Category: San Jose Sharks

Sharks Fall 4-1 to Maple Leafs

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 4-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena Friday. Toronto goals came from Jake Muzzin, Morgan Reilly, Ilya Mikheyev and Auston Matthews. Goaltender Frederik Andersen made 15 saves for the win. The lone Sharks goal was scored by Kevin Labanc, while goaltender Martin Jones made 24 saves in the loss. It was Patrick Marleau’s 1500th game as a Shark.

The Sharks had to kill five penalties in the game, and only had one power play. Captain Logan Couture talked about how the team handled this second game in two nights, and third in four days:

I thought we put ourselves in a position to win a game. Obviously too many penalties, but the kill was great, kept us in it. Joner made big saves when we had breakdowns on it. You’re gonna have nights like tonight when, you know, you’re not feeling it and you’re not getting much offensively. We were close to pulling out a point there. It’s tough we couldn’t get one but I liked our kill and I liked our defensive, I guess, desperation.

The penalty problem was something the Sharks had discussed before the game. Head Coach Peter DeBoer said:

I think we talked coming in, in 3 in 4 and a back-to-back, that we needed to do a few things and one of them was stay out of the penalty box. You know, you can’t, you got a little bit of a tired team, we took, what, five minors? It’s hard and I thought we ran out of gas in the third killing all those penalties. Made it tough on ourselves with the penalties.

Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon was asked about a hit he made on Auston Matthews during the game: “Obviously you want to be physical on the good players but I never want to see a guy get injured like that. I saw him leave, I was happy to see him come back in the third. Kinda said, you know, didn’t mean to catch him like that but at the same time, you know, you gotta be hard on those guys, they’re such good players.”

The Sharks started the scoring midway through the first period. Tomas Hertl made a quick play up the boards to Brent Burns at the blue line and Burns took a shot at the net. Kevin Labanc got a piece of it as it went in the net for his fourth of the season. Burns and Hertl got the assists.

Through the second period, the Sharks successfully killed two penalties but only managed three shots on goal. The score stayed 1-0 until the final minute of the second.

Jake Muzzin scored for Toronto with just 3 seconds left in the period. As Muzzin skated to the net, the puck came to him from the corner off of Jason Spezza’s stick. Assists went to Spezza and Ilya Mikheyev.

Toronto took the lead in the third period with a goal from Morgan Reilly at 14:31. William Nylander, Alexander Kerfoot and Cody Ceci entered the zone at speed, drawing the attention of the Sharks defense. Morgan Reilly trailed and Nylander found him as he came across the line. Reilly had also started the play with the first pass in the defensive zone.

Two more goals came from Ilya Mikheyev and Auston Matthews in the final minute of the third. Mikheyev’s goal was into an empty net, with and assist to Mitch Marner. Marner also got an assist on the Matthews goal.

The Sharks next play on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators at 4:00 PM PT.

Dell, Sharks win over Canadiens 4-2

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Photo credit: santacruzsentinel.com

By Pearl Allison Lo

The San Jose Sharks got back to winning behind two goals from Evander Kane, 35 saves from Aaron Dell and three assists from Tomas Hertl to beat the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell Thursday.

Kane, with three points, almost got a hat trick in the third. Dell’s 35 saves off 37 shots were the most saves and shots so far this season. Hertl had a season-high three assists.

It was the Sharks’ ninth straight win versus the Canadiens as they went back to their winning ways in terms of goals scored and given up.  

Special teams also shined with Kane’s goals both originating from the power play and San Jose stifling Montreal three times when they had the advantage.

The Sharks almost had the first goal for the second game in a row, but the goal was called back due to offsides in the form of Barclay Goodrow’s skate being up in the air.

 The Canadiens hence were the first to break through when San Jose was caught near the boards and Montreal was able to create a 2-on-1. Nick Cousins shot and the puck bounced back to him, where he was able to convert behind Dell. It was his first goal of the season and with the team at 16:36. 

 Undiscouraged, the Sharks got another chance when a questionable penalty was whistled against Shea Weber at 18:10. Logan Couture sent in a rocket that struck Kane’s skate as it entered the net while goalie Carey Price was out of position. This tied things up in the final minute of the first.

 At 4:53 of the second, Kane showed he was able to duplicate, scoring 33 seconds after another penalty. There was nothing questionable beforehand. Brent Burns sent in a blast that Hertl tried to make go in too and Kane was on the right side of the front porch again. 

San Jose subsequently went ahead 3-1 at 8:09. Labanc took the pass from Hertl and sliced the puck up to the net. 

Burns went into the box for holding at 13:25 and the Canadiens tried mightily. They had six shots during the man advantage, Cousins with the last shot and after time expired, Cousins was credited with three more shots as Dell was more than up to the task in net. He added, “We had the d-men clearing it out for me.” Dell did not show any rust with his last game in net October 10th. 

Melker Karlsson then got his first of the season, another goal in the last minute. It was the Sharks’ fourth goal in a row as Joe Thornton made the speedy pass. 

However, 21 seconds later, Montreal made themselves known as Joel Armia made it 4-2. He took a shot from Max Domi who was against the wall on his tape and raised the puck over Dell. Armia had been out the previous two games with a lower body injury. 

No goals were scored in the third but Couture called it their “best stretch of the game.” Price was removed with 2:15 to go and San Jose kept the score the same with a 6-on-4 disadvantage with 20.2 seconds left. 

Up Next: The Sharks will go for .500 when Marleau face his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Friday at 4 pm PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks get swept in home at home series by Buffalo with identical scores 4-3

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Photo credit: nbcsports.com

On the Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 For the second consecutive game in the home at home series between San Jose (3-5-1) and Buffalo (8-1-1), the San Jose Sharks lost by the same identical score 4-3 Tuesday night.

#2 The Sharks had a 2-0 lead after the first period, but the Sabers came roaring back with two goals in the second period to tie it up.

#3 It was a razor close game as the Sharks in the third period got a goal from Erik Karlsson at 11:27 to tie up the contest 3-3.

#4 In overtime, the Sabres’ Jack Eichel scored his sixth goal of the season at 3:13 for the game-winner.

#5 The Sharks continue this five-game road trip Thursday in Montreal. Len sets this game up.

Len does the Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Captain Jack leads Sabres past Sharks 4-3

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photo from The Buffalo News: Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates the game-winning goal with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) in overtime to beat the San Jose Sharks 4-3. James P. McCoy/Buffalo News

By Pearl Allison Lo

The Buffalo Sabres’ Jack Eichel led his team accordingly with two goals and four points in another 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks in overtime Tuesday. 

Casey Mittelstadt passed from one end to Rasmus Ristolainen in the other as the Sharks were changing, leaving Brent Burns outnumbered. It ended up being a rebound of a rebound as Eichel picked up Ristolainen’s shot, but then had to find the puck after he tried himself. The goal was the lone shot in overtime at 3:13 and was questioned after if the net came off and there was goaltender interference.  

Sharks captain Logan Couture on what happened earlier, 

The Sabres remained perfect at home as the Sharks were able to take a point in the first of a five-game road trip, thanks to San Jose goalie Martin Jones with saves in the beginning versus Jeff Skinner and near the end stopping Eichel for example. 

For the Sharks, Dylan Gambrell, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Erik Karlsson punched in their first goals of the season, Gambrell’s his first in the NHL. 

It was a rocky start for San Jose though, with defensive miscues and Jones needing to be solid. 

After racking up their goals in the final period last game, the Sharks built a 2-0 lead in the first. 

Gambrell tipped Karlsson’s shot from the point at 5:46. It was Karlsson’s seventh assist and fifth straight game with one. 

Patrick Marleau, with eyes up, found his person in Vlasic and made a perfect pass with Vlasic finishing the goal at 15:23. 

However, Buffalo scored three straight goals, including two in 76 seconds if you take out second intermission. 

Eichel broke through first with a power play goal 7:21 of the second. It broke up a 15-15 penalty kill by San Jose before then. Rasmus Dahlin added his ninth assist.  

With 31 seconds left in the second period, the Sabres evened up the match to two goals apiece. Sam Reinhart, standing in front of Jones and facing Ristolainen, tipped Ristolainen’s shot from the right faceoff circle. 

Skinner then gave Buffalo their first lead 45 seconds into the last period of regulation with his sixth goal of the year. 

Undaunted, San Jose, who outshot the Sabres 13-4 in the third, made it 3-3 at 11:27. Marleau tallied another apple, passing to Kevin Labanc, who saw Karlsson. 

Up Next: The Sharks went 0-for-2 on the power play. San Jose now heads to the home of Vlasic, Montreal, for a 4 pm game Thursday.  

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Spanish Broadcast at Hispanic Night in SAP Center

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San Jose Sharks photo of Amaury Pi-Gonzalez and Jesus Zarate.

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

For the second season in a row, the San José Sharks broadcasted in Spanish on Hispanic Night with Los Tiburones. Live broadcast on KIQI 1010AM/990AM, 10,000 Watts, 24X7X365 in San Francisco, Oakland, San José, Sacramento, Stockton and the Valley. Also, on SAP (Audio Channel), NBCSCA and social media outlets.

Sharks Lose 4-3 to Red Hot Sabres

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photo from sfgate.com: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark, right, reaches for the puck next to San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The Buffalo Sabres continued their hot start to the season with a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks Saturday. The win brings the Sabres record to 7-1-1. Buffalo goals came from Marcus Johansson, Casey Mittelstadt, Jeff Skinner and Zemgus Girgensons. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves in the win. Sharks goals came from Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and Marcus Sorensen. Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 31 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks forward Timo Meier said:

I think it was a good team game. We took some penalties that we probably shouldn’t have taken. It kind of took the rhythm out of our game, to kill off some penalties, and you know at the end, some energy that might miss. But overall, I think we played a pretty solid game. Like I said, too bad we didn’t come up on top but overall some stuff we can take out of this game.

Sharks Head Coach Peter DeBoer also thought the team played pretty well:

I liked their resiliency, I thought we battled all night. I thought our game was pretty good tonight. When I look at the seven or eight games we’ve played, that’s probably one of the better sixty minute efforts we got. Penalty kill did a good job, we got a power play goal. I thought we passed up some opportunities to shoot, you know, got a little cute around the net a few times. That might have been the difference.

The Sabres scored first at 12:10 of the first period. Henri Jokiharju carried the puck into the zone and made a drop pass to Marcus Johansson in the slot. Johansson took a shot just as Jokiharju passed in front of him. The puck went off of Jones and trickled across the line Assists went to Jokiharju and Marco Scandella.

The Sharks tied it on a power play at 16:00. With Marleau screening the goaltender, Timo Meier took a pass from Joe Thornton below the goal line. Meier’s quick shot went into the top corner for his second of the season. Assists went to Thornton and Erik Karlsson.

The Sabres took the lead back near the end of the second period when Casey Mittelstadt scored on a shot that was initially called a goal, then disallowed by the on-ice officials as being scored with a high stick. An official review reversed that reversal and called it a good goal. Assists went to Jokiharju and Jimmy Vesey.

The Sharks tied the game again 44 seconds into the third period on another power play. Erik Karlsson took a shot that went off of Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen. Tomas Hertl had taken a shot that rebounded out to Karlsson. Hertl and Evander Kane we both nearby when the puck went in but it did appear that Karlsson was the last Shark to touch it. Nevertheless, the goal went to Hertl with assists to Karlsson and Logan Couture.

Buffalo took their third lead of the game at 2:28 of the third with a goal from Jeff Skinner. Marcus Johansson tried to take a shot as he skated to the net but he didn’t get all of it and instead the puck slid slowly toward Martin Jones. Jones kicked it away but had come out too far to properly recover when puck went to his right. Skinner skated in behind him and was able to backhand the puck into the net for his fifth of the season. Assists went to Jake McCabe and Johansson.

The Sharks tied it again just 22 seconds later when Brent Burns’ blue line shot went off of Marcus Sorensen’s skate. The puck bounced over Ullmark’s leg and under his blocker.

Zemgus Girgensons scored the game winner at 12:15 of the period. Johan Larsson took a shot from above the face off circle. Martin Jones was set to stop it but it hit Kyle Okposo in the back instead of getting through to Jones. That created a rebound that Girgensons was able to pick up and shoot back in before Jones could find the puck. Assists went to Okposo and Larsson.

The Sharks will play the Sabres again in Buffalo on Tuesday at 3:30 PM PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks can hit .500 tonight in first of home at home series with Buffalo at SAP

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photo from sfgate.com: Buffalo Sabres’ Victor Olofsson (68) is defended by Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Iafallo (19) and Alec Martinez, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles.

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 After Evander Kane came back from his three game suspension he played like his hair was on fire or better said Kane beats the Canes almost like a one man wrecking crew scoring three goals for a first period hat trick in the San Jose Sharks 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes last Wednesday night at SAP Center.

#2 The 2019-20 season didn’t get off to a great start for the Sharks or Kane, the Sharks went 0-4 and Kane had been suspended for shoving a official for three games during a pre season game.

#3 Then there was the game in Chicago on Thursday 10th and the arrival of Patrick Marleau and the Sharks were back on track with a win. The Sharks haven’t looked back since now on a three game win streak and with a shot at getting to .500 tonight in the first of a home at home series against the Buffalo Sabers

#4 Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said that in making for a shortage of natural right wings using Patrick Marleau, on the right side with Logan Couture, and Timo Meier.

#5 The Sharks (3-4-0) like the Hurricane (6-3) will face another formidable team the Buffalo Sabers (6-1-1) will this game be looked at as another test for the Sharks and after handling one of the NHL’s best the Canes should this one go down as another team that the Sharks can handle on home ice?

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

Fast Start, Kane Hat Trick propel the Sharks past the Hurricanes, 5-2

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By Morris Phillips

SAN JOSE–NHL players don’t like heavy-handed opponents, over-officious officials, multiple-game suspensions or bad vibes.

But NHL players do like hat tricks. Just ask Evander Kane.

Kane saw his start to the 2019-20 season go from frustrating to exhilarating Wednesday as he produced the first, first period hat trick in San Jose history propelling the Sharks to a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. After four losses to start the season, the Sharks have a three-game winning streak, virtually erasing the doom-and-gloom enveloping the Shark Tank, a byproduct of their 0-4 start.

Kane personally ushered out the rough start, by redirecting Brett Burns’ pass into the net with 17 seconds remaining in the opening period. That secured his second-ever, three-goal game and put the Sharks in front, 3-1.

“Establishing our home ice here, especially with some of the days in between games was important. And getting leads early. That’s something we didn’t do when we lost four in a row. And playing with the lead and keeping it,” Kane said when asked about the team’s improvement over the last three games.

Kane missed the first three Sharks’ losses after he was suspended for bumping an official in the team’s final exhibition against the Golden Knights. Video of the incident shows Kane’s anger at the Knights’ Deryk Engelland accidentally morph into a brief push of referee Kiel Murchison as the winger attempted to free himself of Engelland and the intervening referee. By the strict interpretation of the NHL rule regarding contact with officials, Kane was guilty and the incident cost him $112,000 in salary.

“Talk about abuse of an official? How about abuse of a player? It’s an absolute joke,” Kane said.

Things were much more palatable Wednesday as Kane found himself the beneficiary of some nice setups near the goal, the final two on the power play, and the last a near perfect redirection of the puck to beat goalie James Reimer. Ironically, the Hurricanes hadn’t allowed more than three goals in a game all season before allowing Kane three in one period.

“The guys did a great job of getting pucks to the net,” said Kane unselfishly. “Our power play executed. It was nice to get it at home.”

The victory allowed the Sharks to escape the Pacific Division cellar as they leapfrogged the Coyotes and Kings. The Hurricanes failed to reach a 7-1 start for the first time in franchise history, but retained first place in the  Metropolitan Division at 6-2.

The schedule doesn’t ease for the Sharks, who host the first place Buffalo Sabres on Saturday before they open a four-game Eastern swing in Buffalo on Tuesday.

 

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks on two-game win streak, take on a successful Canes team tonight at SAP Center

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Photo credit: nhl.com/sharks

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks coming back from a three-game road trip that went 1-2 and after going 0-4 in the first four games got their legs and beat the Chicago Blackhawks for their first win of the season on Thursday, October 10th, but it was the addition of Patrick Marleau that seemed to change the mood in the dressing room.

#2 What were some of the vast improvements you saw after Marleau’s return to the Sharks?

#3 In the game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday night, the Sharks got goals from Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, and Tomas Hertl and got some great goaltending from Martin Jones, who stopped 30 out of 31 shots for the win.

#4 It’s been only two wins, but in those two wins, the Sharks looked like a different team after losing their first four games.

#5 The Sharks host the Carolina Hurricanes (6-1-0) Wednesday night at SAP Center. How much of a test would you say this game will be as the Sharks take on a very talented Canes team?

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

Sharks Put Out the Flames to Win 3-1

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sfgate.com photo: San Jose Sharks center Dylan Gambrell, top, reaches for the puck behind Calgary Flames left wing Andrew Mangiapane during the third period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 at the SAP Center Sunday. It was San Jose’s first home win of the season. Sharks goals came from Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc, and Tomas Hertl. Martin Jones made 30 saves for the win. Elias Lindholm scored the lone goal for Calgary. Cam Talbot made 17 saves for the Flames.

The final score drew an eerie parallel to Patrick Marleau’s last regulation home game as a Shark in 2017, which was also against Calgary and was also a 3-1 Sharks victory. Though Marleau did not score Sunday, it is hard to ignore the impact his return has had on the team. After the game, Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said:

I don’t think it’s an accident that we’ve won the last two and he’s been in the lineup. I think that’s a piece for sure. He just plays the right way, he does the right thing when he’s out on the ice, you know, all the time. It’s really helped solidify our lineup a little bit.

That solidification is evident to the players as well. Team captain Logan Couture said:

I thought Dylan Gambrell has played two really really good games now in a row. That’s something that we need. He’s been given an opportunity and I think these last few games he’s shown what he’s capable of. So, when we have that line playing well and the other three rolling over, we’re a tough team to beat.

The Sharks took an early 1-0 lead with a goal from Timo Meier at 3:04. Logan Couture carried the puck in around the Calgary defense and then paused at the red line before finding Meier right in front of the net. Assists went to Couture and Patrick Marleau.

San Jose added to their lead at 10:13 when Kevin Labanc skated through the neutral zone, handed the puck off to Tomas Hertl at the blue line, then got it back as he went flying into the zone. His wrist shot beat Cam Talbot glove side. Assists went to Hertl and Erik Karlsson.

Each team took one penalty and killed one in the first period. Calgary outshot San Jose by 11-6.

Calgary got one back at 6:43 of the second period. Calgary won an offensive zone draw and got the puck right to TJ Brodie at the blue line. He gave the ice a quick look and then took a shot right up the middle. Elias Lindholm tipped it mid-slot and past Jones glove side. Austin Czarnik was screening Jones until the lest second. An assist went to Brodie.

The Sharks reclaimed their two-goal lead at the end of the second period with a short-handed goal from Tomas Hertl. Brent Burns was in the box for tripping Michael Frolik. Logan Couture cut off a Calgary pass in the defensive zone, carried the puck all the way to the Calgary zone, then found Hertl just as he came into the zone. Hertl took a quick shot past Talbot for his first of the season.

Each team took a penalty in the second period, but neither scored on the power play. The teams were tied with 11 shots each in the second.

Calgary pulled their goaltender with almost three minutes to go in the game but could not alter the score. The final shot count was 33-20 Calgary.

The Sharks next play on Wednesday in San Jose against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes at 7:30 PM PT.