Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Aves Nichuskin out for a month ankle surgery; Bruins cut Miller over racist bullying; plus much more

The Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichuskin (pitcured) will on the IL for a month due to having ankle surgery. Nichuskin’s teammates defensemen Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard also will be out with lower body injuries.(nhl.com photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche’s right winger Valeri Nichuskin will be out for a month after having ankle surgery. Nichuskin has sat out four games since he last played against the New York Rangers on Oct 25th. Also the Aves defensemen Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard both have lower body injuries during back to back games in Finland against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

#2 The Boston Bruins cut Mitchell Miller this week after finding out more information about Miller’s past. When Miller was 14 years old Miller called Isaiah Meyer-Crothers a black classmate the N word, gave him candy after wiping it inside a urinal. Mitchell hit Crothers and bullied him. Bruins team president Cam Neely apologized to the Meyer-Crothers family saying he was sorry this signing made you feel unseen and unheard.

#3 Indianapolis Colts assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier will help with the offensive play calling as named this week by Colts head coach Jeff Saturday. Colts owner Robert Irsay fired former head coach Frank Reich naming Saturday as head coach and Frazier has never play called the offense in an NFL game before. They will be working their first game together against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday in Allegiant Stadium.

#4 The Indianapolis Colts became another NFL team that did not hire a minority coach. Saturday said of his hiring “you’ve got to earn your place here” Saturday has no NFL coaching experience compared to many minority head coaches who would have liked the opportunity to coach the Colts.

#5 Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant and a longtime Washington Commanders fan said that he wants in on the team’s ownership. As the Commanders owner Dan Snyder has put the team up for sale amongst the scandals that involved the team. Durant says in a perfect world he would like to be involved with the team. Durant said he heard that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Jay Z might also join the partnership.

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

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington: Rangers stay alive with 5-3 win over Penguins; Panthers eliminate Capitals; plus more

New York Rangers center Mike Zibanejad congratulates left winger Chris Kreider after a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Fri May 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The New York Rangers avoided getting eliminated as Chris Krieder scored a third period goal at 1:28 that broke a 3-3 deadlock with a shot from the left point that deflected off the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domigue for the score. The Rangers would win it 5-3 tying the series at 3-3.

# 2 The Florida Panthers advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 4-3 overtime win over the Washington Capitals at the Capital Center. The Panthers Carter Verhaeghe scored at 2:46 in overtime for the game winning shot.

#3 The Dallas Stars defeated the Calgary Flames on Friday to tie up the series 3-3 with a 4-2 win. The Stars Joe Pavelski said that they are a confident group that can play through tight games and the Stars have been competitive in the playoffs.

#4 The Boston Bruins avoided elimination on Thursday with a win to tied up the series with the Carolina Hurricanes 3-3. Both teams meet again today for a 1:30 pm PDT puck drop.

#5 The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at 4:00 pm PDT as the series is tied at 3-3.

#6 Kings-Oilers battle in Edmonton tonight at 7:00 pm PDT as this series is tied 3-3 everything on the line tonight.

Join Matt throughout the NHL Stanley Cup postseason for analysis on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt Harrington: Bruins win a game push past Hurricanes 4-2; Leafs pour it on Lighting in 5-2 win; Caps get huge win over Panthers 6-1

Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) scores on Carolina Hurricanes’ Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the first period of Game 3 at TD Garden in Boston on Fri May 6, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Boston Bruins came into the TD Waterhouse Garden down 2-0 knowing if they’d drop Friday night’s third game they’d have their backs to the wall going into a game four down 3-0 such was not the case as he B’s saved themselves but cutting the visiting Carolina Hurricanes lead down to 2-1.

#2 Matt, talk about Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman and how crucial was he stopping 25 shots and allowing two goals in the 4-2 win.

#3 The Bruins Brad Marchand scored a goal and had two assists and David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle scored and had an assist for the Bruins how important were these guys in game 3.

#4 The Toronto Maple Leafs came into this game with grit playing against one of the toughest teams in the NHL the Tampa Bay Lightning in this round 1 as they came away with a three goal 5-2 win. The Leafs scored twice in the first and third periods and goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 32 shots and allowed to two goals.

#5 The Leafs now lead the Lightning 2-1 in the best of seven series. For the Bolts goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 34 shots a good number but allowed three goals. Was this game a matter of Vasilevskiy just not being on his game or was the Leafs offense just that good and had their way with the Lightning defense?

Join Matt Saturdays for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt Harrington: Pens to face Rangers in first round; Sabers overtime win against Blackhawks 3-2; plus more

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues (9) scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender J-F Berube (30) in first period action at PPG Paints in Pittsburgh on Fri Apr 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-11) advanced to the playoffs with a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets (37-38-7) 5-3 on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins will face the Rangers for the Eastern Conference first round in game 1.

#2 Both the Buffalo Sabers (32-39-11) and the Chicago Blackhawks (28-42-12) concluded their regular season with the Sabers getting an overtime win over the Blackhawks 3-2 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo Friday. The Blackhawks started out with a 2-0 lead but the Sabers came back and tied it up in the second period 2-2. The Sabers Casey Mittelstadt got the overtime game winning goal at 2:53.

#3 The Boston Bruins lost their last game of the season to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night 5-2 and will face off with the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs will play the Tampa Bay Lightning.

#4 It was the first win for Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price since game 4 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Finals. It was a landslide of goals scored by the Canadiens 10-2 over the Florida Panthers on Friday night at the Belle Centre. Price stopped 37 shots and it was his 700th start and 712th game with the Canadiens for his 361st career win.

#5 In his first game in five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings goaltender Magnus Hellberg it was like riding a bike you just don’t forget. Hellburg stopped 20 shots by the New Jersey Devils to help in a 5-3 win at the Prudential Center on Friday night. Hellberg played five years in the Kontinental Hockey League before signing an Apr 13th free agent contract with the Red Wings.

Join Matt throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL Trade deadline some big names up for grabs; plus NHL action from Friday

Brandon Hagel was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt how important is it that the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up Brandon Hagel in exchange for forwards Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks?

#2 Matt, talk about the key winning goal by the Buffalo Sabers Tage Thompson that helped get the win over the Calgary Flames in overtime at 3:07 for a narrow 1-0 win. Also big hand for the Sabers goaltender Dustin Tokarski who stopped 24 shots for the shutout.

#3 The Ottawa Senators Josh Norris help end the Senators three game losing streak with a go ahead goal in the third period that handed the Senators a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night. The Sens Aaron Forsberg stopped 28 out 29 shots.

#4 The injuries are piling up for the Vegas Golden Knights the latest have center Jack Eichel doubtful for against the Los Angeles Kings for Saturday. Eichel blocked a shot with his hand and could sit out. His teammates goaltender Robin Lehner, two defencemen Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez and three forwards Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Reilly Smith are all on the injured list. Inspite of that the Knights snapped a five game losing streak with a win over the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Thursday night.

#5 Matt, just to name a few of the players who are trade deadline as of this morning maybe you could update us, the Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser, New York Islanders Cal Clutterbuck, Andrew Copp Winnipeg Jets, Jake DeBrusk Boston Bruins, and Marc Andre Fleury Chicago Blackhawks. I’ll let you also add more to whose on the trade block for tonight.

Matt does the NHL podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Fall 3-1 to Bruins

Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) goes after the puck and San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro (38) slides into the dash boards at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Feb 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks fell 3-1 to the visiting Boston Bruins Saturday night. The Bruins got two goals from Brad Marchand and one from Patrice Bergeron. Jeremy Swayman made 15 saves for the win. Timo Meier scored for San Jose and James Reimer made 34 saves in the loss.

The Sharks have not beaten the Bruins since 2016, and this year’s Boston team is clearly a contender. So the loss was not surprising. But it did highlight some ongoing issues for the Sharks. The Sharks had just 16 shots on goal in the game, a low for the season. Their power play, however, continues to produce at a good clip, with nine goals in their last nine games. But their inability to score first is looming large. They have given up the first goal in eight games in a row.

Defenseman Mario Ferraro had to be helped off the ice midway through the second period. The Sharks have used eleven defensemen this season. Nicolas Meloche is also out with injury now, and Erik Karlsson is still recovering from surgery.

Also in the troublesome injury category is the fact that James Reimer played his tenth game in a row Saturday, and may play his eleventh tomorrow. It would not be unreasonable to expect to see Zach Sawchenko in net Sunday, if Adin Hill is still not recovered from his injury. If ever there were a good reason to put an untested goalie in net, ten starts in a row would be it.

Brad Marchand gave the Bruins a lead at 14:24 of the first period. Jake Debrusk carried the puck in with Marchand two-on-one. Debrusk made the pass and Marchand put it past Mario Ferraro and Reimer for his 22nd of the season. Assists went to Debrusk and Erik Haula.

The Sharks tied it up at 12:50 of the second with a power play goal from Timo Meier. Brent Burns, midway up the slot, faked a shot before making a mass to Meier in the face-off circle. Meier’s one-timer beat Swayman on the glove side. Assists went to Burns and Logan Couture.

Early in the third period, Brad Marchand scored his second of the night to make it 2-1 Bruins. Taylor Hall made a backwards pass from the goal line to the left of the net across to the circle on the right side of the net. That is where the pass found Marchand for the game-winning shot. Assists went to Hall and Craig Smith.

Patrice Bergeron added another for the Bruins with just 40 seconds left in the game. David Pastrnak skated in as if to shoot, but then centered the puck for Bergeron. Bergeron put it past Couture and Reimer both for his 14th of the season. Assists went to Pastrnak and Marchand.

The Sharks next play on Sunday at 7:00 PM PT, in San Jose against the Seattle Kraken.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Sharks look for second win face Boston and Seattle in back to back games

San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, left, looks for the puck as a shot by New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) is blocked by Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) at the SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Feb 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Marko:

#1 Seven loses in a row came to an end on Thursday night against the New York Islanders in a shootout how relieved are the San Jose Sharks?

#2  James Reimer made 44 saves for the win in his ninth start in a row.

#3 Logan Couture, Jasper Weatherby and Alexander Barabanov scored for the Sharks. Brock Nelson, Zach Parise and Adam Pelech scored for New York. Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves in the loss.

#4 James Reimer stopped all three shots in the shootout and Logan Couture scored. Ilya Sorokin stopped a shot from Tomas Hertl.

#5 The Sharks now play back to back games this weekend against the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken at SAP Center how do you see the Sharks coming off snapping a seven game loss streak going into these games on back to back nights.

Marko was filling in for Len Shapiro for the Sharks podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Did Marchand get off lightly on six game suspension; Kakko listed day to day for Rangers; plus more

The Boston Bruins Brad Marchand delivers a gloved right punch into Pittsburgh Penguin goaltender Tristan Jarry’s right jaw during NHL game on Tue Feb 8, 2022 in Pittsburgh (photo from the Boston Globe)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, on Tue 8th the Boston Bruins Brad Marchand who has had previous suspensions and fines for misconduct. On Tuesday Marchand sucker punched Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry in the jaw while the goaltender was on his knees after freezing the puck. After the linesman grabbed hold of Marchand while skating him off the ice they got in front of the net where Marchand raised his stick and caught Jarry in the chin area well after play had ended.

#2 Seeing how the play went is Marchand’s six game suspension a light penalty considering it was a double match penalty or is a roughing, misconduct and double match penalty a six game suspension according to the CBA?

#3 The New York Rangers Kappo Kakko will be out at least one more month with an upper body injury. Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant says that Kakko is day to day. Kakko felt discomfort while skating in warm ups back on Jan 22nd against the Arizona Coyotes. Kakko has 33 goals and is tied with the Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaittl, Edmonton Oilers for the NHL lead.

#4 Evgeni Malkin whose been out for Covid 19 protocols has missed two games on Tuesday and Thursday. Malkin skated with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday and will be a game time decision on Sunday according to head coach Mike Sullivan.

#5 The Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron will is listed day to day due to an upper body injury and won’t be able to play tonight against the Ottawa Senators. Bergeron had a collision with the Penguins Sid Crosby at 8:44 during the third period Tuesday in a 4-2 loss.

Join Matt for the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Red Wings were just Red Hot against Sharks; Third game in last four SJ gives up six goals or more

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek (17) has San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) on his back in pursuit of the puck at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tue Jan 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Third straight game the San Jose Sharks (17-16-1) have given up over six goals in a game. The first one was when they edged the Arizona Coyotes 8-7 on Tue Dec 26, then they gave up six goals in a first period surge at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Sunday 8-5 in a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Then there’s Tuesday night when the Detroit Red Wings (16-15-3) scored three goals in the second period and wound up with a 6-2 victory at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

#2 James Reimer started the game in goal for San Jose giving up four goals facing 24 shots in the first two periods of the contest. Adin Hill started the third period giving up two goals on seven shots.

#3 Logan Couture and Lane Pederson on the COVID-19 list, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic out as a healthy scratch, the Sharks were short-handed even before they lost Jacob Middleton to an injury in the first period.

#4 The Sharks defenseman Brent Burns said things just have to get better and guys just have to start executing. Something that hasn’t happened in the last three out four games,  “It’s just gotta be better. At the end of the day you’ve gotta figure it out, put the next guy in a good spot, you gotta start executing, doing things on the same page. Obviously it’s not good enough.”

#5 The Sharks head to Buffalo and face off with the Buffalo Sabers (10-17-6) the Sabers who have lost 11 of their last 13 games. The Sabers have not played since New Years day in a loss to the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden in Boston. Sharks and Sabers Thu Jan 6th a 4:00 pm PST face off.

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts on Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL action returns on Tuesday; Winter Classic is game on for New Years Day; plus more

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) gets in between Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) and guard Cameron Payne at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Christmas Dec 25, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, how important was it to delay the Holiday shutdown one more day as NHL action returns on Tuesday night instead of Monday night.

#2 The NHL Discover Winter Classic is on target to be played between St Louis Blues (17-9-5) and Minnesota Wild (9-19-2) at Target Field is still scheduled to be played on Sat Jan 1 barring no further Covid interruptions.

#3 According to former NHL great Wayne Gretzky said that Washington Capitals (18-6-7) Alexander Ovechkin will pass him up for most goals scored. Ovechkin could do it with 143 goals remaining. Ovechkin has 22 goals in 31 games this season. Gretzky said he’s on his way to 40-50 goals this season there is no he will break the record.

#4 It’s really no surprise that the NHL called off it’s players from participating in the Beijing 2020 Winter Olympics due to the surge in positive tests for Covid 19. The Feb 6-22 Olympic schedule now scratched the league will use those dates to make up games that were postponed.

#5 The Boston Bruins (14-10-2) surprisingly are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division three points out of a playoff spot. The Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said that there is a lot of hockey to be played yet and their looking for some consistency to get right back in the hunt again.

Join Matt for the NHL podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com