Category: NHL

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Red Wings Soderblom scores in first NHL game; Bolts top CBJs 5-3 plus much more news

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The Detroit Red Wings Eric Soderblom (85) seen here battling with the Montreal Canadiens in Little Casers Palace in Detroit on Fri Oct 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt the Detroit Red Wings Eric Soderblom scored in his NHL debut as the Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 in Detroit on Friday night. It was the first win for Red Wing coach Derek LaLonde and goaltender Ville Husso saved 29 shots in the shutout.

#2 Tough loss for the Columbus Blue Jackets Johnny Gaudreau in his home debut as Gaudreau and Gustav Nyquist both scored but the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning were too much with goals scored by Steve Stamkos scoring twice, Corey Perry and Ross Colton scoring a goal each in the Lightning’s 5-3 win.

#3 You know it’s hockey season in Winnipeg when the fans loose their minds on opening night and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Conner Hellebuyck puts a stop on 40 shots at the Jets net to hold off the New York Rangers 4-1 on Friday night. The Jets Mark Scheifele scored twice and Shane Gagner and Kyle Connor each had a goal for the Jets in the win.

#4 Matt, have to ask you what was it like to see the Carolina Hurricanes Brent Burns in different uniform other than the San Jose Sharks Friday night at SAP Center and what kind of an reception did he get before the game and Sharks TV broadcaster was sworn in as a US Citizen after waiting some 40 years?

#5 Some of hockey’s top stars say that the Toronto Maple Leafs Austin Matthews can score 60 goals again this season says the Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane and the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin.

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

Late goal gives Hurricanes 2-1 decision over winless Sharks

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Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) scores against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) during the third period on Fri Oct 14, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Friday, October 14, 2022

Sebastian Aho’s goal with less than two minutes remaining in the third period lifted the Carolina Hurricanes past the San Jose Sharks 2-1 Friday at SAP Center.

The Hurricanes are undefeated in their first two games of the NHL season, while San Jose is 0-3. This was the first game of a five-game road trip for Carolina, all of them against Pacific Division opponents.

Aho scored his first goal of the season at 18:02 of the third period, with Brett Pesce and Teuvo Teravainen each collecting their first assists. Aho worked his way to the slot and converted a re-direct off his skate from Pesce’s shot from the point.

The Hurricanes tied the game at 19:37 of the second period on Martin Necas’s second goal of the season, assisted by Andrei Svechnikov.

Evgeny Svechnikov opened the scoring for San Jose with his first goal of the season and his first as a Shark, coming at 17:48 of the first period. Jaycob Megna and Erik Karlsson had the assists.

James Reimer stopped 33 of 35 shots he faced in the Sharks’ goal, while Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta faced 19 shots, with 18 saves.

San Jose had 11 penalty minutes, including five by Noah Gregor for fighting with the Hurricanes’ Stefan Noesen in the third period. Noesen also received a 5-minute visit to the penalty box.

The other Sharks penalties were drawn by Radim Simek (tripping, closing hand on the puck) and Luke Kunin (hooking).

Former Shark Brent Burns was a plus-1 in 23 minutes of ice time. Burns spent the previous 11 seasons with San Jose.

The Sharks’ quest for their first win continues Saturday night when they host the winless Chicago Blackhawks. Opening faceoff at SAP Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks host ex-Shark Burns and Hurricane tonight in opener at SAP

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Brent Burns (right) of the Carolina Hurricanes will be skating against his old teammates the San Jose Sharks tonight at the SAP Center in San Jose in the Sharks home opener (photo by the Carolina Hurricanes)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 Len, opening night at SAP Center as Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes come calling to face the the San Jose Sharks. Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson says it should be fun facing Burns again.

#2 Burns had been a Sharks for such a long time 11 seasons 2011-2022 it’s hard to believe he spent that long with the club.

#3 Burns had been traded to the Hurricanes in a money saving effort Len what impact does it have on the Sharks not having Burns around anymore?

#4 Len, Timo Meier has a undisclosed injury and Mario Ferraro missed practice with Meier and head coach David Quinn said both players are dealing with upper body issues and they might play tonight against the Hurricane. Also Alexander Barbonov is recovering from an injury. Scott Harrington and Noah Gregor could be replacements.

#5 The Sharks are playing back to back games at SAP to open the season tonight agianst the Hurricane and Saturday night against the Chicago Blackhawks just to get a preview from you on how you see these two teams matching up?

Join Len for the Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Hertl pumped scoring in hometown Prague not enough Sharks lose twice to Predators; Flames Weegar signs 8 yr deal for $50 million; plus more

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Calgary Flames MacKenzie Weegar signed a new contract with the Flames for eight years for $50 million (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, we’ll lead off with the NHL Global Series where game one was concluded Friday in a 4-1 loss and then the Sharks took another tough loss in a squeaker 3-2 on Saturday. The biggest thrill was when the Sharks Tomas Hertl scored San Jose’s lone goal on Friday in front of Hertl’s hometown fans in Prague.

#2 28 year old defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to a big eight year handshake from the Calgary Flames signing on for $50 million. Weegar is in the final year of his three year deal with the Flames and the Flames wanted to go out and make sure they could secure his services.

#3 Elsipogtog First Nation celebrated the NHL pre season game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators which drops the puck this Saturday at J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche. Matt this will be probably the only time the Elsipogtog First Nation will be an opportunity to see the Stanley Cup up close and in person. The First Nation gets to enjoy Hockeyville and NHL hockey atmosphere.

#4 Matt, Jordan Staal is looking for contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Canes general manager Don Waddell says he’s confident he can get a deal with Staal. Staal is in the final year of his ten year $60 million contract.

#5 The Dallas Stars Jason Robertson signed on for a four year $31 million contract. In 2021-22 Robertson had 41 goals, 38 assists, 79 points, and a plus 16 Rating. Looks like the Stars and Robertson got a good deal on both ends.

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

Sharks Drop 2nd From Prague to Preds 3-2

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Luke Kunin second from right celebrates a goal scored in the second period it was Kunin’s first NHL goal this one coming against the Nashville Predators on Sat Oct 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks will be making the transatlantic flight home with lifelong memories and the experiencing of playing hockey in two World capitals. They will not, however, be returning with any points in yow after falling to Nashville 3-2 in Prague Saturday night. The Sharks went winless in both contests of the Global Challenge Series against the Predators.

Luke Kunin converted on the power play for his first goal in teal and Logan Couture scored his first of the campaign, but Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Filip Forsberg potted a goal for the victory. Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves, holding off a late Sharks push for the two points.

The Sharks held a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes thanks to Kunin knocking in a loose puck at the net front with 5:36 left in the frame, but Nashville outscored San Jose 3-1 in the middle frame.

Niederreiter beat Kaapo Kähkönen 4:35 into the second on a snap shot for his second goal against thr Sharks this season. Logan Couture answered right back on the next faceoff, beating Lankinen of a feed from Steven Lorentz ten seconds later for a 2-1 lead. Mario Ferraro also assisted on the goal, his second apple after picking up the secondary assist on Kunin’s goal as well.

The lead was short lived with Forsberg scoring on a wrap around chance the hit off Kähkönen’s pad below the goal line and up and in the net at the 6:29 mark. Niederreiter added his second at the 12:13 mark of the frame for a 3-2 edge. Kähkönen made 15 saves on 18 shots.

The Sharks pushed late, putting 15 shots on goal in the third while allowing only three, but Lankinen turned aside all comers to seal the win for Nashville.

San Jose look to give their coach and general manager their first wins Friday night when they open the season at home. They’ll be facing Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes after an offseason swap.

They’ll then play another rare Friday-Saturday back-to-back when the Chicago Blackhawks come to town Saturday night. The Sharks will be honoring former captain and general manager Doug Wilson that night.

Notes: Steven Lorentz and Oskar Lindblom picked up their first points as members of the Sharks, while Kunin scored his first goal after an offseason trade brought him over from Nashville…the Sharks won the faceoff battle a second night in a row, taking 50.7 percent of the draws…Evgeny Svechnikov and Jaycob Megna drew in for the Sharks, replacing Scott Harrington and Noah Gregor from the opening game lineup…San Jose wore their all teal uniform set as the designated home team, meaning fans have now seen both sets with the Sharks wearing their white sweaters Friday.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks closing out pre season with NHL Global Series in Prague

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San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier (28) and Nashville Predators’ Matt Duchene (95) battle for the puck as the Sharks Tomas Hertl (48) looks on in the background on Apr 12, 2022 in Nashville. The teams meet in Prague for the NHL Global Series starting Fri Oct 7, 2022 (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the Sharks open up the season in Prague today and Saturday with back to back games against the Nashville Predators. This Global Series means a lot Czech Republic to have NHL hockey play there.

#2 Tomas Hertl said after missing a third straight post season he now gets to play in front of his hometown fans in Prague and he’ll be pushing hard to win those two games.

#3 Hertl got a chance to practice in front of the Prague crowd who was cheering him on. It meant a lot to him.

#4 Len talk about the goaltenders competing for a starting spot can you break them down? There’s James Reimer, Kaapo Kahkonen and Aaron Dell.

#5 Len talk about the Sharks head coach David Quinn whose hoping to get this team started on a good note this season.

#6 Len talk about the Sharks shoot first mentality, all defencemen how they dividy up the time.

Join Len for the Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Hertl Scores in Hometown, Sharks Lose Opener 4-1

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San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl is exuberant after scoring in front of his hometown crowd in Prague but it would end up being San Jose’s only goal of the game. As the Sharks drop game one to the Nashville Predators in the NHL Global Series on Fri Oct 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

There was a storybook moment but no happy ending for the San Jose Sharks Friday in Prague with the Sharks losing the season opener 4-1 to the Nashville Predators. Tomáš Hertl scored playing in front of his hometown crowd at O2 Arena, but San Jose couldn’t pick up a win in the first game under new general manager Mike Grier and head coach David Quinn.

Nashville took an early lead with Kiefer Sherwood 8:36 deflecting a puck past Sharks netminder James Reimer 1:01 into play. Hertl responded just by beating Nashville goalie Juuse Saros on a scrambling play 8:36 into the first period. Hertl, Timo Meier and former Pred-turned-Shark Luke Kunin (an assist apiece on the play) all put in yeoman’s work at around the crease and in the corners on the shift, fighting for and winning the loose puck battles to create the chaos for hometown Hertl.

Eeli Tolvanen scored the game-winner on another early strike, this time 1:24 into the 2nd period and Nino Niederreiter lit the lamp with 4:46 left in the period to give Nashville a 3-1 lead. Matt Duchene potted the empty netter with 32 seconds left to finish of the scoring.

The Predators outshot the Sharks by a slim 32-31 margin and neither team capitalized on the four power play opportunities each team received. The Sharks did however score in the seconds after a penalty.

The Sharks have a chance at leaving Prague with a happy (long) flight as they wrap up the 2022 Global Challenge Series with another showdown with Nashville Saturday night. San Jose is expected to tap Kaapo Kähkönen in net while the Predators will most likely choose between one of Connor Ingram or Kevin Lankinen.

Notes: The Sharks won the faceoff battle 36-30 with Nico Sturm winning 7 of 9 faceoffs…Newcomer Luke Kunin was the Sharks leader among forwards in TOI, playing 21:23 including a whopping 3:52 on the penalty kill…As expected, youngsters William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau were not in Quinn’s Sharks lineup… Marc-Edouard Vlasic played 20 minutes in the season opener after playing 20+ minutes only three times last season…Jonah Gadjovich picked up the Sharks first fighting major of the year, dropping the gloves with Mark Borowiecki in the second period… Alex Barabanov was not in the lineup as he continues to recover from an injury, while Sturm drew in after missing out on playing in his home country against Eisbären Berlin on Wednesday…Markus Nutivaara also remained out.

Sharks Ice Eisbären 3-1 In Berlin

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The San Jose Sharks preparing during the morning skate before their match up against Deutsche Eishockey Liga side Eisbaren in Berlin in the NHL Global Series Challenge on Tue Oct 4, 2022 at Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin (@SanJoseSharks photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks topped Deutsche Eishockey Liga side Eisbären Berlin 3-1 Tuesday night from Mercedes Benz Arena in their final exhibition tuneup before Friday’s season opener. Steven Lorentz, Tomáš Hertl and Luke Kunin scored for the Sharks and James Reimer and Kaapo Kähkönen combined to make 18 saves to wrap up the exhibition side of the Global Series Challenge.

The Sharks actually found themselves trailing halfway through the game when Giovanni Fiore beat Kähkönen with 7:50 left in the 2nd. Hertl and Timo Meier played give-and-go with Meier threading a perfect backhand pass from below the goal line to Hertl. Hertl knocked in the gimme shot for his first goal of the preseason.

The Sharks potential fourth line stepped up for the game winning goal after Jonah Gadjovich buried a Berlin skater on a Lorentz dump in. Evgeny Svechnikov sauced the loose puck to Erik Karlsson at the point with an open look. Lorentz buzzed the night, redirecting the point shot for a 2-1 lead with 2:14 left in the middle period.

Kunin iced the game with a short-handed dagger with 8:04 left to play. Mario Ferraro rimmed the puck along the boards behind his own net on a clear that reached an open Kunin crossing center ice. Kunin caught the puck, turned and streaked down the left wing before potting his 3rd goal of the preseason.

Up next for San Jose is the 2022-23 season and an 11 AM Friday showdown with the Nashville Predators. The teams are playing a pair of games at O2 Arena in Hertl’s hometown, Prague, Czechia.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Lets face it money was the reason why Czech Republic relented on Russian players; plus more NHL headlines

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Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin skates against the St Louis Blues in Nashville on Sun Apr 17, 2022. The Czech Republic previously wrote a letter banning all NHL Russian players because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Republic withdrew the ban on Thursday allowing Trenin plus two other Russian players San Jose Sharks Alexander Barabonov and Evgeny Svechinkov who will now be permitted to play the opening season games in Prague on Oct 7th and 8th. (AP News file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The idea of having a ban on NHL Russian players by the Czech Repbulic was wrong in the first place but the reason why the Republic changed it’s mind was simply money. The banning of Russian players would mean the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators wouldn’t travel without their Russian players and the real losers would be the Czech fans and the Republic.

#2 As reported by our San Jose Sharks correspondent Pearl Lo in Anaheim on Friday Anaheim Ducks defenceman Urho Vaakanainen who was taken off the ice on a stretcher, Matt describe how Vaakanainen got the injury and how scary that moment was.

#3 A large donation from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Hurricane Ian relief efforts to the tune of $2 million. Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and the Bolts are making all efforts to help out in the cause. $1 million will come from the Lightning and another $1 million will come from the Vinik Family Foundation.

#4 The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Jake Allen to a two year $7.7 million contract extension Saturday. Allen will receive an average of $3.85 million per year which runs till the end of the 2023-24 season. Allen was 9-20-4 with a 3.30 goals goals against average with two shutouts in 35 games last season.

#5 The good news came for the Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Courturier when it was learned that he will not need surgery for an upper body injury. Courturier is under observation from the Flyer medical staff since camp opened up in September Courturier has been under observation.

Join Matt for the SJ Sharks podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Split SquadTunes Up Vegas 7-3

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San Jose Sharks defenceman Matt Benning (5) and right winger Timo Meier (28) celebrate after a goal at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas against the Vegas Golden Knights on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matt Harrington

A split-squad contingent of the San Jose Sharks topped the Vegas Golden Knights 7-3 at T-Mobile Arena Friday night in Las Vegas. Danil Gushchin had a hat trick and Erik Karlsson, Matt Benning, Jonah Gadjovich and Luke Kunin also scored.

James Reimer made 27 saves and Timo Meier dished out four assists. Karlsson scored his first of the preseason 6:26 into the game with Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier picking up the assists. Vegas Answered back with 1:30 left in the frame on Jack Eichel’s second goal of the preseason.

Gushchin scored his first of the game and second of the preseason on the power play 5:35 into the second period. Benning and Gadjovich also scored for three unanswered goals until Reilly Smith’s power play goal with 6:26 pulled Vegas within two at 4-2.

Gushchin restored a three-goal lead just over two minutes later.Eichel’s second goal of the game 51 seconds into the third made it 5-3 but Gushchin’s third goal and a Luke Kunin power play goal with 8:12 left completed the scoring. San Jose’s power play converted on both chances.

Up next for the Sharks is an exhibition against German Leauge side Eisbären Berlin October 4th in Berlin then the season opener Friday against Nashville in Prague.