Kraken Sink Sharks 7-1; San Jose drops fifth out of last six games

Published on by M WalshLeave a comment

The Seattle Karken’s defenseman Will Borgen (3) gets in front of the San Jose Sharks (left winger) Anthony DuClair (10) in first period action at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 7-1 to the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday. Seattle goals were scored by Brandon Tanev, Oliver Bjorstrand, Adam Larsson, Yanni Gourde, Jared and McCann, with two goals from Eeli Tolvanen. Joey Daccord made 13 saves for the win. Mike Hoffman scored for the Sharks, Kaapo Kahkonen started the game and made 13 saves on 17 shots. Mackenzie Blackwood came in to finish and made 10 saves on 13 shots.

The Sharks had eight defensemen in the lineup, due to unavailable forwards. Kevin Labanc was out due to an injury sustained in Monday’s game. Nico Sturm was away for personal reasons. Still injured are Logan Couture, Oskar Lindblom and Alexander Barabanov. Although the team used eight defensemen, Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a scratch.

After the game, Anthony Duclair was asked if the team’s poor performance was a result of the missing regulars. He said: “Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup, you gotta compete. You’re in the NHL, you gotta compete and if you don’t compete that’s what’s gonna happen in the first period. It doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup, everybody has to be ready to go and it cost us.”

The first period was the worst for the Sharks. They gave up four goals, and but for an off-side call, it would have been five. The Sharks managed seven shots in the period but allowed seventeen to the Kraken.

“We can’t start a game like that in the NHL, you’re going to get embarrassed. We’ve been embarrassed before this season but nothing like the first period today. That was just unacceptable,” said Duclair. Asked what went wrong for the team, he said: “We just got out-competed, that’s not the xs and os, it’s win battles and losing battles one v one all over the ice and it cost us.”

Sharks Head Coach David Quinn went into more detail:

“Embarrassing. We weren’t ready to play. Two break aways in the first minute and a half. I mean just absolutely freaking embarrassing. We lost every single battle, got beat off walls every time there was a 50/50 puck battle we’re fishing for pucks get on the wrong side of it. One guy would get beat one on one and the other guy would dive in.”

In light of that start, the second period might have been worse. The Kraken only had four shots, but they had a four goal lead. The Sharks, trailing as they were, still had just one shot in the period. The total shot count for the game was 30-14 Kraken. The Sharks even had an unusually bad night in the face-off circle. Though they were missing Nico Sturm, their second best in that department, the rest of the team’s top three were present. Still, the Sharks won just 48% of the draws.

Quinn was asked if Wednesday’s performance was a symptom of the team being fragile this season. Quinn seemed out of patience with that excuse:

“I don’t want to hear about freakin fragile, okay? It’s the National freakin Hockey League and you better show up ready to play every freakin night. I don’t care about fragile, sometimes you don’t have it, I get it, but you want to show up and play with the right freakin intentions and we didn’t do it.”

The Sharks will next play on Friday at 12:30 PM PT against the Montreal Canadiens in San Jose.

No. 20 Razorbacks outlast Stanford 77-74 in 2 OT

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Arkansas Razorbacks Chandler Lawson and the Stanford Cardinal Maxime Raynaud compete for the rebound at the end of second half at the battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island in the Bahamas on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (photo by Tim Aylen Bahamas Visual Services via AP)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023

A 3-pointer by Trevon Brazile on Arkansas’s first possession of the second overtime gave the No. 20 Razorbacks the cushion they needed to hold off Stanford 77-74 Wednesday in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis men’s basketball tournament at Imperial Arena in Paradise Island, The Bahamas.

The Cardinal led by as many as five in a defensive-minded first half, with both teams combining for just 42 points. Stanford’s biggest lead came after a run to open the second half, with Brandon Angel sinking two free throws giving Stanford a 38-29 lead with 15:25 to play.

The Razorbacks (4-1) made a series of free throws to end regulation and send the game to overtime.

The Cardinal held Arkansas without a field goal in the first overtime, but Bynum, Spencer Jones and Maxime Raynaud each scored in the second overtime for Stanford. Baskets by Traymon Mark in the last 1:03 put Arkansas up 77-74.

With four seconds to play. the ball was inbounded to Benny Gealer, who pulled up from deep 3-point range, attempting to tie the game at the buzzer and force a second overtime, but the shot missed off the back rim.

Jones scored a season-high 27 points – including five 3-pointers – to go with eight rebounds. Bynum scored 11 ptoints and had eight assists, Raynaud pulled down a team high 10 rebounds. The Cardinal held Arkansas to a season-low 30.3 percent from the field.

Mark led the Razorbacks with 25 points, followed by Brazile with 14 and Davonte Davis with 10. Brazile grabbed 17 of Arkansas’s 51 rebounds. Chandler Lawson added 13 boards.

Stanford (3-2) will meet Michigan (3-2) on Thanksgiving Day. The Wolverines lost 71-67 to Memphis. Tipoff is 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

Sacramento Kings Lose Second Game to New Orleans Pelicans 117-112

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) takes the ball to the hoop against the Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) in the first half at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After getting totally ripped Monday night by the New Orleans Pelicans (8-7), the Sacramento Kings (8-6) met the Pelicans in a second game in as many days on Wednesday night. While they did trail at half-time they made things very interesting in the fourth quarter. The Kings tied the game numerous times in the final quarter but came up short losing 117-112.

Monday night the New Orleans Pelicans (8-7) completely owned the Sacramento Kings (8-6) crushing them 129-93. The Pelicans built momentum with each quarter and by the end of the third quarter this game was a done deal. In the first quarter of that first game Monday night, the Kings actually won the opening 31-29.

The Pelicans established a lead at the half 66-53 and never looked back. Wednesday night the Kings played the Pelicans in a second game in as many days hoping to turn things around but lost by five points to get swept in the two game series.

Game recap: In the first quarter of this game the Pelicans took the opener 32-30 so very similar to their first game Monday night. The second quarter was eerily similar with the Pelicans taking the quarter 32-20. At the half New Orleans led 64-50.

The Pelicans had a 14 pt. lead in this game at half-time and they held a 13 pt. lead in the first game of this series at the half. Zion Williamson already had 17 points in the first half and was making himself right at home driving the basket scoring layups at will.

The Kings defense was having a lot of trouble stopping him. Brandon Ingram had 11 points in the half. The Kings Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox both had double digits.

Mid-way through the third quarter, the Kings made some adjustments keeping Williamson out of the paint and making things much more difficult for him. As the third came to an end, Zion Williamson had not scored a single basket and Brandon Ingram had six points in the quarter.

The Pelicans continued to hang onto a double digit lead and after three quarters the score was 79-93. The Kings were trailing but this was manageable going into the fourth quarter unlike Monday’s game. Sacramento was out of that game going into the fourth on Monday night. It would all come down to the fourth quarter for Sacramento in this game.

With 8 1/2 minutes left in the game the Pelicans called a timeout. Sacramento had pulled to within two points 97-95. Sacramento’s bench player Trey Lyles had really turned it on scoring 12 points and De’Aaron Fox was really pushing with 24 points scored.

This game was within the Kings reach as Sacramento had tied up the game at 102 with 6:44 left on the clock. At 5:16 the Kings had, at long last, taken the lead 105-104. The Kings fought hard in the final quarter but came up just short losing the game 117-112.

The Kings had enough offense to have won this game but at times there was a defensive let-down. Fox had the high score for the team with 26 points. Sabonis had 23 points and Barnes finished with 22 points. Monk and Lyles both had double digits off the bench.

Friday night the Kings continue their road trip taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00.

Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong: Colts owner Irsay says cops pulled him over for being a “white billionaire”; Turkey Day line up 3 big games; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay protested his DUI arrest saying the reason why he failed a sobriety test was due to having hip surgery not because he was under the influence. (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said after being arrested for DUI “I am prejudiced against because I’m a rich, white billionaire,” said Irsay during a recent Tuesday interview. “If I’m just the average guy down the block, they’re not pulling me in, of course not.”

#2 Irsay said that he failed a walk in a straight line test while being detained in a Indianapolis suburb. Irsay said that he couldn’t walk a straight line because he just had hip surgery and not because he was under the influence.

#3 Jessica it’s a Thanksgiving triple header starting with the Green Bay Packers (4-6) and Detroit Lions (8-2) at Ford Field in Detroit. Detroit is much improved and are a on three game win streak. They won their last game against the Chicago Bears last Sun Nov 19, 31-26. The Packers led by quarterback Jordan Love won their last game against the Los Angeles Chargers in a close on 23-20.

#4 Next game number two on Turkey Day, the Washington Commanders (4-7) come calling against the Dallas Cowboys (7-3) in Dallas. The Commanders have lost three of their last four games. Losing their last game on Sun Nov 19 to the struggling New York Giants 31-19. The Cowboys have won four of their last five and handled the Carolina Panthers 30-10 last Sunday.

#5 Finally the third and last Thanksgiving Day game between the San Francisco 49ers (7-3) and Seattle Seahawks (6-4). The 49ers have won two straight games after losing three in a row. In one of those two wins the 49ers defeated one football’s best the Jacksonville Jaguars leaving them in the dust 34-3. The Seahawks dropped a close one to the Los Angeles Rams 17-16. The Seahawks have won three of their last five games.

Join Jessica for Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers, Purdy set to take on Buccaneers for an attempt at a third straight win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) was on target all afternoon with three touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levi Stadium on Sun Nov 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 David talk about how crucial it was for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to get three touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the win?

#2 There was no doubt the game plan worked and the 49ers have now won two straight they displayed strong defense against the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks ago allowing them only a field goal and against Tampa Bay they held them to two touchdowns to stay ahead of them for the win.

#3 It’s off to Seattle and Thursday Night Football on Thanksgiving night. The Seahawks (6-4) were edged by the Los Angeles Rams 17-16 in their last game last week. Geno Smith starts under center for the Seahawks, this game will be at CenturyLink Stadium the Seahawks and that 12th man the crowd always an advantage.

Join David Zizmor for the 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda shoot down Gulls with second period blitz in 5-4 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Barracuda forward Justin Bailey (#90) celebrates a goal with his teammates during his team’s 5-1 win over the San Diego Gulls at Tech CU Arena on Tuesday NOV 21, 2023. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Barracuda scored four goals in the second period en route to a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Gulls on Tuesday night at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose snapped a two-game losing streak. San Diego suffered its season worse 12 straight loss (0-9-3) after winning its first two games.

San Jose (4-6-4-0) drew first blood early in the first period on the power play. Cole Cassels sent a shot in from the point. Justin Bailey made a backhand pass back into the crease where Thomas Bordeleau tapped it home past Gulls netminder Calle Clang for his fourth goal of the season at the 5:46 mark.

Despite outshooting San Jose by a two-to-one margin (12-6), San Diego (2-9-3-0) weren’t able to get a puck by ‘Cuda netminder Georgi Romanov in the opening frame.

The Barracuda doubled its lead with its second power play goal at the 7:00 mark. Leon Gawanke centered a pass over to Jacob Peterson who buried a one-timer past Clang for his second goal of the season.

San Jose scored its third unanswered goal 27 seconds later thanks to a gift by San Diego. Olen Zellweger turned over the puck to Brandon Coe right in front of the net. Coe snuck a backhander past Clang for his fifth goal of the season at the 7:27 mark.

“Obviously it’s good to get the two points,” said ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy regarding his team’s overall performance. “A couple of things I’d like to cleanup. I’d like to see us close out the game a little bit firmer than we did. But wins have been hard to come by, so I’m happy for the guys.”

The Gulls broke the seal on the power play thanks last season’s Barracuda captain. Andrew Agozzino’s wrist shot from up by the point beat Romanov up high for Agozzino’s second goal of the season at the 10:00 mark.

Boredleau scored his second goal of the game Ethan Cardwell’s attempted pass hit off the skate of Zellweger and ricochet off the shoulder of Bordeleau for his fifth goal of the season at the 15:07 mark.

“It feels good, I mean I got a couple of bounces, (was) lucky to be at the right place at the right time. Our whole line played really good, so it was easy to count on things going our way,” Bordeleau said.

San Jose scored its fourth goal of the middle frame Cardwell cleaned up a rebound off a shot by Peterson that was initially saved by Clang. Cardwell’s fourth goal of the season came at the 18:34 mark.

Former ‘Cuda defenseman Trevor Carrick found Pavol Regenda right along the crease as he buried home a point-blank shot for his team leading ninth goal of the season at the 10:13 mark of the third period.

San Diego cut the Cuda lead to two when Nathan Gaucher scored into an open net when Jacob Perreault centered the puck right to the tape of Gaucher’s stick right in front of the crease at the 13:56 mark. It was Gaucher’s second goal of the season.

Carrick scored the Gulls third unanswered goal of the period when he wired in a wrist shot from the point through traffic for his third goal of the season with 17 seconds left in the game.

Romanov (3-2-2) finished the night stopping 26 of the 30 shots he faced to earn his third victory of the season. Clang (1-5-2) gave up five goals on 24 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 2-for-5 on the power play. San Diego was 1-for-3.

‘Cuda Winger Ozzy Wiesblatt left the game during the first period after throwing a big hit with an injury and did not return to the game. There was no further update regarding his condition.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Bordeleau 2) Cardwell 3) Peterson.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Ontario Reign for a Thanksgiving weekend two-game series on Friday 11/24 at 7:00pm at Tech CU Arena.

Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Committed to excellence but not O’Connell; Raiders looking to solve QB question

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (4) takes aim against the Miami Dolphins defense in first half action on Sun Nov 19, 2023 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (AP News photo)

On Las Vegas Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 From the sound of it Tony the Raiders are on the hunt for a quarterback for next season. Indications were after Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce played it safe in the first half against Miami there was talk that the Raiders are not quite settled on quarterback Aidan O’Connell.

#2 Pierce said there are six games left and he’ll have time to evaluate the quarterback situation. The Raiders lost last Sunday in Miami to the Dolphins 20-13.

#3 Tony, is it too soon to judge O’Connell he had that loss against the Dolphins last Sunday but was able to scratch both New York Giants and Jets off the Calendar with two straight wins.

#4 Tony, the Raiders towards the end of the first half recovered a Miami fumble at the Dolphin 32 with 58 second left. The Raiders didn’t elect to pass they kept the ball on the ground with handoffs to Josh Jacobs who got only three yards taking 42 second off the clock. O’Connell threw for two short incomplete passes and got a field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson.

#5 It doesn’t get any easier as the Raiders they take on the Kansas City Chiefs (7-3). The Chiefs lost their last game defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 21-17 last night on Monday Night Football. The Chiefs have lost two of their last three games two questions how do you see this match this Sunday at Allegiant and second will the Swifties and Taylor Swift help as the 11th man or woman as it were?

Join Tony Renteria for the Raiders podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

UTEP Buzzer Beater Edges California Bears at SoCal Challenge 75-72

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Jalen Cone hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 16 seconds left before Cal ultimately fell to UTEP, 75-72 photo by CK Hicks-Cal Athletics

By Barbara Mason

The California Bears (2-3) trailed at the half against the UTEP Miners (5-0) 40-35. They did win the second half 37-35 but came up just short losing 75-72. The depth on the UTEP roster made a lot of the difference in this game. Cal’s Jaylen Cone hit a three to tie up this game at 72 with 16 seconds left on the clock. UTEP’s Tae Hardy answered hitting a shot from downtown to seal the win as they go unbeaten sending them into the final of the Sand division.

In the Bears loss to Montana they did get some nice work from Jaylon Tyson who scored 27 points and eight rebounds. Fardaws Aimaq had a double-double finishing that game with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Montana offense will be a real challenge for California and the Bears will be keeping an eye on their offensive leader Tae Hardy.

In this game the number of possessions will factor in greatly. The Miners have been smashing the glass this season but Cal has also been successful in this department so that should make for some great competition.

Both of these teams have been struggling from downtown so far this season. It depends which “experts” you talk to because according to one side Cal is favored by two points and if you talk to someone else UTEP is favored by 3.5

Game recap: The Cal Bears vs UTEP contest got underway late Monday night. Cal got a slow start in the opening half. They were four minutes into the game before they hit their first basket. They did take a 19-12 lead mid-way through the half but the Miners erased the Bears lead. They took a 24-21 lead at the eight minute mark and led for the rest of the first half. After the first 20 minutes of game, the Miners held a 40-35 lead.

California hit the first six points of the second half taking the lead but the Miners rallied back. They held a 71-63 lead with 4:20 left on the clock. This game went down to the wire. Cal’s Jaylen Cone hit a three with 16 seconds left in the game to tie it all up at 72. The Bears just came up short when UTEP’s Tae Hardy sealed the win for his team with a shot from downtown; the final was 75-72.

The high for the Cal was Aimaq with 18 points in 27 minutes. Cone who put his team in a great position to take this game had 15 points. The high for UTEP was Tae Hardy with 16 points and the buzzer beater in this wild back-and-forth game with seven ties and 10 lead changes throughout.

Post game notes: Monday night the Bears took on the Miners in the SoCal Challenge at the Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano. This basketball tournament is held during the Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. The inaugural tournament took place back in 2021.

This was the first meeting between the Golden Bears and the Miners. UTEP started the game as a 3.5 point favorite . In their last game which they won against the Austin Peay Governors 71-63 last Friday night the miners had 20 turnovers. Cal lost a close one last Thursday against the Montana Bobcats 63-60. This game was a close matchup which UTEP won by just three points.

This win sends UTEP into the finals where they will play Bradley on Wednesday. The Cal Bears will play in the consolation round taking on Tulane on Wednesday in another nightcap with tipoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. PST.

Warriors get back in the win column down Rockets 121-116

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) lands on his back after making a three point shot against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Nov 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (7-8) knew they would face a tough opponent, the Houston Rockets (6-6), on Monday night. Under coach Ime Udoka, the former Boston Celtic coach the Warriors beat in the 2022 finals, the Rockets have assembled a team hoping to make the playoffs this year.

The Rockets started two players that are six feet eleven inches tall—Rookie Jabari Smith and second-year player Alperen Sengun. Smith is 20 years old and is averaging 12.2 points per game. Sengun, from Turkey, is 21 years old and is averaging 20 points a game.

The Rockets added Dillon Brooks from the Memphis Grizzlies. Brooks is a tough customer and likes to play in the same style as the Warriors Draymond Green. Shooting Jalen Green is another young player. Green is 21 years old and puts 16 points on the board in every game.

The Rockets signed the veteran guard Fred VanVleet. VanVleet gave the Warriors fits in the 2019 NBA Finals when the Raptors won their first NBA Championship.

The Warriors were smarting from their sixth loss in a row as they were beaten in overtime by the OKC Thunder last Saturday night. The Warriors needed a win, which they got as they defeated the Rockets 121-116.

Both teams played well in the first quarter. Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 12 points in the period. Thompson made three threes and looked like his former self. The Warriors made six threes in the quarter. In addition, the Thompson’s three, Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, and Dario Saric each connected on a three. The Warriors finished the quarter leading by two, 29-27.

The Warriors continued to make three in the second quarter. They outscored the Rockets 34-26 to finish the first half leading 63-53. Thompson did not score in the quarter. Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Saric, and Jonathan Kuminga were instrumental in giving the Warriors the ten point advantage at the end of the first 24 minutes of action.

The teams played a very competitive third quarter. The Warriors won the period by a single point to increase the lead to 11, 92-81. The Warriors point guard, Chris Paul, helped by scoring ley buckets in the period. The Warriors knew the Rockets would not go away. They expected the Rocket’s onslaught in the fourth quarter and were up to the task. 

The Warriors increased the lead to 100-87 when Curry made another three. The Rockets came back but could not get closer than ten points. The Rockets cut the deficit to seven, but Saric made a bucket to increase the lead to nine, 117-108. The clock was not on the Rockets’ side. The Warriors held on to win, 121-116.

Game Notes: With the win, the Warriors snapped their six-game losing streak and improved to 7-8. The Rockets lost their third straight and are now 6-6.

The Warriors had five players in double-figures. Curry led the Warriors with 32 points. Curry made five threes. Curry continued to make Warrior history. Curry has played more minutes in a Warrior uniform than any other player. Curry broke Nate Thurmond’s record for most minutes played by a Warrior.

Curry set another NBA mark as he made four or more threes in 14 consecutive games. Thompson scored 20 points for the first time this season. Thompson, like Curry, made five threes. Paul had a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. Paul made three threes. Saric, coming off the bench, tallied 18 points. Saric also made three threes. Wiggins put 12 points on the board, and he made two threes.

The Warriors took 18 shots less than the Rockets. They were 47% from the floor, and as a team, the Warriors made 21 threes in 43 attempts. 

Alperen Sengun led the Rockets. The big man from the Turkish Republic had a double-double with 30 points and 13 rebounds. Sengun also had five assists, and he knocked down two threes. Sengun is making a name for himself in the NBA this year. Rookie Jabari Smit also had a double-double. Smith scored 17 and had ten rebounds. Dillon Brooks added 16, Jalen Green, 16, and VanVleet, ten. 

The Warriors bench outscored The Rockets’ bench 37-27. Saric was one of the reasons the Warriors won the game.

The Warriors meet the Suns in Phoenix on Wednesday night. The Suns will have all three of the stars Available. Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker will be looking to send the Warriors down to defeat. The game starts at 6 P.M.

Canucks two goals in second period takes care of Sharks 3-1; A game almost fit for a Duke

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) anticipate on Harry The Duke of Sussex for the puck drop before Mon Nov 20, 2023 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver BC (photo from San Jose Sharks X)

By Torben Rolfsen

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -The toothless San Jose Sharks (3-14-1) started off a two-game swing through the Pacific Northwest Monday night by dropping a 3-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks (13-5-1) at Rogers Arena.

Despite slightly outhitting the Canucks, the Sharks never looked dangerous, were outshot 40-28, and soundly beaten in the faceoff circle.

J.T. Miller made it 3-1 with just under thirteen minutes left when he tapped in a quick rebound in front that Mackenzie Blackwood had no chance on.

Things got a little amped up late in the second period as the Canucks Nils Hoglander was assessed a five minute match penalty for using his right leg to flip over the Sharks Kevin Labanc with 1:29 to go.

Sam Lafferty then scored shorthanded for the Canucks with under a second left in the middle frame.

Tomas Hertl scored the lone San Jose goal as the major power play continued into the early third, with assists to Calen Addison and Mikael Granlund.

With 8:50 left in the second, William Eklund appeared to put the Sharks ahead 1-0 on a scramble in front of the Vancouver goal, but Canucks coach Rick Tocchet used a coach’s challenge to get the goal waved off for a borderline goaltender interference call after an official video review.

San Jose netminder Mackenzie Blackwood remained razor sharp through the middle of the second.

NHL scoring leader Quinn Hughes broke the 0-0 deadlock at 13:07, doing his Bobby Orr impression on a brilliant individual effort to wire one past Blackwood.

A low-event first period saw the Canucks outshoot the Sharks 12-7, but Blackwood was very steady.

Attendance was announced at 18,718 , which included the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, watching from the royal box.

The Sharks take on the Kraken Wednesday night in Seattle.