Category: NHL

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len Shapiro: Panthers Montour scores twice to beat Bruins and series 1-1; Isles down 0-2 to Canes; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) is congratulated for his goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period at TD Garden in Boston on Wed Apr 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The Florida Panthers Brandon Montour scored twice against the Boston Bruins to even the series 1-1 in the Panthers 6-3 win on Wednesday night at TD Garden in Boston. Sam Bennett scored his first goal since Mar 20, the Panthers Matthew Tkachuk and Nick Cousins each picked up two assists and Panthers goaltender Alex Lyon saved 34 shots.

#2 The New York Islanders dropped to 0-2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night in overtime. Carolina’s Jesper Fast scored at 5:30 in the overtime stanza as the Hurricanes just got by the Isles 4-3 in first round Eastern Conference action at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

#3 Minnesota Wild came away from Wednesday night’s game 2 playoff game seeing stars as they dropped a 7-3 four goal contest to the Dallas Stars. The Stars came out with two goals in the first period from Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin for a 2-1 lead. The Stars really had a break out second period with four goals for a 6-3 three goal lead. The win by Dallas ties the series at 1-1.

#4 Len, no give up between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in Edmonton but the Oilers were able to score a goal with 48 seconds left in the game to take a two goal 4-2 lead and tie the series up. The Oilers picked up their last two goals in the third period from Klim Kostin his first goal of the post season at 2:20 and Evander Kane at 19:37 his first in the playoffs.

#5 Taking a look at Thursday night’s action: Toronto crushes Tampa Bay 7-2 to tie the series 1-1, The New York Rangers running away with it taking a 5-1 game 2 win in New Jersey; Seattle at Colorado, and Winnipeg Jets are surprising everybody they came in with a series lead and if the Jets can beat the Colorado

Join Len for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Seattle excited to be in post season in second year of existence; Bruins Bergeron questionable for tonight; plus much more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19), right wing Jordan Eberle (7) and center Matty Beniers (10) celebrate after McCann’s goal during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Mon Apr 3, 2023 (AP News file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Marko:

#1 Just an amazing year for the Seattle Kraken (46-28-8) their second year in the league and they make post season. The Kraken open up a best of seven series against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night in Denver. The Kraken have some scorers Jared McCann 40 goals, Matty Beniers 24 goals, and Daniel Sprong 21 goals.

#2 Marko, talk about the Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron who might miss the first playoff game against the Florida Panthers tonight due to an upper body injury. The Bruins set the record for the most wins in NHL history with 65.

#3 The Colorado Avalanche Cale Makar and Josh Manson are expected to be in the line up against the Seattle Kraken Tuesday night in Denver. Makar didn’t skate on Sunday and has missed the last seven games of the season. Manson has missed the last 23 games of the season for the Avalanche.

#4 Minnesota Wild defenceman John Klingberg is in question for tonight’s game 1 against the Dallas Stars. Klingberg is suffering from a lower body injury in practice he sustained on Saturday. Wild head coach Dean Evason said that Klingberg had issues during practice. Klingberg looks like he’ll be a game time decision.

#5 Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nikolaj Ehlers skated on his own but did not practice with the team because of an upper body injury. Ehlers is also questionable for tonight’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Jets head coach Rick Bowness says that Ehlers is day to day and is being watched carefully during his skates.

Join Marko for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington: Rangers-Devils in Hudson Valley Rivalry; Pens fire top brass after missing playoffs; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils faceoff for round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 11 years in the “Hudson Valley Rivalry” the puck drops at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on Tue Apr 18, 2023 (AP News file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The “Hudson Valley Rivalry” the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils meet up for the first time in 11 years and it’s their seventh meeting in playoff history.

#2 The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years the Penguins missed the Stanley Cup. As a consequence the Pens fired their team president Brian Burke, general manager Ron Hextall, assistant general manager Chris Taylor all dismissed on Friday.

#3 Another team who didn’t reach the post season were the Washington Capitals who parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette who finished over three season with a 115-78-27 record.

#4 Matthew Barzal is expected back with the New York Islanders after missing the last 23 games of the regular season. Barzal will be in the line up in game 1 this coming Monday in Carolina against the Hurricanes.

#5 Talk about the Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid who were the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophies. McDavid led the NHL in points (153) and goals (64).

Join Matt for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt Harrington at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Wrap Rough Season With One Last Loss to Oilers 5-2

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks’ goalie James Reimer (47) is scored against by the Edmonton Oilers during second-period in Edmonton on Thu Apr 13, 2023 (Canadian Press via AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks season mercifully ended Thursday night in Edmonton, with the Sharks dropping a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the finale. San Jose can now finish as low as 29th in the overall standings pending the Columbus Blue Jackets result Friday night.

Erik Karlsson assisted to finish the year with an eye-popping 101 points on 76 assists and 25 goals. It would take some extreme mental gymnastics and talks about +/- and standings for him to not earn the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. Noah Gregor scored for a second night in a row and Steven Lorentz also lit the lamp for the Sharks (22-44-26).

The Oilers received goals from Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane and Mattias Janmark, last year’s money laundering trade target for the Sharks vis-a-vis a move to Vegas, scored two goals for the Oilers (50-23-9). Draisaitl also had a pair of assists and Connor McDavid was held to as many points (1) as goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Janmark scored his 9th of the year on a deflection 4:16 into the first period after Skinner played the puck from behind his own net to Mattias Ekholm. Ekholm, still in the Oilers end, fed the puck to Janmark going down the middle. While Janmark was originally turned away by a defensive poke check on a gritty net front swoop, he found his own rebound to beat James Reimer.

Leon Draistail scored an Oilers club record 89th power play goal on a backdoor tap-in, his 52nd goal of the year, at the 6:56 mark of the first for a 2-0 Edmonton lead. The goal was a combination from Draisaitl (128 points) and two other Century Club members Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (104 points) and not so much presumptive but guaranteed Hart favorite Connor McDavid (153).

Noah Gregor pulled the Sharks within one at 2-1 by driving the net on a Thomas Bordeleau’s rebound at the 9:44 mark, lighting the lamp for the 10th time this year in his hometown. Lorentz picked up the secondary assist for the first of two points on the night.

Bouchard put the Oilers up 3-1 after taking a Draisaitl no-look backhander in the home plate area for an easy slot chance at the 5:02 mark of the second period. Mattias Janmark scored a shorthanded goal against a tired Sharks power play unit with 4:56 left in the period to put the lead at 4-1.

The Sharks would get a power play goal back with 1:12 left in the period thanks to Lorentz’s 10th of the year assisted by Tomas Hertl and Karlsson, but that would be the last of their scoring for the 2022-23 season. Kane scored the dagger with just under 5 minutes left in regulation for the 5-2 final, adding insult to injury after getting away with a high stick that stunned Henry Thrun long enough for the Oilers forward to get into place for an easy goal.

The Sharks wrap up one of their worst seasons since the expansion days with the opportunity to possibly score a top-three (maybe even first overall) pick in the NHL Entry Draft this summer. First-year general manager Mike Grier will have his hands full this offseason with some decisions on players in long-term but cumbersome deals and limited cap space while hoping to supplement the young talent still learning the game like Thrun, Bordeleau and William Eklund with veterans who can contribute and fill key roles.

Also of question will be the netminding, with Kaapo Kahkonen being the only NHL goaltender under contract next season. Whether Erik Karlsson gets traded and whether the Sharks can land the top overall pick or another generational talent will dictate the competitive level of this team next season and in the years to come.

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Six NHL teams play a role in playoffs; Bedard sweepstakes continues tonight; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews will surely get a curtain call tonight as he plays his last NHL game of his career at the United Center in Chicago (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Tonight’s the night Len as six NHL teams play a role how other teams could vie for a shot at clinching the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars.

#2 Len, the Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews will play his final NHL game tonight at the United Center in Chicago against the Philadelphia Flyers. Towes is at the the end of his eight year $84 million contract and will turn 35 later this month.

#3 The Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin will be a game time decision tonight due to an upper body injury. Ovechkin missed the last three games and is looking to play in this final regular season of the season. The Capitals host the New Jersey Devils tonight.

#4 Len how unbelievable is it that the Pittsburgh Penguins have made post season for the last 16 consecutive season but this season will be the first time in those 16 years that they failed to make post season.

#5 The Connor Bedard sweepstakes is coming down to the wire. Bedard with the Regina Pats and a projected No.1 draft pick might be decided tonight. The Columbus Blue Jackets with the worse percentage in the NHL at .356 two teams are runners up w the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks both with a .358 percentage.

Join Len through the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for analysis and the NHL podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice

Kähkönen has Career Night But Sharks Burned By Wolf, Flames 3-1

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks forward Jacob Peterson (24) is checked by Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov during the first period in Calgary on Wed Apr 12, 2023 (Canadian Press via AP News photo)

by Matthew Harrington

Kaapo Kähkönen made 46 saves, Radim Simek picked up his second assist of the season and Noah Gregor scored his 9th goal of the season, but the San Jose Sharks fell to the Calgary Flames 3-1 Wednesday night in Calgary. Nikita Zadorov potted the hattrick for Calgary (38-27-17) in their first game since being eliminated from playoff contention and Gilroy native Dustin Wolf turned aside 23 Sharks shots to win his first NHL game.

Kähkönen set a career high in saves and shots against for the losing Sharks (22-43-16). He matched his high of 46 shots against once besides his second start of his career, the same game in which he made 44 saves to beat the Florida Panthers 4-2 as a member of the Minnesota Wild.

On Wednesday he saw 48 and stopped 46. Baffling, he was omitted in the Three Stars of the game in favor of a deserving Zadorov and Wolf and not so a debuting Matt Coronato who made his debut for Calgary and registered no points and four shots on goal and was +1.

Simek started the Sharks goal-scoring play by breaking up a play in the Sharks end then feeding a streaking Gregor with a pass through center ice. Gregor followed up his first attempt and got the rebound to Wolf’s right for his ninth goal of the year 10:26 into the first period.

Nine goals sets a new career high for Gregor who scored eight last year in 63 games. It was also Simek’s first assist since December 13th against Arizona and his third point overall in 43 games.

Zadorov tied the game after sneaking through the Sharks defense undetected. He took a pass from Andrew Mangiapane and buried it at the 13:36 mark of the second.

He added a wrist shot score 4:01 into the third for a Flames 2-1 lead, this time working through traffic. MacKenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri assisted on the game-winning goal.

While Zadorov netted the third goal on an empty netter, credit is due for the degree of difficulty. He hit the empty net from his own defensive end with a minute left in regulation for his 14th goal of what has been a career year.

The Sharks season wraps up Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The Sharks currently sit in 29th place with 60 points. The Blackhawks and Ducks have one game remaining and sit at 58 points while Columbus is clear three points of San Jose with two games left.

Karlsson reaches 100, Sharks lose to Jets 6-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates after his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Jacob Peterson (24) and Logan Couture (39) during third-period in Winnipeg on Mon Apr 10, 2023 (AP news photo)

by Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks fell to the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 Monday night in Manitoba, but the game will still go down in history. Erik Karlsson scored twice, eclipsing 100 points, the first 100 point season by a defenseman since Brian Leetch during the 1991-92 season.

When Karlsson’s point shot on the power play beat Connor Hellebuyck 3:42 into the 3rd period (as he has many other goalies this year) the Swede became the first European defenseman to pass the century mark. He has 25 goals and 75 assists, both career highs.

It goes without saying he’s the first Shark to have a 100 point season. His first goal also set a bit of Franchise history. Point 99 on a backdoor goal just 20 seconds into play was also the 2,000 franchise goal by a d-man. Logan Couture assisted for his 700th career point, all with San Jose, and Jacob Peterson had his seventh point in as many games.

While Karlsson has the 15th 100-point season by a defenseman, he’s the sixth defenseman to accomplish the feat. Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey combined to complete the feat 11 times while Al MacInnis, Dennis Potvin and Leetch accomplished the feat just once. All are hall of gamers, though MacInnis and Coffey did not win the Norris Trophy for best defenseman in at least one of their 100 point seasons.

The question will be whether Karlsson takes home his third Norris this year or if results like Monday’s push him down the line for a player like Adam Fox, Josh Morrissey or Charlie McAvoy (read: playoff bound and not 29th overall). Karlsson gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead but Pierre-Luc Dubois, Adam Lowry, Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton all scored to put San Jose down 4-1.

Karlsson scored again for the 100 milestone the aforementioned Morrissey scored his 16th of the year and Mark Schieffle scored his 44th on the power play. The Jets desperately needed the win to hold on to the last Wild Card spot with Calgary (90 points) and Nashville (88 points with games in hand) on their trail. Hellebuyck made 19 saves while the Jets fired 33 shots on James Reimer.

Two games remain on the Sharks schedule, one against playoff hopeful Calgary Wednesday night and the other against the lock Edmonton Oilers Thursday night. Should Karlsson score at a two-point-per-game clip he’d move into sole possession of the tenth best season by a defenseman, though Paul Coffey at nine (113 points) is out of reach. But perhaps a piece of hardware is in reach for EK65.

Final Home Game Shows An Example Of Whole Season As Sharks Lose To Oilers 6-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Jose Sharks right wing Adam Raska (57) poke checking Edmonton Oilers defenceman Phillip Broberg (86) at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Apr 8, 2023 Photo From San Jose Sharks Instagram

By Troy Ewers

It was the final game here at SAP for the 2022-2023 season and it was an example of what the whole year was for the San Jose Sharks (22-41-16). In the beginning of the game it seemed like the Sharks could keep up with their opponent, but by the end, the Edmonton Oilers (48-23-9) the better team would prevail 6-1 and the San Jose supporters would leave not as happy.

This game was just a final example of this pattern and if you don’t believe it was a pattern, the Sharks home record would beg to differ. 8-22-11 at the tank this season, the worst home record in franchise history. The SAP Center used to be a nightmare for opponents, because for years it was a true home ice advantage, between the energy of the fans and the players, teams would say “If you can’t shut them up in San Jose in the first ten minutes they won’t stop.”

The game itself today was exciting in the beginning with a sell out crowd filled with fans of both squads. The first period was back and forth display as the Oilers got on the board first from a goal by Nugent-Hopkins (Assisted by Hyman and McDavid, but two minutes later, the Sharks fired right back off a goal courtesy of Tomas Hertl with an assist from Jacob Petersen, who in pre game was the topic of discussion as one of the rising stars in San Jose.

The first period would end 2-1 when two minutes before the end of the period, Connor McDavid got his 63rd goal of the year and from this point on the game would only spiral out of the teal team’s control goal after goal. McDavid would get a second goal on the night, three points total, which means he leaves San Jose with a wild 151 points, even Coach Quinn says in his post game interview he’s “never seen a season like this.”

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would leave with 3 points as well (1 goal, 2 assists) and the rest of the points would come from Evan Bouchard (2 assists), Derek Ryan (1 goal,1 assist), Mattias Ekholm(1 assist), Zach Hyman (1 assist, 1 goal), Leon Draisaitl (1 assist), Warren Foegele (1 assist), and Phillip Broberg (1 goal).

The better question would be who didn’t get a point for Edmonton in this game and that’s Evander Kane , who every time when he touched the puck he received boos that could be heard through noise cancellation headphones, but he would walk away with last laugh as the final seconds ticked down and the game was over, Edmonton.

Both Hertl and Couture said in their post game interviews that they wish they could send the fans home happy, but in the end the result is the result. Next season everyone on this team is under evaluation and the future of this roster might have some big changes coming, but one thing remains the same for the San Jose Sharks, this team is even in its rebuilding stage is going to give you great moments and this season was no different.

Erik Karlsson putting on a historic season, Mike Greir’s inaugural season, Doug Wilson night, William Eklund’s first goal, and Patrick Marleau’s number being retired all were silver linings in a stormy San Jose season and as the off season approaches, the front office has a lot of questions to be answered.

The Sharks have three more games left all on the road in Canada in Winnipeg Sunday, in Calgary on Wednesday, and Thursday in Edmonton to conclude the 2022-23 season.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks host Oilers in final home game of 2022-23 today at SAP

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks broadcaster Drew Remenda (right) interviews on NBC Bay Area Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun (left) who had two assists in his first NHL period of his career on Sat Apr 1, 2023. The Sharks are expecting big things from Thrun for next season. (NBC Bay Area Sports file)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Troy:

#1 Troy final game of the home schedule for the Sharks they bring a 8-21-11 home record into today’s game at SAP Center. How much improvement will be needed over the off season to improve their home record for next season.

#2 Back on Mar 18th critics were surprised that William Eklund was sent down to the Sharks minor league affiliate the San Jose Barracuda. Later on Mar 31st it was announced Eklund would need shoulder surgery. The timing of his demotion turned out to be something the Sharks didn’t foretell with the shoulder injury.

#3 A week ago all the excitement was Henry Thrun who came on the scene with two assists in his first NHL period. The Sharks are expecting a lot of offensive production from Thrun who comes to the Sharks from the Anaheim Ducks that was quite a way to start out with San Jose.

#4 Sharks center Jacob Peterson hopes to put his stamp on the Sharks offense while he’s not the status of a Logan Couture or a Erik Karlsson so far he has two goals, three assists, in six games and the Sharks to get some good production out of him for next season.

#5 The Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers (47-23-9) today in this last home game of the season. The Oilers are one of the top teams in the Western Conference who could go deep in the post season with such top players with Connor McDavid 62 goals, Leon Drisaitl 51 goals, and Ryan Nugent Hopkins 36 goals.

Troy did the San Jose Sharks podcasts during the season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Flames-Jets knotted for second place in Wild Card; Kaprizov loss and how it impacts the Wild; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

It’s tightening up in the NHL Western Conference as the Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) and the Nashville Predators left wing Brian Dumoulin (8) battle. The Jets and Flames are tied in the wild card and the Predators are just a point behind both clubs (nhl.com file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames are tied for second place in the Wild Card in the Western Conference. The Nashville Predators are just one point behind the Jets and Flames. The Predators have one game in hand on the Flames. The Predators and Flames face off in Calgary on Monday night.

#2 Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov is expected back in the line up tonight at the XCel Energy Center in St Paul after missing 18 games with a lower body injury. Kaprizov was injured on Mar 8 when he was taken down by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley in a 4-2. The Wild missed Kaprizov in the line who lead the Wild 74 points, 39 goals and 35 assists.

#3 The Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and forward Darren Helm are out indefinitely due to lower body injuries both have missed two games in a row. Markar has missed nine games in a ten game stretch between Feb 9 to Mar 1.

#4 Matt talk about tonight’s game that has two winning teams the Vegas Golden Knights (49-22-8) and the Dallas Stars (43-21-14) taking a look at the high scorers for the Knights Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel both lead with 27 goals. For the Stars Jason Robertson 45 goals and Roope Hintz with 35 goals.

#5 Matt, how impressive is it for the Seattle Kraken to clinch for a playoff birth in the second year of their turn around. The Kraken have done something in their short existence that other teams would hope they could do. Also the Kraken have a great minor league team to pool from the very successful Coachella Valley Firebirds.

#6 Saw former Vancouver Canucks head coach Bob Boudreau on the NHL Network since leaving behind the bench for the Canucks in February talk about his coming back to the NHL Network and is this a happier place for him than working at the Canucks?

Join Matt for the NHL podcasts with Matt Harrington at http://www.sportsradioservice.com