Category: NHL

~ Photo: LM Otero, AP

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The Dallas Stars got their first shutout since December 14, as San Jose was shut out for the first time since January 3 in a 1-0 loss Monday.

Goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped all 30 shots he faced.

Curtis McKenzie’s first goal since February 11 broke the deadlock at 14:54 of the second. McKenzie, who mirrored the movements of goalie Aaron Dell right behind him, quickly deflected the shot from Adam Cracknell.

Like the Stars’ second meeting against the Sharks, Dallas had only one goal, but this time it was enough, in a less lopsided affair. San Jose won the first matchup 5-1 and Lehtonen was pulled after giving up three goals.

Dell, who was also in net that game, was just as stellar this time. He made two especially spectacular saves in the first and second to keep the game close.

The Sharks had the man advantage in terms of opportunities with the extra attacker as the game wound down.

They outshot the Stars in each period, but could not translate those shots to goals, offensive struggles and giving up the first goal marking their three game losing streak.

Dallas outhit San Jose 13-2 in the first and 25-9 overall. Each team killed off two power plays apiece.

Game notes: The Sharks had multiple personnel changes. Chris Tierney missed his first game this season with the flu and Jannik Hansen, hurt Saturday, was absent. Instead, Danny O’Regan and Timo Meier were recalled Sunday and David Schlemko played his first game since March 2. The Stars’ Jamie Benn returned to the lineup, with three shots on goal, one block and one takeaway. San Jose hopes to right their ship. With no time to dwell, they go back at it versus the Minnesota Wild Tuesday at 5:30pm.

AP file photo: FEBRUARY 11: San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) warms up before the NHL hockey game between the San Jose Sharks and the Philadelphia Flyers on February 11, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast:

#1 The Sharks Jannik Hansen is trying to recoup from getting hit in the head with a stick from the Anaheim Ducks Brandon Montour. After being hit Hansen left the ice Sunday under his own power to the dressing room and was placed on the day to day DL

#2 Hansen will travel on this current four game trip and will be monitored whether he would be fit for action during the trip

#3 The Sharks called up Timo Meier and center Dan O’Regan from their AHL affiliate the San Jose Barracuda on Sunday. Ryan Carpenter was reassigned  the Sharks are now down to 15 forwards

#4 Meier is having a great season even though he has been up and down with the Sharks and the Barracuda he has 12 goals and nine assists

#5 The Sharks have Dallas tonight, Minnesota Tuesday, then back to Dallas on Friday and Saturday onto Nashville to conclude the trip

Len Shapiro does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Anaheim Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg, center left, celebrates his goal with teammates Andrew Cogliano, center right, Cam Fowler (4) and Ryan Kesler (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks Saturday, March 18, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks ended their lengthy homestand with a rough 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks in a nail-biting game at SAP Center on Saturday night.

The Ducks didn’t waste any time getting on the board. Just 39 seconds into the opening period, Patrick Eaves fired a snap shot from the left circle, beating Martin Jones top-shelf for his 24th goal of the year.

The Sharks went on a two-man advantage after Joel Ward dropped the gloves with Ryan Kesler with 6:07 left in the period. However, the home team was capitalize with this advantage.

Cam Fowler was called for tripping with 1:31 left on the clock. The Sharks then capitalized on the man advantage, tying the score 1-1. Logan Couture picked up a pass from Joe Thornton and fired a snap shot into the net to beat Jonathan Bernier for a power-play goal. Couture recorded his 25th goal of the year in his 500th career game.

Shots were 11-8 in favor of the Ducks, but these two teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes.

A turnover cost the Sharks as the puck went into their own net at 7:31 of the second period. Jakob Silfverberg scored an unassisted goal for his 20th of the season.

Shots (23-20) remained in favor of the Ducks, who led the Sharks 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Jannik Hansen took a hard hit in the corner in the middle of the third period and never returned. Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer mentioned in his postgame press conference that he didn’t have any updates on Hansen.

The Sharks (42-22-7) dropped a nail-biter against the Ducks (38-23-11) by a score of 2-1. Jones made 25 saves in a losing effort.

“We just have to regroup and get ready for the next one,” Couture said.

Bernier finished with 33 saves in the victory.

“We had breakdowns and they had theirs,” Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said. “Their goalie (Bernier) played well…We had to find a way to tie that game up, but unfortunately, we didn’t.”

“I think everyone’s dealing with injuries, but we have enough depth, and that shouldn’t matter,” DeBoer said when asked if the injuries of David Schlemko and Melker Karlsson had an effect on his team. “Those are good players obviously, but we got guys who jumped in tonight for them, and I thought (Michael) Haley had two or three really good chances. Also, (Marcus) Sorensen played a really good game, so I don’t think that’s an issue.

 

The Sharks kick off a four-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars (28-33-10) at 7:30 p.m. CST on CSN-CA, FS-SW.

 

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St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko (91) scores an empty net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks Thursday, March 16, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In a game that resembled a Stanley Cup playoff tilt, the St. Louis Blues topped the San Jose Sharks 4-1 at the SAP Center Thursday night. St. Louis received a pair of goals from Vladimir Tarasenko, while grinders Scott Upshall and Zach Sanford also scored for the Blue Notes. Marc-Edouard Vlasic netted the lone goal for the Sharks on a night when the much-needed power play went 0-for-2.

“The better team won tonight,” said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. “That usually happens in this league.”

The Blues, looking for revenge after being eliminated in the Western Conference Final by San Jose last season, jumped on the early lead on a fluky goal by Upshall. Brent Burns passed the puck out of the Sharks defensive end, but his pass was intercepted by Upshall. With Martin trying to recover for his defensive partner, netminder Aaron Dell was screened on what would normally be a harmless shot inside the zone. Instead, the puck beat Dell for a 1-0 Blues lead and Upshall’s 8^th goal of the year with 3:`10 left in the first period.

“I thought we fought the puck a bit,” said Sharks goalie Aaron Dell. “We got some bad bounces. It didn’t go our way.”

Vlasic would get a San Jose bounce in the waning moments of the period though. He fired a shot that, upon first glance appeared to be tipped by Joel Ward between a defender’s skates. Ultimately the official scorers saw that the puck hit off the Blues defenseman before beating Carter Hutton for the San Jose goal 2:15 away from first intermission.

Sanford’s game-winning goal was another example of the bounces going against the Sharks in a tight affair. The forward was parked on the goal post on the opposite side of possession, but a Jay Bouwmeester shot went wide of the net and bounced off the end boards to Sanford. The gritty forward knocked in the puck for his 3^rd goal of the year 5:49 into the second period.

“When we got behind there was an opportunity there to push,” said DeBoer. “Traditionally, we find a desperation level despite where we are in the standings to win a game. We didn’t get that push tonight.”

Tarasenko’s first of two goals came on a similar play with St. Louis on the power play just over 8 minutes into the 3^rd. Tarensko was the beneficiary of a Alex Steen shot rebounding to the opposite post where the Russian sniper would get the tap-in goal for a 3-1 lead 8:34 into the third. The other Alex, Pietrangelo, also picked up an assist on the strike. Tarasenko would add the empty-net goal to put his season total at 34.

“That’s how the game went for us,” said Dell. “The third one went off (Justin) Braun . The bounce on the empty netter off Brent Burn’s foot, that’s the story of the game.”

The Blues mucked up the neutral zone, stifling any Sharks breakout attempts. They limited San Jose to only 20 shots on goal to St. Louis’ 36. The Blues also scored on their lone power play attempt.

San Jose welcomes Anaheim to town Saturday night for a rivalry tilt. It will likely be another playoff atmosphere with the Ducks in second place behind the Sharks for Pacific Division lead.

March 14, 2017: Buffalo Sabres left wing Evander Kane (9) puts San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun (61) into the boards during the NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. The Sharks trail the Sabres 1-0 at the end of the first period. Damon Tarver/Cal Sport Media (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Matthew T.F. Harington

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Jack Eichel scored two goals, one for the Sabres and one for the Sharks, leading to San Jose’s 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Joe Pavelski scored twice for San Jose, Michael Haley netted the game-winner and Logan Couture netted an insurance goal in a contest the Sharks dominated. San Jose fired 42 shots on Robin Lehner to beat the eastern conference foes.

Eichel gave the Sabres the improbable lead 1:10 into the first period, scoring his 20^th goal to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead. Despite outshooting the Sabres 20-9, San Jose entered the locker room down 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The Sharks would however tie the game up The Sharks answered back on the power play 11:47 into the second with Joe Pavelski ripping a rocket from the slot for his 27^th goal of the year. Couture and Joe Thornton assisted on the power play strike.

Eichel’s gaffe would give the Sharks their only lead necessary on the night with 50 seconds left in the second period. After Michael Haley’s cycle behind the net, the Sabres star Eichel wound up with the puck. Instead of clearing the zone, Eichel tapped the puck into his own goal, giving Haley his second goal of the year and handing the Sharks a 2-1 lead.

The Sharks would continue to pepper Lehner with 42 shots through the course of the game. Despite only mustering fgive shots on net in a despserate thjird period the Sharks managed to score a pair of goals. Pavelski added his 28^th of the year 5:28 into the third, then Logan Couture scored his 24^th of the year with 4:03 left in regulation to hand the Sharks the 4-2 win. Couture (1 g, 1a), Pavelski (2 g) and Thornton (2 a) all had three point nights for San Jose.

The Sharks continue a home heavy month of March with a home tilt against the St. Louis Blues Thursday night. Then the rival Anaheim Ducks make a visit to SAP Saturday night.

San Jose Sharks goalie Aaron Dell, right, blocks a shot from Dallas Stars’ Cody Eakin (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 12, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The San Jose Sharks on Sunday’s game against the Dallas Stars manhandled them 5-1 I can’t believe Stars head coach Lindy Ruff’s team has got it this bad and the Stars are breaking in a lot of rookies that’s definitely testing goaltender Aaron Dell of the San Jose Sharks who scored on him for a break away goal. That kind of set the stage for the rest of the game for San Jose.

On the Saturday day game it was a typical day game for the Sharks it was a just a lack of a lot of energy in their 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators. They just didn’t seem to be  the of things in  the second period and couldn’t rally to overcome the two goal deficit. The Sharks goalie Dell is 10-3 for the season and has a .938 save percentage his season.

Len Shapiro does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 12, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

San Jose Has Dallas Seeing Stars In Rout 5-1

By Barbara Mason

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Sharks had barely a chance to catch their breath before taking the ice Sunday evening against the Dallas Stars. Having a tough showing yesterday losing to the Nashville Predators the team is looking to re-group and get back on a winning track. Dallas is currently residing near the bottom of the Central division in contrast to the Sharks first place position in the Pacific, a full seven points ahead of the Calgary Flames. While this could be a tale of two teams, San Jose takes no team lightly and expects a fight out of Dallas. Coming in at 26th in face-off in the NHL the Sharks are one of the best possession team’s so the debate about how important the face-off is goes on. An improvement in the face-off would only give an already deep team even more depth.

There would be no slow start for the Sharks in this game. In the first period at 3:56 Patrick Marleau would score his 23rd goal of the season assisted by Logan Couture and Justin Braun for the early 1-0 lead. This was Marleau’s 504th career goal. At 12:54 the Stars Remi Ellie would score when Shark goalie Aaron Dell lost sight of the puck and the score was tied up 1-1. Remi was assisted by Alec Hamsky. Captain Joe Pavelski would take back the lead at 17:14 with his 25th goal of the season. He was assisted by Joe Thornton and Paul Martin. The period would come to an end with San Jose leading 2-1. The Stars had outshot the Sharks 15-6 but San Jose was making their shots count.

The second period would open with another Sharks goal at 2:46 scored by Joel Ward for his  eighth of the season assisted by Logan Couture and Paul Martin for a 3-1 lead. At this point the Stars pulled their goalie Ehtonen and in came an old friend Antti Niemi to take over. The Sharks would have more in store for the Stars despite the change. At 12:26 Joe Pavelski would score a short-handed goal for a 4-1 lead. At period’s end the Sharks had clearly taken control of this game.

San Jose would score yet again in the early going of the third period. Chris Tierney would make this game a runaway with his seventh goal of the season, He was assisted by Dylan DeMelo and Marcus Sorensen for a commanding lead 5-1. The hat trick that everyone was hoping for did not materialize however it was a great win for the Sharks. The three stars were awarded to Paul Martin, Aaron Dell and the number one star went to captain Joe Pavelski for a stellar performance.

The Sharks will next take on the Buffalo Sabres next Tuesday at SAP. The puck drops at 7:30.

 

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March 12, 2017: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. – Blackhawk #19 Jonathan Toews warms up in his St. Patrick’s Day jersey before National Hockey League game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the NHL Podcast with Daniel Dullum:

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s injury update

Chicago Blackhawks get a huge win over the Minnesota Wild Sunday

Washington Caps’ Kevin Shattenkirk 2-game suspension

The San Jose Sharks took a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Saturday. The Preds had lost four straight despite losing those games. SJ is still seven points on top of Anaheim whose second in the Pacific

Calgary is one of the hottest teams in the NHL with a nine game winning streak. They defeated Winnipeg 3-0 as the Flames goalie Brian Elliott got his second shutout of the season and his 36th of his career

The Pittsburgh Penguins won on a shutout 3-0 with goaltender Matt Murray stopping 27 shots from the Vancouver Canucks

Ondrej Palat scored with just 2:23 left to help the Tampa Bay Lighting comeback from two goals down to get a 3-2 win over the Panthers.

The Buffalo Sabers solved the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-3 win. The Buff’s Evander Kane at 2:29 got the go ahead goal after Buff was trailing by three goals.

Daniel does the NHL Podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com