Barracuda snap losing streak against Gulls with 3-2 victory

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Photo credit: @sjbarracuda

By Marko Ukalovic

The San Jose Barracuda (18-16-0-2) were finally able to take some revenge in their house of horrors known as the Valley View Casino Center as they escaped with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Gulls (20-16-1-0). They snapped their nine-game losing streak in San Diego. It was their first regular season regulation win in San Diego since November 14th, 2015.

After allowing San Diego to score two unanswered goals in the third period to tie the score, the Barracuda didn’t take long to regain the lead. The tie would last just 16 seconds as Brandon Mashinter would get a gift from San Diego’s Brian Cooper whose backhanded attempt to clear the puck went right to Mashinter and he fired a shot in one motion past Gulls goalie Reto Berra (9-6-0) who wasn’t expecting the shot. The unassisted goal was his seventh goal on the season at the 5:38 mark to give the Barracuda a 3-2 lead.

San Jose took control of the first period as they outshot San Diego 18-8. Captain John McCarthy created one of the many scoring chances for the Barracuda when he created a turnover in the Gulls zone, but his shot was stopped by Berra. Barracuda goalie Antoine Bibeau (11-7-0) matched Berra a short time later making a nice save on a point blank shot attempt by Nic Kerdiles.

The Barracuda would cash in when Danny O’Reagan blasted a shot on goal that was stopped by Berra that created a rebound and a mad scramble in front of the net. Defenseman Redim Simek raced in from the blue line and scored his third goal on the season on a bang bang play snapping a shot past Berra at the 8:15 mark. Simek got off a big schneid as that was his first goal in the last 23 games. Filip Sandberg also received an assist on the play. It was the first time San Jose had a lead at the Valley View Casino Center this season.

In the second period, the Gulls controlled play as they put pressure on the Barracuda early in the period. Bibeau made a brilliant save on Kerdiles five minutes into the frame. San Diego forced the Barracuda in taking consecutive penalties just moments before the midway point through the period.

However, Marcus Sorensen would turn the tables on the league-leading Gulls power play when he scored a short-handed goal on a 2-on-1 break with O’Reagan. Simek joined the play and took a pass from O’Regan, but his shot attempt was blocked. Sorensen was able to corral the puck and snipe it past Berra for his sixth goal of the season at 8:49 mark of the second period for a 2-0 lead.

In the third period, the Gulls would breakthrough early as they were able to keep the puck inside the Barracuda zone after a failed clearing attempt. Kevin Roy came on a fresh line change and was able to snap home a shot past Bibeau for his seventh goal of the season at the 3:26 mark. Dennis Rasmussen and Julius Nattinen assisted on the goal.

Roy would score again just under two minutes later and tied the game on the power play at the 5:22 mark after putting home a rebound off a mad scramble in front of the net after a shot hit off the crossbar. Roy was able to beat Barracuda defenseman Paul Martin to the puck and net his eighth goal of the season.

The Gulls had a goal waved off by Kalle Kossila with 3:50 left in the third period as the referees ruled the puck never crossed over the line. They had a chance to tie the game late in the game when Simek went into the sin bin for tripping with three minutes left and had a 6-on-4 advantage when they pulled Berra for an extra attacker, but could not get the equalizer.

Bibeau earned his 11th victory of the season on 27 shots on 29 shots. It was his third straight win. Berra took the loss on 43 saves on 46 shots.

GAMES NOTES: The game was chippy throughout the game with lots of post whistle scrums. San Jose’s Brandon Bollig and San Diego’s Ryan White exchanged fisticuffs in the first period. San Jose went 0/3 on the power play, while San Diego was 1/5.

UP NEXT: The two teams will do it all over again on Saturday night from Valley View Casino Center. Faceoff is at 7pm.

That’s Amaury’s News And Commentary: Baseball–Pitch Clock Likely This Season, Robots In The Horizon

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Photo credit: @sportingnews

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Since MLB commissioner Rob Manfred took over for Commissioner Bud Selig, his main mission has been the speed of the game and how to move the game at a faster pace. Manfred could implement a variety of pacing measures during this 2018 season.

The 20-second pitch clock is perhaps the most notable. They’ve already been experimenting with a 22-second clock in the minor leagues. If this rule goes into effect in the Major Leagues, a pitcher would be charged with a ball, and if he takes more than 20 seconds between pitches, there will be only one warning per game on this. Hitters will have a 30-second timer between batters, and if they take longer than that, they will be charge with a strike.

I could see down the line, some argument when a hitter keeps fouling pitches on a 3-2 count, it takes too long to come to a decision that maybe done by the all-popular today “algorithms.” Algorithms can perform calculation, data processing and automated reasoning tasks. An algorithm is an effective method that can be expressed within a finite amount of space and time and in a well-defined formal language for calculating a function.

There are other rules in the oven such as a second mound visit to a pitcher in the same inning that must result in the removal of that pitcher from the game, the control of the amount of time between innings, and the number and length of pitching warm-ups. However, the last one is not coming this season.

On Thursday, MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported that the MLB Players Association rejected the league’s most recent proposal of pace-of-play rules, which was a revised version of an initial proposal submitted last year, addressing the players concerns with the original.

However, after the union’s rejection of this revised proposal, MLB could still implement the original rules changes; even if the MLB Players Union do not agree with it. During the last off-season the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) gave the MLB the right to do so.

Before we get lost in the “legal matters” here, both sides: Manfred and the MLPA will continue negotiating all this stuff next week, and only God knows where it will end. Just remember the MLPA is one of the strongest unions in the country.

People should relax here. It is not basketball, it is baseball, the game was meant to be the way it is. Too bad this generation needs something to happen every 10 seconds because baseball is not like that. This is exactly what happens when non-baseball people are running the game. Maybe soon you will be able to play a game of baseball on Twitter and be done in a couple of minutes with 280 characters.

I can see in the future where they would like to find a way to “end” a hitter that has a 3-2 count on a pitcher, and keeps fouling pitch after pitch, after pitch…which would take too long. Maybe if he fouls 10-12 pitches he would be awarded first base automatically, since the pitcher obviously could not “put him away.” Those who like the OBP (On Base Percentage) will be delighted with this rule.

Umpires are bound to become extinct from the game of baseball as robots are already taking over our labor force, some fast food places already have robots handing food and you can easily order without a human in sight. Or you can always tell Alexa to do something for you, while your robot sweeps your house.

Man invented computer and computer could be its demise. I think I saw a movie with that script. Since baseball is traditionally slow to change, chances are that by the time baseball is ran by computers, the whole world is already slaved by technology. When that happens it will be a “One World Government.”

Hold on now…I can already hear the Home plate Robot saying: P-l-a-y B-a-l-l…the same voice that says PlayStation.

San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len Sharpiro: Sharks can hear footsteps of the Avalanche, Flames and Kings in the NHL Standings

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Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports: The Colorado Avalanche’s Carl Soderberg take at the net on Thursday night at the Pepsi Center to score his 10th goal of the season against the visiting San Jose Sharks.

On the San Jose Sharks Podcast with Len:

  1. Colorado Avalanche, who picked up their eighth straight win, defeated the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night 5-3. The Avs were mighty coming out of the gate, but almost faltered in holding off the Sharks late in the game.
  2. The Aves scored three goals to open the game in the first period as Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in the period for his 20th and 21st goals of the season. Carl Soderberg added one goal in the period for his 10th of the year.
  3. In the second period, the Sharks regrouped and held the Avalanche to just a goal but were down by three goals going into the third period
  4. The Sharks outshot Colorado 38-13, making a valiant effort to try and catch the Avs. The Sharks’ Marc Edouard Vlasic scored his sixth goal and Joe Thornton got his 12th, but fell short losing by two goals 5-3.
  5. The Sharks come home Saturday night to host the Pittsburgh Penguins at SAP Center. Len talks about the preview of this game.

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

 

Sports Headlines with London Marq: Could CTE have played a role in Washington State quarterback Tyler Hillinski’s suicide?

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Washington State Cougars quarterback Tyler Hilinski died by suicide on Tuesday

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with London:

Tyler Hillinski was 21 when he took a rifle shot himself last Tuesday in his Washington State University apartment in Pullman. It would be for those who survive the Washington State quarterback a mind altering experience knowing someone who was your starting quarterback and the next moment he’s dead of an self afflicted gun shot wound. When Hillinski didn’t show up for practice someone was sent to go find him. He was found in his apartment already deceased.

The next question is why? Why would an aspiring Pac 12 quarterback who was the heir apparent to starting the job next season for the Cougars and had the world as his oyster do himself in? The answers some speculate might be that he had CTE post concussion syndrome. The same kind of set back that some other athletes in the pros, minors and colleges have been diagnosed with that had committed suicide. On this edition of Sports Headlines London Marq, Michael Duca, Charlie O, Ana Kieu and Jordan Chapin take a look at why did Tyler Hillinski commit suicide.

London Marq is a Stanford Cardinal beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sportstalk Podcast at Sauced BBQ Restaurant Downtown Sacramento: Thu Jan 18, 2018

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yelp!.com photo: Sauced BBQ Restaurant downtown Sacramento site of Sportstalk remote Thu Jan 18, 2018

Cast Michael Duca (host), Charlie O (Sacramento Kings beat reporter), London Marq (Stanford Cardinal reporter),Ana Kieu (USA Today), Jordan Chapin (Sacramento Kings reporter and photographer), and Lee Leonard (producer). Podcasting from the lively and the very best in Bar B Que Sauced BBQ Restaurant at 1028 7th Avenue in downtown Sacramento next to Golden One Center home of the Sacramento Kings. Today’s coverage the Kings, Golden State Warriors, headline news on the NBA and other sports headlines.

Our thanks to our hosts at Sauced BBQ Kevin Shaw General Manager, Kristina Wulff Director of Brand Development, Kyle Woodfill Regional Director of Kitchen Operations. Sauced BBQ wants to remind everyone Wow, we are so excited to have the opportunity to bring authentic BBQ to Northern California. Our goal here is always to provide excellent food, great drinks, and an unmatched Southern charm and ambiance. We want every one of our guests to become a part of our extended family and walk out of here with a memorable experience and a full stomach. Be careful what you wish for though…our family is CRAZY!!!

Bernier spoils Sharks’ comeback; Avalanche top Sharks 5-3 for eighth win in a row

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~ Photo credit: Colorado Avalanche

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The San Jose Sharks came to within one from three goals down, but the Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier stymied power play attempts and what not to preserve a 5-3 win at Pepsi Center on Thursday.

San Jose made it 4-3 at 4:53 of the second and had two power plays after that, but former Shark Matt Nieto gave Colorado extra change at 16:46. Blake Comeau gathered the loose puck in the neutral zone, turned around along the boards and passed to Nieto. Nieto’s shot went in and off the post before Martin Jones’ right pad could get back.

With an empty net, San Jose got their seventh power play at 19:01, but ran out of time.

Bernier finished with 45 saves in helping his team to an eight-game winning streak. He withstood the Sharks’ shot advantages of 17-7 in the second and 21-6 in the third. San Jose’s ineffectual power play went 1-for-7.

The Avalanche’s speedy Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, teammate Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists, Nieto had an assist, and Comeau had two assists.

The Sharks’ Marc-Edouard Vlasic had a goal and assist and teammates Joe Thornton had a goal and Kevin Labanc had two assists. MacKinnon now has 17 points during Colorado’s win streak with seven goals and 10 assists.

San Jose, winners of three in a row, trailed 3-0 as Colorado continued their leading trend with a barrage of goals in the first.

MacKinnon scored two goals in under a minute–the second on a power play–to make it 2-0 by 8:01. The first came when he scored through Marc-Edouard Vlasic’s legs, Gabriel Landeskog then Rantanen touching the puck first in the opposite end. The second came around the horn from Rantanen and then Samuel Girard, as MacKinnon rocketed the puck between Jones’ left arm and left pad.

Carl Soderberg made it 3-0 at 18:14. Comeau zipped the puck longside the boards to Nieto. With Tomas Hertl and Dylan DeMelo’s sticks nearby and approaching, Nieto was then able to transfer the puck over DeMelo’s stick to Soderberg up front. From the edge of the faceoff circle,  Carl Soderberg tallied through a narrow space between Jones’ glove and pad.

The Sharks were unable to score during the power plays at 11:47 and 18:47.

The Avalanche resumed their push in the second, though not before San Jose had five more shots on the power play.

After the pass from Mark Barberio, MacKinnon shot down the slot through a line of traffic and Rantanen made sure the count was 4-0 at 1:34.

San Jose’s Joonas Donskoi hit the post at 9:01.

43 seconds later, the Sharks finally broke through Bernier and their goose eggs on the power play with one second left on special teams. Vlasic set up Labanc, who fired and Timo Meier swept the puck after it dropped past Bernier.

San Jose had another power play at 17:26, during which they attacked the net five more times.

The Sharks remained undaunted, leading off the third with a goal 29 seconds in, to make it 4-2.

Labanc aimed at net, Hertl touched the puck and Vlasic finished the play.

San Jose’s 4-3 goal came off a 2-on-1. Pavelski passed over the far blue line to Burns who crossed the pass to Thornton in front of Bernier and made a swick goal to score. It was Thornton’s fourth game with a goal in each.

The Sharks’ two power plays after that came at 7:35 (seven shots) and 10:24. They also took a penalty at 13:59 which shifted momentum.

Game notes: In the second, Pavelski tripped over Soderberg’s stick to the left of Jones and Soderberg got cut by Pavelski’s skate.

Colorado’s Patrik Nemeth blocked a game-high seven shots.

Labanc and Burns had a game-high seven shots apiece.

Up next: San Jose will head home to host the Pittsburgh Penguins for one game Saturday at 5pm.

Sports Headlines with Tony Renteria: New England and Philadelphia odds favorites for Super Bowl LII

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Photo credit: @NFL

On the Sports Headlines Podcast with Tony:

Takes a review and a look at the following NFL Playoff games:

NFC Sat Jan 13

Philadelphia 15

Atlanta 10

NFC Sun Jan 14

New Orleans 24

Minnesota 29

AFC Sat Jan 13

Tennessee 14

New England 35

AFC Sun Jan 14

Jacksonville 45

Pittsburgh 42

Upcoming NFL Championship games

AFC Sun Jan 21

Jacksonville @ New England

NFC Sun Jan 21

Minnesota @ Philadelphia

Tony does the Sports Headline Podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Stanford Cardinal Men’s Basketball Podcast with Alexandra Evans: Davis showing signs of being impact player for Cardinal

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Photo credit: GoStanford.com

Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Alexandra Evans Thu Jan 18, 2018:

On Saturday in Seattle the Stanford Cardinal got lots of help from Daejon Davis beating the Washington Huskies 73-64. Davis playing in his hometown at one time was committed to attend and play at UW but after former Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar was fired last season Davis went in another direction breaking his commitment with UW and signing on with Stanford

Davis finished with 16 points and ten rebounds, teammate Travis Reid also had 16 points as the Cardinal improved to 10-8

Stanford completed it’s first two game road trip Pac 12 sweep in 12 years

The Cardinal played Wednesday night at Maples Pavilion hosting Arizona State

Alexandra Evans does the Stanford podcasts each day at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Jazz hand Kings their sixth consecutive loss 120-105; rookie Mitchell puts up 34 points for UTA

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IMG_2443

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Sacramento – Wednesday night was game one of the Sacramento Kings “youth movement” where the emphasis would be placed on getting the younger team members more time on the floor. Winning would be the secondary goal.

That sounds like a potentially painful proposition, and it proved to be very painful versus the visiting Utah Jazz.

Both teams entered the contest looking to end losing streaks. The Jazz had lost two consecutive games. The Kings were losers in their previous five match ups. This was Sacramento’s last home game before heading out on their longest road trip of the season to face Memphis, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, San Antonio and finally Boogie Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans.

This game looked winnable and they needed a win.

The Kings – who led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter – lost the lead for the final time with 8:58 remaining in the second period. They would trail by 10 points at the half, by 15 points at the end of three quarters and 15 at the final buzzer.

SAC could not find a “lock-down defense” that could stop rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell who seemed to score at will, and Rodney Hood who may have played his best game of the year for the Jazz.

Kings head coach Dave Joerger analyzed the game in nine words, ” … we need to play with a lot more nasty.”

What the coaches had to say after the game

Stars of the Game

Jazz

  • Rookie Guard Donovan Mitchell was without a doubt the star of the game for Utah. He scored a game-high 34 points in just over 34 minutes of playing time. Whenever a player scores a point per minute played, he has had an outstanding game. Mitchell shot 14 for 19 overall and converted five of seven from the free throw line. He also contributed three assists and made three steals.
  • Rodney Hood – the fourth year player out of Duke – also had an outstanding game scoring 25 points to earn co-star honors. Hood hit nine of 16 field goal shots and made four of nine 3-point attempts. He went a perfect three for three from the charity stripe. Hood grabbed eight rebounds and made two steals.
  • Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors must also receive best supporting performance awards. Ingles put up 14 points going four for seven from 3-point land. Favors also scored 14 and he pulled down 11 rebounds to make it a double-double game.

Kings

  • Willie Cauley-Stein receives the star of the game for the Kings for recording a double-double. WCS scored 26 points and hauled in 10 rebounds in almost 37 minutes on the floor. He shot 11 for 18 from the field. Cauley-Stein was the Kings high-scorer.
  • Sacramento’s co-star has to be Bogdan Bogdanovic who posted 25 points in 39 minutes of playing time. Bogey shot nine for 11 overall and was a perfect six for six from behind the 3-point line. He also grabbed six rebounds.
  • George Hill gets a featured player credit for scoring 20 points in 36 minutes versus his former teammates. He shot six for 10 from the floor and four for five from 3-point land. Hill also recorded three steals. Many still believe that the Kings are showcasing Hill for possible trades before the February 8th trade deadline.

Key Stats

Utah

  • The Jazz shot 56.8-percent (46 for 81) overall for the game. They hit 12 of 29 attempts from behind the 3-point line (41.4-percent).
  • Utah took advantage of the free throw line converting 16 of 20 (80-percent) opportunities.
  • The Jazz dished out 26 steals while committing only 10 turnovers to exceed the desired goal of a 2:1 ratio. The Kings scored 19 points off the 10 Jazz turnovers.
  • Utah made 15 steals in the contest.

Sacramento

  • The Kings shot an impressive 52.8-percent (38 for 72) from the floor. They just did not have enough attempts and conversions to keep pace with the Jazz.
  • SAC shot an impressive 13 for 21 (61.9-percent) from behind the 3-point arc.
  • The Kings had 19 assists and 19 turnovers. A 1 to 1 ratio is not acceptable. The Jazz scored 27 points off those 19 Sacramento turnovers.

Up Next

Sacramento

The Kings will return to action on Friday in Memphis versus the Grizzlies. Sacramento lost to Memphis 114-96 on New Year’s Eve in SAC.

Utah

The Jazz will host the Knicks on Friday night in Salt Lake City.

 

 

Stanford Cardinal faces ASU Sun Devils, outshine them 86-77

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Photo: @StanfordMBB

By Alexandra Evans

PALO ALTO—The Stanford Cardinal Men’s Basketball team (11-8 overall, 5-1 in the Pac-12) returned home from a road trip across the state of Washington with two straight wins (their first road sweep since 2010) under their belt. On Wednesday evening, they faced the Arizona State Sun Devils (14-4 overall, 2-4 in the Pac-12) at Maples Pavilion.

Dorian Pickens made the first basket for the Cardinal and, within minutes, the first three-pointer of the match, both of which helped Stanford hit the ground running. The Cardinal managed to keep a lead over the Sun Devils for the whole the opening period, even within just one or two points.

An aggressive block from Stanford’s Josh Sharma kept ASU from tying the score with just over two minutes left in the first half, though he was later fouled, allowing ASU’s Romello White to score two free throws and tie the game 32-32. Reid Travis put up a three-pointer for Stanford, then Remy Martin for ASU, tying the score again. With 39 seconds left, Daejon Davis made a jumper to give the Cardinal a two-point lead (37-35) at halftime.

At the end of the first half, Pickens led the Cardinal with 10 points, and Travis had nine points and five rebounds. Oscar da Silva had six points, comprised of two three-pointers. White put up 10 points for the Sun Devils, leading the team after 20 minutes, and Martin added nine.

The Sun Devils caught up within two minutes, trailing only by two points (40-38), before Travis brought the Cardinal up to a seven-point lead with a three-pointer and a layup. Pickens chimed in and added a three-pointer, and Sharma dunked twice, and then the Cardinal exceeded the Sun Devils by the double digits (56-43). Sharma also dunked one of Pickens’ missed jumpers, eliciting an explosively enthusiastic reaction from both the bench and the stands.

ASU began trailing Stanford by single digits once again with 6:21 left in the match, when Mickey Mitchell got a layup. They trailed only by two points with four minutes remaining, courtesy of the Sun Devils’ leader in points, Tra Holder, who put up a three for his team.

After a nerve-wracking final four minutes, Stanford regained their multi-point lead and upset the #16-ranked ASU by nine points (86-77).

Pickens led the Cardinal in points with 19, and Travis in rebounds with 10. White put up 19 points to lead the Sun Devils, and Mitchell made the most rebounds with seven.

The Stanford Cardinal are back at Maples Pavilion on Saturday to face the Arizona Wildcats at 1:00 p.m.