NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Alfredsson, Luongo, Sedin Twins on the way to the Hall of Fame; Milano’s two goals helps Caps defeat Bolts; plus more news

Daniel Alfredsson former Ottawa Senator, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin and Hendrik Sedin former Vancouver Canucks are all heading for enshrinement into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame (NHL.com file photo with NHL.com writer Nick Cotsonika insert)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Three names came up and are on the way to be in the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto Daniel Alfredsson, Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin and Hendrik Sedin. Alfredsson almost won the Stanley Cup Championship with the 2007 Ottawa Senators, Luongo and the Sedin Twins nearly won a cup when they lost to the Boston Bruins in Vancouver in game 7 in 2011. All are going to the Hall of Fame.

#2 Sonny Milano helped the Washington Capitals get a win on Friday night with two goals over the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Capital One Arena in DC. The Caps got great goaltending from Darcey Kuemper who stopped 28 shots in the 5-1 win.

#3 Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets will be out for the rest of the season after attempting to make a check but missed and hit the boards separating his shoulder and tore a labrum at 17:01. Werenski scored a goal and got an assist before leaving the game.

#4 Matt, with the war in Ukraine going and no end in sight the NHL and the NHLPA have canceled the World Cup of Hockey saying it’s not feasible for a return for 2024. It was reported that it is uncertain for Russia to have a team as the NHL has suspended all business with Russia during the war.

#5 Timo Meier scored a goal in five straight games doing it again against the Dallas Stars and helping the San Jose Sharks defeat Dallas 5-4. The Sharks got a goal each from Alex Barabanov, Logan Couture, and Tomas Hertl and goaltender James Reimer stopped 24 shots.

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

Sharks Survive Dallas 5-4 to Snap Five-Game Skid, Meier Scores in Fifth-Straight

San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the second period in Dallas on Fri Nov 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks avenged a loss to the last place St. Louis Blues the night before by holding on to defeat former Sharks coach Peter DeBoer and the Dallas Stars 5-4 Friday and snap a five-game losing streak. Timo Meier scored in his fifth-straight contest, Alexander Barabanov, Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture each had a goal and an assist and Evgeny Svechnikov scored his 3rd goal of the season for San Jose.

Dallas captain Jamie Benn scored a pair of goals and the top line for Dallas (8-5-1) of Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson combined for 5 points in a losing effort. Stars netminder Jake Oettinger, a former tutee of Sharks coach David Quinn when Quinn coached Boston University, made 13 saves on 18 shots in his first game action after missing the previous four games. San Jose’s James Reimer earned the win over last year’s playoff phenom though, making 25 saves on 29 shots.

After finishing the first period tied 2-2 the Sharks (4-9-3) pulled away in a bizarre second period. Team Teal only put four shots on goal over the 20 minutes, but Timo Meier beat Oettinger clean on a wrist shot over the netminder’s right shoulder 29 seconds into the period.

Kevin Labanc got the assist on Meier’s 7th goal of the year after picking up a turnover created by Meier. 36 seconds later, the Sharks captain Couture scored after another Shark, Alexander Barabanov, picked off a turnover and fed for a one-timer. Couture now has goals in back-to-back games after scoring to put the Sharks period shooting percentage at 50% while giving the Sharks a 4-2 lead.

Tomas Hertl put the Sharks up by 3 after deking Oettinger in close on a backhand 29 seconds into the third period, taking a pass from Meier to slink in alone. Jaycob Megna also assited on the goal. Roope Hintz scored 6:18 into the period and Joe Pavelski netted his 7th goal of the campaign at the 12:06 mark but despite out shooting the Sharks 11-3 in the last frame they couldn’t find the equalizer to force overtime.

Jamie Benn opened the scoring 4:42 into play, but Alexander Barabanov scored at the 6:13 mark to tie the game. The Sharks took the first lead of the night at the 12:18 mark when Svechnikov beat Oettinger, but Benn scored his second with just 21 seconds left in the first to tie the game after 20 minutes.

San Jose continues its tour of Central Division foes with a trip to the State of Hockey Sunday afternoon. After the stop in Minnesota, they face Pacific Division rivals the Vegas Golden Knights on The Strip Tuesday to wrap up a four-game road trip.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: NHL teams shopping Karlsson; Will Sharks be sellers?

San Jose Sharks Erik Karlsson skates against the Florida Panthers on Thu Nov 3, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson lead all NHL defensemen with ten goals and 14 points in his first 14 games this season a remarkable start for Karlsson.

#2 From 2011-2018 Karlsson had a great run with 110 points that’s more than any other defenseman during that time.

#3 Looking back the Sharks gave up on a lot of key players to make cap room for Karlsson players like Justin Braun, Joonas Donskoi, Joe Pavelski, Brenden Dillion, Melker Karlsson,

#4 The Sharks were on a four game losing streak in the first two period of most of those games they seemed competitive and in it but in the third period or overtime they just can’t hold the lead.

#5 Sharks on Thursday opened a four game road trip with the St Louis Blues followed the Dallas Stars tonight, then the Minnesota Wild Sunday and wrap up the trip Tuesday in Vegas.

Join Len for the Sharks podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Hertl pumped scoring in hometown Prague not enough Sharks lose twice to Predators; Flames Weegar signs 8 yr deal for $50 million; plus more

Calgary Flames MacKenzie Weegar signed a new contract with the Flames for eight years for $50 million (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, we’ll lead off with the NHL Global Series where game one was concluded Friday in a 4-1 loss and then the Sharks took another tough loss in a squeaker 3-2 on Saturday. The biggest thrill was when the Sharks Tomas Hertl scored San Jose’s lone goal on Friday in front of Hertl’s hometown fans in Prague.

#2 28 year old defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to a big eight year handshake from the Calgary Flames signing on for $50 million. Weegar is in the final year of his three year deal with the Flames and the Flames wanted to go out and make sure they could secure his services.

#3 Elsipogtog First Nation celebrated the NHL pre season game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators which drops the puck this Saturday at J.K. Irving Centre in Bouctouche. Matt this will be probably the only time the Elsipogtog First Nation will be an opportunity to see the Stanley Cup up close and in person. The First Nation gets to enjoy Hockeyville and NHL hockey atmosphere.

#4 Matt, Jordan Staal is looking for contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Canes general manager Don Waddell says he’s confident he can get a deal with Staal. Staal is in the final year of his ten year $60 million contract.

#5 The Dallas Stars Jason Robertson signed on for a four year $31 million contract. In 2021-22 Robertson had 41 goals, 38 assists, 79 points, and a plus 16 Rating. Looks like the Stars and Robertson got a good deal on both ends.

Join Matt Harrington for the NHL podcasts Saturdays 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 podcast with Len Shapiro: Stars go up 2-1 on Flames; Caps Ovechkin scores in 6-1 win over Florida; plus more

The Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski (16) and Vladislav Namestinkov (92) celebrate Pavelski’s goal as the Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) is on his back looking up in Dallas on Sat May 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski scored twice to break ties in two consecutive playoff games against the Calgary Flames. Pavelski has been very instrumental in helping the Stars and in particular on Saturday in game 3 as the Stars go up 2-1.

#2 The Edmonton Oilers lead the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 and their two wins came after two defining victories 6-0 in game two on Wednesday and game three 8-2 on Friday. Both teams meet up again for game three on Monday night.

#3 One of the big games Saturday the Washington Capitals in game 3 gained on the Florida Panthers going up 2-1 in the series with a 6-1 win on Saturday. The Caps goal scoring help from Alex Ovechkin who scored his first goal of the playoffs.

#4 The Colorado Avalanche went up on the Nashville Predators 3-0 with a convincing 7-3 win in game 3. The Aves have a shot at sweeping this series on Monday night. The Aves Gabriel Landeskog scored twice with two assists.

#5 The Pittsburgh Penguins took a 2-1 lead on the New York Rangers as the Pens Damon Heimen got the go ahead goal at 11:02 in the third period. The Pens got the three goal win 7-4 win at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

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

Sharks Fall 2-1 to Stars, Losing Streak at nine

Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa (2) and center Joe Pavelski (16) defend against San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture (39) in real close battle at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The Sharks lost their ninth in a row Thursday, 2-1 to the Dallas Stars. Tyler Seguin and Michael Raffl scored for the Stars. Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the win. Timo Meier scored for the Sharks and Kaapo Kahkonen made 24 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner compared the game to the previous outing:

“I thought tonight we played exactly how we want to play in this building against an urgent team. We know how important this game was for Dallas, we tried to match that urgency early. I thought we did. I just thought our game was better, I thought that we played with good structure.”

The Sharks were eliminated from playoff contention after their loss to the Blackhawks on Tuesday. So it should be no surprise that a number of rookies in need of game time were in the lineup Thursday. Out of the lineup were Alexander Barabanov, Erik Karlsson and Radim Simek with injuries of varying degrees. Forward Jasper Weatherby had 8:01 TOI and won 29% of his face-offs, centering Jeffrey Viel and Scott Reedy. Viel had 7:51 TOI. Reedy had two shots, a hit and a blocked shot in 12:10 TOI. Sasha Chmelevski had three shots, two hits, and won 29% of his face-offs in 16:56 TOI, centering Noah Gregor and Matt Nieto. Defenseman Ryan Merkley had an assist, three shots, a blocked shot and a hit in 16:40 TOI, playing with Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Defenseman Nicolas Meloche had a shot, a hit and a blocked shot in 20:31 TOI, playing with Mario Ferraro.

Boughner was not unhappy with the performance of the younger players, and said:

“I thought the young guys all played well, I thought Weatherby coming in, I thought he played fine in the middle. I thought he had a little trouble in his face-offs. You know, but I thought Reedy, and Sasha, [Merkley], all those guys gave us good minutes.”

Tyler Seguin scored the first goal, at 5:55 of the first period. He redirected a shot from Jamie Benn that came across the ice to Seguin, right in front of the blue paint. Assists went to Benn and Ryan Suter.

Michael Raffl scored the second Dallas goal, short handed at 13:32 of the second period. Luke Glendening carried the puck from one o-zone to the other, two on one with Raffl. Glendening made the pass through a sliding Brent Burns to Raffl, who had a clear shot. Assists went to Glendening and Esa Lindell. It was the eleventh short-handed goal that the Sharks have given up this season.

Timo Meier scored at 19:23 of the second, his 33rd of the season. Ryan Merkley sent the puck to the middle of the slot for Meier, who took the shot through traffic. Assists went to Merkley and Mario Ferraro.

The shots were close throughout the game, with a final count of 26-24 Stars. Each team had three shots on the power play, but the Stars had three short-handed shots as well as the short-handed goal. The Sharks won 41% of their face-offs.

The Sharks next play on Sunday at 2:30 PM PT in Minnesota against the Wild.

Sharks Fall 5-4 to Stars; SJ’s fourth loss in last five games

After being down 4-1 the San Jose Sharks closed the gap on the Dallas Stars but in the third period a goal by the Stars Joe Pavelski (center) at 7:44 proved to be the game winner celebrates with center, celebrates with Miro Heiskanen (4) and Jason Robertson (21) at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Apr 2, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks fell 5-4 to the Dallas Stars Saturday after nearly erasing a three-goal first period deficit. Jason Roberston, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jani Hakanpaa, Roope Hintz, Jason Roberston, and Joe Pavelski scored for Dallas. Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for the win. Nick Bonino, Brent Burns, John Leonard and Logan Couture scored for San Jose. Kaapo Kahkonen made 10 saves in the first period and James Reimer made 14 saves in the loss.

Nick Bonino gave the Sharks an early lead, scoring off a rebound from a Noah Gregor shot. The goal was scored just 1:25 into the first period. Assists went to Gregor and Erik Karlsson.

Vladislav Namestnikov tied it up just 25 seconds later. Tyler Seguin intercepted a pass behind the Sharks net and centered it for Namestnikov, right on the doorstep.

Jani Hakanpaa gave the Stars the lead at 8:11. Tyler Seguin tried for a shot from up above the circle, but the puck went off the heel of his stick and wound up on the other side of the ice, on Hakanpaa’’s stick. Assists went to Seguin and Namestnikov.

Roope Hintz made it 3-1 a couple of minutes late. John Klingberg flung the puck at the net as Hintz and Pavelski skated to the net. The puck went off of Hintz’s leg and in for his 30th goal of the season. Assists went to Klingberg and Joe Pavelski.

Jason Roberston made it 4-1 in the final second of the period. The Stars pulled their goaltender after an icing call against the Sharks. Robertson scored by banking the puck off of the goaltender. Assists went to Denis Gurianov and Tyler Seguin.

The Sharks replaced Kahkonen with Reimer after the first period.

Brent Burns scored for San Jose at 7:53 of the second period, going to the net and trying to make a pass across the slot to Chmelevski. The puck went off of a defender’s skate instead and bounced into the net. Assists went to Chmelevski and Jaycob Megna.

Joe Pavelski scored what would be the game-winner, 7:44 into the third period. Pavelski and Hintz skated into the Sharks zone with the Sharks hot on the heels of the puck carrier Hintz. Hintz got a pass away to Pavelski in the slot and Pavelski lifted the puck past Reimer on the blocker side. Assists went to Hintz and Robertson.

John Leonard narrowed the lead at 15:21 with his first goal of the season. After Erik Karlsson threw the puck into traffic at the net, Leonard found the puck on a rebound and shot it past Wedgewood. Assists went to Karlsson and Mario Ferraro.

Logan Couture brought the Sharks within one at 18:32. He pushed the puck over the line after Sasha Chmelevski doggedly pushed the puck past the goaltender’s skate at the corner of the net. Assists went to Chmelevski and Gregor.

The Sharks power play had one opportunity but got no shots on goal. Their penalty kill successfully killed three penalties, giving up just three shots. In the face-off circle, the Sharks won 47% of the draw.

Mario Ferraro and Jonathan Dahlen were both back in the lineup, recovered from injury.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday at home, against the Edmonton Oilers at 7:30 PM PT.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Stars pull off win after going 0-0 in regulation; Bettman upholds Marchand suspension; plus more

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, left, can’t stop the Dallas Stars center Jacob Peterson who scores the game winning shootout goal at the United Center in Chicago on Fri Feb 18, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Matt, as you know there are no ties in hockey and the Dallas Stars (27-19-2) and Chicago Blackhawks (18-25-8) played to a 0-0 in regulation and then a shootout which the Stars pulled it off with the score tied 1-1 and the Stars Jacob Peterson scoring the game winner.

#2 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six game suspension of the Boston Bruins Brad Marchand in which he hit Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry in the jaw while Jarry was down on his knees freezing a puck and later after an official was escorting Marchand off the ice Marchand took his stick and hit Jarry in the chin with it in the Feb 8th game.

#3 Matt, talk about the Edmonton Oilers Jesse Puljujarvi who is out with an lower body injury. Puljujarvi was injured Thursday in Anaheim at Rogers Place. Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft said Puljujarvi got tangled up and it wasn’t a dirty play and not an impact injury.

#4 Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fluery says there is a lot of time between now and the March 21st trade deadline. Fluery wants to play one more year and hopes to finish up in Chicago. Matt do you see Fluery able to get his wish and finish up with the Blackhawks.

#5 The Philadelphia Flyers Claude Giroux is considering a trade and is discussing it with team general manager Chuck Fletcher. Giroux has a no trade clause in his contract. Fletcher said it’s Giroux’s decision and with the trade deadline coming Fletcher will waiting to hear from Giroux.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks Hertl stays hot goal scoring is the difference in 2-1 win over Stars; Goaltender Reimer stops 34 shots for Sharks

San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer, rear, defends against a shot by Dallas Stars center Luke Glendening (11) at SAP Center in San Jose Sat Dec 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks (15-12-1) Tomas Hertl scored for the fourth consecutive game as long as he stays on a roll he’s going to make a difference like he did in the one goal decider against the Dallas Stars (13-10-2) on Saturday night.

#2 Defenseman Erik Karlsson scored a late goal in the second period and has scored five goals in his last seven games.

#3 The Stars Michael Raffl got the only goal for Dallas. The Stars who won seven in a row have now dropped three in a row.

#4 The Sharks goaltender James Reimer (9-4) had a great game between the pipes with 34 saves he was the difference in the Sharks one goal win.

#5 The Sharks face off against the Seattle Kraken (9-15-3) Tuesday. The Kraken eighth in the Pacific. The Kraken have lost four of their last five and lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-11-1) tonight 5-4 in overtime. The Kraken have had a couple players who were in Covid 19 protocols.

Join Len for the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com