martin Jones made 25 saves on 29 shots and backup Aaron Dell made 9 saves. It is worth noting that Sharks forward Melker Karlsson took a hit during the second period and did not skate during the third.

Martin Jones started out looking like he might have a better game than he did. As the team struggled to get a shot on goal, the goaltender made a fine save near the four minute mark after the Kings stormed into the zone three on one. The Kings seemed to get more energy from that than the Sharks did and two minutes later the Sharks had a shot on goal but the Kings had a goal. Dustin Brown’s bad angle shot went over Jones’ shoulder through an opening that probably should not have been there. An assist went to Anze Kopitar.

That did spark the Sharks and just 1:06 later, Mikkel Boedker put the Sharks’ second shot past Jonathan Quick. Assists went to Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo.

After a skirmish in the corner behind the Kings goal line at 8:31, Kurtis MacDermid was called for roughing. The Sharks added just one shot to their tally during that power play.

Logan Couture was called for tripping at 11:29, and the Sharks killed the penalty. Tomas Hertl took the next penalty, for hooking. The Sharks killed that one off as well, but as the seconds wound down, the Kings kept the pressure on. A regrettable line change gave Kopitar an opening to skate in nearly unfettered. He did not waste the opportunity and scored with just 8 seconds to go. The period ended with the score 2-1 Kings, with the shots an ominous 17-6 for Los Angeles.

5:57 into the second, the Sharks were on the penalty kill after Brenden Dillon high-sticked Kopitar. The Sharks killed the penalty off and were rewarded with a power play of their own at 8:34. It did not amount to much, and was riddled with bad takeaways by the Los Angeles penalty killers.

At 12:07 the game went from bad to worse as a shot got through to Jones and bounced over him to sit momentarily in the blue paint. No Shark was there to prevent Kopitar from tucking it over the line.

There were plenty of teal sweaters around the Sharks net when the next goal went in. Jones seemed to catch a long bouncing shot in his glove, but the puck instead bounced out and pinballed around and into the net to make it 4-1. The goal was awarded to Nick Shore. Aaron Dell came into the game to replace Martin Jones.

By the end of the second period, the score was 4-1, with the shot count still an abysmal 32-18 Los Angeles.

The third period provided little redemption for the Sharks. They did not give up any more goals, but the Kings did not look very motivated to increase the three goal lead. The Sharks killed three more penalties, while the Kings killed two. The Sharks pulled their goaltender with three minutes to go but it did not change the score.

The Sharks next play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30 PM PT.

Simmonds Hat Trick Spoils Sharks Streak of seven opening game wins in 5-3 loss

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 Philadelphia Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds (17) celebrates with teammates Valtteri Filppula (51) and Jakub Voracek (93) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. Philadelphia won 5-3. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

By Matthew Harrington

A Wayne Simmonds hat trick spoiled the San Jose Sharks’ home opener Wednesday night, with the Philadelphia Flyers snapping the Sharks’ seven-game opening game win streak 5-3. Kevin Labanc scored a pair of goals and Logan Couture was gifted another but poor special teams play and miscues cost the Sharks their first game at home.

Netminder Martin Jones produced the season’s first gaffe in the opening period, attempting to clear a puck on his own down the left wing. Instead Jones’ flick of the puck landed on Jakub Voracek’s stick. Voracek’s cross-ice pass to Claude Giroux for a wide-open net put Philly up 1-0 8:28 into play.

Labanc’ s unusual season debut started 10:21 into the 1st when he was sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference. Former LA King Jordan Weal converted just a minute into the man-advantage for a 2-0 lead.

Labanc rebound later in the period, scoring from the same spot in the crease he was previously penalized for occupying on a redirect with 2:43 left in the period. Labanc would score again with 19 seconds left in the 1st.

The young Sharks forward again found himself in the box with 2:32 left in the 2nd, this time falling victim to the NHL’s commitment to tightening up on slashing infractions. Wayne Simmonds redirected a Shayne Gostisbehere point shot past Jones for a 3-2 lead just six seconds into San Jose’s penalty kill.

There was a brief glimmer of hope after Logan Couture banked a puck off Andrew McDonald’s skate and behind Flyers goalie Brian Elliott 3:12 into the third on the power play, but a third Labanc penalty, this time a trip while flailing to the ice, put Philly on the power play 9:21 into the period. Simmonds would score his second of the game five seconds later. Simmonds converted the empty-netter for the hat trick.

The Sharks penalty kill went two for five, while its power play went two for six. Both those figures need to be improved upon drastically heading into a matchup Saturday night with the rival Los Angeles Kings. After that the Sharks have three more home games before their first road test of the season.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks without Marleau what kind of team will they be?; Flyers in SJ for opener

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Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) skates in on a breakaway during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes on September 30, 2017, at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

Mary Lisa on the Sharks podcast:

1 The Sharks will be heavily relying on team captain Joe Thornton whose experience and leadership always helps in providing wisdom for the younger player and players called up from the minors

2 Sharks GM Doug Wilson believes this is a good team that’s not going through transition but how good and good enough for the post season is still yet to be told

3 The other veteran who establishes himself is Brett Burns who won the Norris Trophy last season. Burns provides a lot of offense for the Sharks

4 Other players the Sharks will be counting on, Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney, Melker Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and Marcus Sorenson

5 Goalie Martin Jones is the starting goalie vs Philadelphia Mary Lisa takes a look at how Jones sets up against the Flyers offense

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, & Commentary: Without Carr does this ruin the Raiders post season chances?; MLB Playoff previews; Sharks get out ahead of Vegas shooting

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is helped off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Joe Mahoney)

On That’s Amaury’s Podcast:

1 With the Raiders quarterback Derek Carr out with a back injury fracture for six weeks Amaury takes a look at the Raiders chances at making post season

2 Carr will be back for week ten but what shape will the Raiders (2-2) be in by then they have now lost two straight game on the road and head home this Sunday to host the Ravens at the Oakland Coliseum

3 Amaury goes over the MLB Playoff schedule; Tuesday night AL Wildcard Minnesota @ New York Yankees; NL Wildcard Colorado @ Arizona; Thursday ALDS Boston @ Houston; Min or NYY winner @ Cle; Friday NLDS Chicago @ Washington; winner Col-AZ @ Los Angeles

4 The tragic shooting in Las Vegas was tied into the sports scene as the San Jose Sharks who were playing in Las Vegas against the Golden Knight for their last exhibition game of 2017 chartered out of Vegas just hours before the shooting started at Mandalay Bay Hotel

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

 

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Shapiro: Sorenson exhibits speed in final pre season game could have a shot at the first line on opening night

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tsn.ca file photo: San Jose Sharks Marcus Sorenson (20) has shown lots of speed in pre season particularly against the Vegas Knights Sunday night at T Mobile Center

By Len Shapiro

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Sharks in their final game in Las Vegas might have got some answers for some of their secondary positions and one guy that showed some effort and lots of speed was Marcus Sorenson. The NHL today is speed, speed, speed, and Sorenson really showed some speed in that game and he did have some breakaways one he shot right into the Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc Andre Fleury. Sorenson was showing some pretty decent speed.

Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer will have to make some moves on the left wing and this is just one exhibition game but it’s good indication that it could happen. DeBoer just might throw Sorenson out on the first line to see what he could do and against Philadelphia it’s a little more physical. So lets see if the Sharks can handle the physicality of the Flyers.

The Sharks might have Mikkel Bodeker in first or second line to say the least. Another good show in the game was Barclay Goodrow he had a pretty good game and may have put Ryan Carpenter on the cusp of making the team. The Sharks are waiting to see what’s going to happen with him they have been waiting two years. Carpenter was playing in the minors with the AHL San Jose Barracuda last season, so he might be ready to make his move.

Len does the Sharks Podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Sharks Preseason 2017: San Jose Wins 5-3 to End Preseason

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

by M. Walsh

After two losses in a row, and six periods without a goal, the Sharks finished the preseason with a 5-3 win in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights. The game winner came on the power play from young defenseman Nick DeSimone. Goaltender Aaron Dell stopped 20 of 22 shots in the first half of the game, while Troy Grosenick stopped 14 of 15 in the second half. For Las Vegas, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 28 of 32 shots.

NHL regulars to skate for San Jose included Joel Ward, Chris Tierney, Mikkel Boedker, Joonas Donskoi and Brandon Bollig. Dylan DeMelo was the most veteran defenseman. John McCarthy and Barclay Goodrow, AHL veterans with significant NHL time under their belts, skated as well.

The Sharks were outshot 13-6 in the first period. Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas scored first at 8:08. The Sharks had an offensive zone draw but McCarthy lost it to Haula. As the puck bounced around behind Fleury’s net, Haula predicted its path well enough to reach it in the slot and took off down the ice before McCarthy or Simek could catch him.

Late in the period, DeSimone went to the box for holding the stick. During an abbreviated 4 on 3 power play, David Perron was unable to hold the puck in after Radim Simek cleared it from in front of the net. Marcus Sorensen was there, chasing the puck out and he had momentum on his side when the puck slid over the blue line. Perron and Vadim Shipachyov both gave chase. DeSimone pulled up as Fleury came out to meet him on the edge of the blue paint. DeSimone moved the puck to his left while diving over Fleury’s legs to tap the puck in. Simek got the assist on the tying goal.

The Sharks picked up their game in the second, scoring twice and outshooting Vegas 13-9. At 4:28, Chris Tierney scored on a power play while Jason Garrison sat in the box for tripping. It only took seven seconds for the team to get set up. Joel Ward sent the puck to the blue line where Tim Heed caught it and sent it to Dylan Demelo, who shot it. Tierney tipped it in for San Jose’s first lead in seven periods.

Near the halfway point of the period, Ryan Carpenter redirected a stray puck out of the Sharks zone, to Barclay Goodrow along the neutral zone boards. Finding himself free to do so, Goodrow skated to the faceoff circle and put a shot over Fleury’s left shoulder. It was the Sharks’ only even-strength goal of the game.

Two minutes later, the Sharks thwarted a three on two rush from Vegas, but could not get the puck back out before David Perron got control of the puck along the blue line. After a moment’s reflection, he took the long shot and scored. William Karlsson got the assist.

After that goal, the shot count was 22-11 Las Vegas.

A couple of minutes later, Cody Eakin carried the puck around behind the Sharks net and found Colin Miller just crossing the blue line. Eakin’s pass reached Miller perfectly for a quick shot to tie the game. Assists went to Eakin and Shea Theodore.

Tied going into the third, the game winner came on a power play just past the halfway mark. After surviving a three on two short-handed rush, the Sharks went the other way quickly enough to keep the Knights from getting their penalty kill set back up. A shot from Daniel O’Regan produced a rebound that DeSimone was able to push under Fleury. Assists went to O’Regan and Timo Meier.

The Knights pulled Fleury with 1:45 left, and used their timeout. The Sharks kept the Knights to the outside of their zone until the final 30 seconds when Grosenick stopped a shot from Schmidt and kicked it right up into the slot. Luckily, Joel Ward was there to help it along, all the way down and into the empty net.

Ironically, Timo Meier and Mikkel Boedker led the Sharks forwards in shots on goal with four each, yet came away with just one assist between them. For the Knights, Jason Marchessault got credit for seven shots on goal.

The Sharks will play their first regular season game on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers in San Jose. The game starts at 7:30 PM PT.

Sharks Preseason 2017: Coyotes Shut Out Sharks 4-0

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

by M. Walsh

SAN JOSE– Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue was the star of the show on Saturday, stopping 31 shots from the Sharks for a preseason shutout in San Jose. Derek Stepan, with linemates Clayton Keller and Max Domi impressed with their two goals, and another two came from Brendan Perlini.

That was disappointing for the home crowd, especially since the Sharks had most of their regular lineup in the game. Conversely, this was the first outing for them as a group this preseason. The Sharks lineup included Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Joel Ward, Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney, and Melker Karlsson up front. Also playing at forward were Timo Meier, Jannik Hansen, Kevin Labanc, Ryan Carpenter, and Mikkel Boedker. The defense was comprised of Brent Burns, Paul Martin, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Justin Braun, Brenden Dillon and Tim Heed. The loss follows another in Anaheim last Thursday, when a very different Sharks lineup was also shutout.

The Coyotes started well against the Sharks on Saturday, maintaining a close shot count and scoring midway through the first. In the second, the visitors earned a powerplay goal while Kevin Labanc sat in the box for a hook. Both goals were scored by Derek Stepan from Clayton Keller and Max Domi.

The Sharks had a couple of good chances early in the game, but Louis Domingue was very sharp from the get go. San Jose failed to score despite back to back power plays that overlapped by 11 seconds in the first period.

A noteworthy incident followed the second goal, when Joonas Donskoi was called for boarding Nick Cousins. He received a five minute major and a game misconduct. The call was not popular with the home crowd. Cousins looked shaken up but did return to the ice before the end of the period.

The Coyotes extended the lead at 2:58 of the third when Brendan Perlini got by Brenden Dillon and then Tim Heed to make it 3-0. An assist went to Adam Clendening. After that third goal, the Coyotes shifted down into defensive mode and took very few shots. After staying within two on the shot clock, Arizona only took four shots. Unfortunetely for the Sharks, that fourth shot went into an empty net for Perlini. Assists went to Dylan Strome and Lawson Crouse.

Apart from taking 13 shots to the Coyotes 4, the Sharks did not make much progress in the third. Ryan Carpenter drew a tripping penalty at 5:37, sending Alex Goligoski to the box. At 9:13, the Sharks had another try at the power play when Nick Cousins was called for interference/slashing against Brenden Dillon.

The Sharks will play their final preseason game in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 1 at 5:00 PM PT, against the Golden Knights.

Ducks get 3-0 revenge

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Photo credit: San Jose Sharks

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ ANAHEIM– San Jose found themselves on the losing end this time as the Ducks shutout the Sharks Thursday before a 15,439 preseason crowd.

It was the San Jose’s first preseason loss.

Both teams started the preseason when the Sharks shutout Anaheim 5-0. In this game, San Jose had 11 different players and the Ducks had 10.

The game-winner emerged in the third. Chris Wagner scored a wraparound goal at 5:28, aided by Dennis Rasmussen and Korbinian Holzer through Martin Jones’ five hole.

The first period saw two Sharks’ power plays and a 5-1 shot advantage until Francois Beauchemin had Anaheim’s second shot with 8:46 left. By the end of the period though, it was a one shot differential with San Jose leading 6-5.

More confrontation, shots and the first power play marked the second. Shots went the same direction as the first. The period started with the Sharks’ third power play. San Jose’s Joel Ward and the Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano had a scuffle in the second, short of a fight. Jacob Middleton gave the Sharks their first penalty when he cross-checked Corey Perry. Perry’s teammate Kale Kossila came in to defend.

Anaheim started the third period with new goalie Reto Berra. This time the period started with a Ducks’ power play. It became a two-man advantage when Tomas Hertl was called for hooking midway. San Jose killed the power plays but a minute after the last was when Wagner scored. He said, “We picked up a little energy after that goal. We started playing more in their end. We got better as the game went on.”

Anaheim doubled their lead at 16:17. With Jones positioned short side, Antoine Vermette got it into the open net far side. 40 seconds later, Kosila made it 3-0 when he directed the puck into the empty net.

The Ducks’ Head Coach Randy Carlyle felt, “we won the game ugly…scored some dirty goals.”

Timo Meier from the Sharks commented, “We played some good hockey at the end, but we let up a goal and then another one and then it broke down a little bit.” Head Coach Peter DeBoer thought, “Our defensive game was good. I thought Jones was solid. Again, you have to score to win in this league. We looked like we could have played for another hour and a half and not scored a goal.”

Game notes:  Anaheim outshot San Jose 14-9 in the third to win that battle overall 26-24. In Ward’s first action since surgery, he was on the ice for 14:01, had three shots, three attempts blocked and one missed shot. DeBoer said, “I thought as the game went on he go better. We know what he can do. We’ll be working him in.” The Sharks continue preseason with their second game against the Arizona Coyotes Saturday at 7pm.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Can Boedker fill the void left by Marleau?

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San Jose Sharks’ Mikkel Boedker (89) tries to control the puck in front of Arizona Coyotes’ Marek Langhamer (30) during the third period of a preseason NHL hockey game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 5-4 in a shootout. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

On the Sharks Podcast with Mary Lisa:

The Sharks seemed to be having a good pre season they’ve won their last three games scoring five times in each of those games although the pre season can be a little misleading. The line ups are kind of a mishmash with prospects and NHLers, NHLers we can expect to see in the lineup when the season starts. It does seem like everybody is following their system pretty well like when I talk with some of the prospects in the defensive zone which seems to be the biggest challenge for the forwards and defensemen.

A lot of the forwards are having trouble getting their defensive game together they were looking pretty organized pretty serious but again it’s hard to tell who’s exactly for sure who’s going to be in the line up. We’ll see how the season starts and how they’ll work together. With Patrick Marleau gone will Mikkel Boedker be able to step in and fill a void?

Boedker who has a similar skill set like Marleau had and is a scoring player, there’s always a challenge when you’ve lost a longtime veteran. The Sharks in particular have seen a number of players they were counting on be gone for a long time things like injuries Logan Couture had injuries in the last few seasons. Tomas Hertl has his share of injuries. The team is used to having someone step in and fill the void now the Sharks are looking to Boedker to help fill the void where Marleau left off.

Mary Lisa Walsh does Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com