Tag: colorado avalanche

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Jessica Kwong: Las Vegas Royal Flush–Avalanche swept up by Golden Knights in four straight games

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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) takes the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan Connor (25) in the second period of game four of the Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals at T Mobile Center in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 What happened to the Colorado Avalanche who just couldn’t keep up with Vegas getting swept in the Western Conference Final?

#2 Is Vegas currently the most complete team left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

#3 How much did Nathan MacKinnon’s injury affect Colorado’s offense?

#4 What happened to Mackenzie Blackwood in goal for the Avalanche in Game 4?

#5 What was the biggest difference in the series: goaltending, depth, or special teams?

Join Jessica Kwong every other Wednesday for the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Mary Lisa: Knights take 2-0 series lead over Aves as series shifts to Vegas

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Vegas Golden Knights center Nic Dowd (left) puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood in the first period during game 2 of the third round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Fri May 22, 2026 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 How did the Golden Knights manage to rally in the third period after trailing 1-0 for most of the game?

#2 What impact did the absences of Cale Makar and Mark Stone have on Game 2?

#3 Which player had the biggest influence on Vegas’ 3-1 victory at Ball Arena?

#4 Why has Colorado struggled to convert its scoring chances despite outshooting Vegas in the series?

#5 With the series shifting to Las Vegas and the Golden Knights leading 2-0, what adjustments must the Avalanche make to stay alive in the Western Conference Final?

Mary Lisa does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Mary Lisa: Knights-Avalanche meet up for game 1 third round Wednesday night; Canada pulling for Habs in game 6 vs. Buffalo

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Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (right) laughs at the Anaheim Ducks defensmen Ian Moore (3) and center Mikael Granlund (center) in the second period of game 6 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Toyota Center in Anaheim on Thu May 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Mary Lisa:

#1 Talk about Thursday’s four goal 5-1 win as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 at the Duck Pond in Anaheim to eliminate the Ducks from round 2 of the playoffs.

#2 The Knights wasted no time in the first period scoring three goals getting past Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal.

#3 In game 5 of the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres the Canadiens over came a 3-2 first period deficit that saw lots of offense in the opening period.

#4 It was the second period that exploded for the Canadiens who scored three goals to no goals for the Sabres and that pretty much put away the Sabres as Montreal takes a 3-2 series lead.

#5 Talk about the Golden Knights-Colorado Avalanche match up with the puck dropping in game 1 on Wed May 20th at Ball Arena in Denver.

#6 What’s up with Knights head coach John Tortorella refusing to open the locker room up to allow the media in after the Knights win over the Ducks after game 6. Tortorella has had a history with battles with the media everywhere he gone. The NHL fined Tortorella $100,000 and docked the Knights their second round draft pick.

Mary Lisa podcasts the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro: Knights-Aves match up could go 7 games; Can Habs finish off Sabres?

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Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella speaks with the media on Fri May 1, 2026 after defeating the Utah Mammoth in round 1 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tortorella was fined $100,000 and the Knights were docked their second round draft pick for keeping the locker room shut following the Knights win eliminating the Anaheim Ducks in round 2 game 6. (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 Talk about Thursday’s four goal 5-1 win as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 at the Duck Pond in Anaheim to eliminate the Ducks from round 2 of the playoffs.

#2 The Knights wasted no time in the first period scoring three goals getting past Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal.

#3 In game 5 of the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres the Canadiens over came a 3-2 first period deficit that saw lots of offense in the opening period.

#4 It was the second period that exploded for the Canadiens who scored three goals to no goals for the Sabres and that pretty much put away the Sabres as Montreal takes a 3-2 series lead.

#5 Talk about the Golden Knights-Colorado Avalanche match up with the puck dropping in game 1 on Wed May 20th at Ball Arena in Denver.

#6 What’s up with Knights head coach John Tortorella refusing to open the locker room up to allow the media in after the Knights win over the Ducks after game 6. Tortorella has had a history with battles with the media everywhere he gone. The NHL fined Tortorella $100,000 and docked the Knights their second round draft pick.

Len Shapiro podcasts the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro: Sabres come back to defeat Bruins 3-1 to take 2-1 series lead; Canes can sweep Sens in four games this Saturday; Kings with backs to wall down 0-3 to Aves

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Buffalo Sabre right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his goal with teammates as the Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) skates by in game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Boston Garden on Thu Apr 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 Bowen Byram scored just after the Boston Bruins missed a penalty shot and the Buffalo Sabres Alex Tuch helped the Sabres erase a deficit and beat the Bruins 3-1 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 series lead in round one of the NHL Playoffs.

#2 Alex Lyon stopped 24 shots for the Sabres and it’s Lyon’s first start in post season. The Sabres also ended a NHL 14 year drought by making post season and winning the Atlantic Division and the Sabres got home ice advantage in this best of seven series.

#3 Jackson Blake broke a 1-1 deadlock in the second period with a goal that helped the Carolina Hurricane edge the Ottawa Senators 2-1 and take a 3-0 series lead in the first round. The Hurricane also got goaltending help from Frederik Andersen who stopped 21 shots.

#4 Len, the Hurricane can finish off the Senators with a four game sweep and advance to the second round of the playoffs this Saturday in Ottawa.

#5 The Colorado Avalanche scored two key goals in the second period to beat the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena for a 4-2 win and take a 3-0 series lead over the Kings.

#6 The Avalanche earlier had a one goal lead over the Kings the Kings pulled within a goal of the Avalanche 3-2 but the Avalanche got an insurance goal and it was a keeper for the 4-2 win.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Fall 4-2 to Avalanche, Losing Streak at 4 Going Into Olympic Break

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San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (left) puts a shot on Colorado Avalanche goaltenter MacKenzie Blackwood in the second period at Ball Arena in Denver on Wed Feb 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday. Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson and Brock Nelson scored for the Avalanche. MacKenzie Blackwood made 23 saves for the win. Timothy Liljegren and Philipp Kurashev scored for the Sharks. Yaroslav Askarov made 38 saves in the loss. The loss and the three before it saw the Sharks plummet out of a playoff position.

In the final Sharks game before the Olympic break, Kiefer Sherwood made his debut in teal. He finished the game with one shot, one blocked shot, four hits and two penalty minutes. After the game, he discussed the team’s failure to start on time, despite a good effort in the third period: “The League’s too unforgiving to not play a full 60. So we’ll take the lesson and move on and be ready to get our work boots on the second half.”

Of the upcoming break, Sherwood said: “Our team needs a break. Obviously it comes at a good time. I know that was my first game so obviously I wish we’d get more. We’ll light the fire during break and come ready to rage in the second half.”

In a scoreless first period, the Avalanche outshot the Sharks 14 to 5. Each team took two penalties. The second period was Artturi Lehkonen’s time to shine. He scored the first goal at 1:05, a deflected shot from Valeri Nichushkin. An assist also went to Cale Makar.

His second goal came at 15:47, a snap shot from the top of the faceoff circle. Assists went to Nathan MacKinnon and Nichushkin.

Colorado outshot San Jose 17-8 in the second period, with one penalty to each team.

The Sharks tied the game early in the third period. Timothy Liljegren scored with a slap shot just 43 seconds in. Assists went to Alexander Wennberg and John Klingberg.

Philipp Kurashev tied it at 3:34 with a wrist shot after taking the puck from the neutral zone to the net.

During four-on-four play with Macklin Celebrini and Brent Burns in the box, Josh Manson scored with a slap shot at 12:44. Assists went to Nichushkin and MacKinnon.

Brock Nelson scored with a backhand into an empty net at 18:43.

After the NHL returns from the Olympic break, the Sharks will host the Calagry Flames on February 26 at 7:00 PM PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro: Lehkonen’s scores twice to help it away for Aves over Sharks; SJ drops 4th in a row

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Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen goes for a victory skate after scoring a second period goal against the San Jose Sharks at Ball Arena in Denver on Wed Feb 4, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 How did Artturi Lehkonen’s two goals influence the Avalanche’s momentum and eventual 4–2 win over the Sharks?

#2 What role did Nathan MacKinnon’s performance (including reaching his 700th career assist) play in Colorado’s offensive success?

#3 How effective were each team’s goaltenders — Mackenzie Blackwood for Colorado and Yaroslav Askarov for San Jose — and in what moments did their saves matter most?

#4 What turning points in the third period allowed the Avalanche to take and maintain the lead after the Sharks tied the game early in the frame?

#5 What overall trends (shot differential, possession, special teams) can be identified from this matchup that reflect each team’s performance heading into the Olympic break?

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

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro: Sharks no match for NHL’s best Aves in 6-0 shutout

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San Jose Sharks rookie star Macklin Celebrini (71) waits for linesman Shandor Alphonso to drop the puck as the Sharks were pummeled by the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in downtown Denver Wed Nov 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Len Shapiro:

#1 The San Jose Sharks (11-10-3) ran into a buzz saw at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday night getting blown out 6-0 by the NHL’s best the Colorado Avalanche (17-1-5) for their tenth win in a row.

#2 One of the keys to shutting down the Sharks offense was former Shark and current Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood who stopped all 26 San Jose shots.

#3 The Avalanche didn’t waste any time scoring early twice in the first period and later three times in the second period.

#4 In watching the Avalanche they completely dominated in this game the Sharks couldn’t even get in the back end of the net and the Sharks looked like that old struggling team again.

#5 Len, the Vancouver Canucks come into San Jose on Friday talk about how you see this match up coming off this tough loss on Wednesday night.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Buried by Avalanche, Shut Out 6-0

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Remember this guy in net that’s former San Jose Shark now Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood whose doing just fine between the pipes for Colorado delivering a shutout against his former team the Sharks at the Ball Center in Denver on Wed Nov 26, 2025 (AP new photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks were shut out 6-0 by the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The win was the tenth in a row for the Avalanche. It was also the 12th loss in a row for the Sharks in Denver. Ross Colton, Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Malinski, Josh Manson, Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen scored for the Avalanche. Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for the shut-out win. San Jose’s Alex Nedeljkovic made 21 saves on 23 shots in relief. Yaroslav Askarov made 15 saves on 19 shots before being relieved.

“We were chasing it, right from the drop of the puck. Fast, physical team. They put us on our heels early,” said Sharks Head Coach, Ryan Warsofsky. “We got waxed, they’re a great hockey team,” said Macklin Celebrini. “That’s the best team in the League and that’s where we want to be. So it just kind of shows how much work we’ve got to do and put in to get to that level,” said Sam Dickinson.

Ross Colton gave the Avallanche an early lead, just 3:39 into the game. Colton came out of a neutral-zone scramble with the puck, skated in and snapped the puck past Askarov.

Nathan MacKinnon doubled the lead with a power play goal in the final minute of the period. Cale Makar set up MacKinnon’s slap shot after Gabriel Landeskog won an offensive zone faceoff.

The Sharks took two penalties in the first, and were outshot 15-5 by the Avalanche.

San Jose seemed to push back to start the second period but were quickly overwhelmed by three goals in quick succession. The first came at 3:44, a shot from the blue line by Sam Malinski. That shot was made possible when Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas won the puck along the boards.

The next goal came from Josh Manson at 4:51. Manson’s shot came from the blue line and went through traffic in front of Askarov. Assists went to Victor Olofsson and Parker Kelly.

Alex Nedeljkovic replaced Askarov after that goal, only to give up one himself just nine seconds later. Zack Ostapchuk went to the left, pushing Zakhar Bardakov off the puck, but leaving Timothy Liljegren to face a two on one. Joel Kiviranta went around him and scored. Assists went to Ivan Ivan and Bardakov.

The Sharks opted to use their time out after that goal. That pause did not produce any goals but it did stem the bleeding. The Sharks took one penalty and drew three to finish the period. San Jose also outshot Colorado 15-11.

In the third period, Colorado pushed back. They outshot the Sharks 16-4. Each team took one penalty. Still, it was not until 16:15 of the period before the Avalanche scored again. Nathan MacKinnon carried the puck into the zone and then passed it to Artturi Lehkonen in the slot. An assist also went to Martin Necas.

The Sharks next play back in San Jose on Friday at 1:00 PM PT against the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL podcast with Jessica Kwong: McDavid reaches milestone for Oilers; Pens drop 3-0 lead to Leafs; plus more news

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Edmonton Oilers Conner McDavid scored his 1100th career point against the St Louis Blues on Tue Nov 3, 2025 (USA Today file photo)

NHL podcast with Jessica Kwong:

#1 What milestone did Connor McDavid reach during the Edmonton Oilers-St. Louis Blues game, and why is it significant in the league history?

#2 How did the Toronto Maple Leafs manage to turn around their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and which player(s) catalyzed the comeback?

#3 What impact did rookie Ben Kindel have in the Penguins’ loss to the Maple Leafs, and what record or milestone did he achieve in that game?

#4 In the matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators, what situation did Vancouver overcome to win the game, and what does that say about their performance under pressure?

#5 Which two superstar forwards were set to face each other in the upcoming game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche, and what was the added significance of that matchup according to the preview?

Jessica Kwong is an NHL podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com