Sharks Lose To Their Rivals From So-Cal Kings 4-1; LA goalie Rittich holds SJ to just one goal

The Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund (5) congratulates goaltender David Rittich (31) after defeating the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose on Tue Dec 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, December 19th, 2023

By Troy Ewers 

San Jose, CA – The San Jose Sharks have played in six consecutive one-goal games over the club’s last seven contests, earning points in four of the last five (3-1-1) as part of the team’s hot December run. Following San Jose’s 1-0 loss Friday at Arizona (Dec. 15), the Sharks got trounced by the Avalanche 6-2 and hope to turn it around before the holidays as they face the Los Angeles Kings in the SAP Center. 

The Sharks and Kings went almost the whole period scoreless, but even in almost every category. That stalemate between these two rivals finally came to an end when the Kings were able to generate a smooth line of offense that resulted in Arthur Kaliyev getting the puck behind the net and he found Anza Kopitar in the slot area with a wide open wrist shot past Kaapo Kahkonen. 1-0 Kings.

The period was majority even until the goal 18 minutes in, but after that it the Kings held the lead on the scoreboard and in the shots on goal stat line with 12 compared to the Sharks’ five. 

Sharks couldn’t generate anyhing going in the second period, especially compared to the Kings. Four minutes into the period, Trevor Moore assisted by Kevin Fiala, who now has 23 assists and Phillip Danault who now has 12. 2-0 Kings.

A minute later the Kings continued their assault as a shot from Kopitar was deflected by Alex Laferriere in the net and it was 3-0. The Sharks looked out of it in the second period, but the crowd was still in it and rooting for their boys in teal no matter how ugly it looked. 

The air was sucked out of the room during the period. The only time the crowd came alive was when the puck looked like it was going in the net, but Kings goalie David Rittich gloved it right before it crossed the line. Another time the crowd came alive was when Fabian Zetterlund looked like he was about to get the Sharks first goal of the night, but the puck hit the post and it went right back to a silent night ironically.

The time kept ticking, but the score stayed the same for the majority of the period. An empty net goal from Trevor Lewis made it 4-0 and immediately after that the Sharks finally got one on the board with a slap shot by Jacob MacDonald, his fifth of the season. 4-1 and that was the final score as the final buzzer sounded.

The Sharks take another crushing loss this season and their next game will be on December 21st, back in the SAP Center and the Sharks have a lot to evaluate before they go into the holiday break.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks host Kings tonight; San Jose looking to rebound from loss in Colorado

The Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (right) battles for the hockey puck as the San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (left) tries to get a stick on the puck on defense at Ball Arena in Denver on Sun Dec 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers:

#1 Regardless of winning or losing the San Jose Sharks played six straight one goal games they did win three of six on their last east coast six game road swing. They lost a close one to the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night in Tempe. Then the Sharks were crushed by the Colorado Avalanche on 6-2 on Sunday.

#2 In the loss to the Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and had two assists which help lead the Avalanche to their out scoring bid on the Sharks.

#3 The Avalanche had plenty of help with Mikko Rantanen, Ryan Johansen, Valeri Nichushkin and Miles Wood each with a goal. It gives you an idea how potent the Avalanche offense is.

#4 The Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood was blitzed by the Avalanche facing 33 shots and allowing five. For Blackwood was this a matter of not getting the protection up front or was this an off game for Blackwood.

#5 Sharks host the Los Angeles Kings (17-6-4). The Kings have won six of their last ten games although they’ve lost three of their last four games. The did win their last game against a very sound Seattle Kraken team with a one goal win 3-2 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Troy, how do you see this contest between the Kings and Sharks tonight.

Troy Ewers is a San Jose Sharks beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Canadiens overcome deficit defeat CBJ’s 4-2; Rangers two goal third period defeats Wings 3-2; plus more news

The Montreal Canadiens forward Joel Armia (right) scores on the Columbus Blue Jackets Elvis goaltender Merzlikins (left) and defenseman Erik Gudbranson in third period in Columbus on Wed Nov 29, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the Montreal Canadiens got the hot hand and scored twice in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 4-2 win in Columbus. The Habs Joel Armia got the go ahead goal at 17:03 to make it 3-2 for what would be later the game winning goal.

#2 The New York Rangers erased a 2-1 lead against the Detroit Red Wings scoring two goals in the third period to catch the Rangers and get the win 3-2. The Rangers Jimmy Vesey got a rebound and shot a backhanded goal at 4:15 against the Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso for the winner.

#3 The Los Angeles Kings five game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals losing it 2-1 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Capitals got goals from Connor McMichael and Anthony Mantha and Caps goaltender Charlie Lindgren stopped 37 shots.

#4 The Vancouver Canucks dealt Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. Beauvillier had eight points on the season for the Canucks. Beauvillier was dealt to Chciago for a fifth round draft pick going to Vancouver.

#5 The Minnesota Wild acquired defenseman Zach Bogosian from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a seventh round draft pick, the Lightning traded Calen Anderson to the San Jose Sharks for Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth round draft pick.

Len Shapiro does the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Fall to Kings 4-3 in OT, Preseason in SLC

Los Angeles Kings left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) and San Jose Sharks Kyle Burroughs, top, fight during the third period in pre season action Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell to the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Anze Kopitar and Trevor Moore scored for the Kings during regulation. Adrian Kempe scored the OT winner.

Pheonix Copley made 24 saves for the win. Alexander Barabanov, Mike Hoffman and Thomas Bordeleau scored for the Sharks and Mackenzie Blackwood made 33 saves in the loss.

Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois opened the scoring at 8:27 of the first period. Kevin Fiala and Vladislav Gavrikov got the assists.

Late in the period, Carl Grundstrom was called for tripping. In the ensuing power play, Sharks winger Alexander Barabanov tied it up at 17:39. Mikael Granlund and Anthony Duclair earned the assists.

The shots were close in the first period, at 12-10 Kings. The Sharks killed their only penalty in the period and scored on one of two power plays.

Anze Kopitar gave the Kings their second lead of the game at 8:16 of the second period. Drew Doughty got an assist on the goal.

Sharks winger Mike Hoffman tied it back up at 14:45 of the period, with assists going to Tomas Hertl and goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.

The Sharks killed both of two penalties they took in the period. They had one unsuccessful power play in the final minutes of the second frame. The shots were 12-9 Sharks.

Trevor Moore gave the Kings a third lead just 3:28 into the third period. Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault got the assists.

Sharks center Thomas Bordeleau tied the game for the third time at 14:15 of the period. William Eklund got the assist.

The penalties exploded in the third period, with two sets of matching double-minors, four misconducts, an interference and two unsporstmanlike conducts distributed among six players. The shot count for the period heavily favored Los Angeles, 15-5.

Adrian Kempe’s overtime winner was the only shot of the period and came just 17 seconds into the extra frame. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty got assists.

This was the final 2023 preseason game for the Sharks. The Sharks’ next game will be October 12 at home against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. Puck drop at 7:30 PM PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Walsh: Sharks host Kings tonight at SAP Center; Couture still hopeful for opening night

Defenseman Nick Cicek (59) was off and playing some defense against the Anaheim Ducks last Wed Sep 27, 2023 at the Honda Center in Anaheim (@SanJoseSharks photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks were beaten by the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 in their last pre-season game on Wednesday at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Pavel Mintyukov, Chase De Leo, Brett Leason and Brock McGinn scored for the Ducks. Lukas Dostal made 45 saves for the win.

#2 Justin Bailey and Nathan Todd scored their firsts of the preseason for the Sharks. Georgi Romanov made 22 saves in the loss.

#3 Bailey scored the first goal of the game at 9:36 of the first period. The goal came on the power play while Nathan Gaucher sat in the box for slashing Jacob MacDonald. Assists went to Danil Gushchin and Henry Thrun. It was Bailey’s first goal of the preseason.

#4 At 18:21, a bad hit by Alex Killorn on Filip Zadina spilled over into several penalties, including a 10 minute misconduct for Radko Gudas and a hi-sticking penalty for Matt Benning. Killorn was called for boarding. Zadina left the ice injured.

#5 Mary Lisa, Logan Couture is still hoping to get in the line up for opening night against the Vegas Golden Knight at SAP Center on Thu Oct 12th.

#6 The Sharks are at home tonight to host the Los Angeles Kings in pre season game #4. The Sharks after tonight’s game head to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights for pre season game #5 on Tue Oct 3.

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington: New Jersey to start Schmid in game 3; Kings play catch up on Oilers; plus more

New Jersey Devils goaltender Akira Schmid is most likely to get the call for game 3 against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sat 22, 2023 (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The New Jersey Devils are contemplating starting Akira Schmid in goal for game 3 against the New York Rangers. An indication that Scmid might get the call first string goaltender Vitek Vanecek and second stringer MacKenzie Blackwood were on the other end of the ice during Saturday’s morning skate with Schmid defending by himself on the opposite end. Another indication Schmid led the players out on the ice for practice.

#2 The Los Angeles Kings certainly have not given in one bit they went up two games to one against the powerful Edmonton Oilers. The Kings broke a 1-1 deadlock after the Oilers were hit with a penalty which were defined as undisciplined penalties. The Kings capitalized scoring two goals on power plays at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Kings overtake the Oilers for a 2-1 series lead.

#3 The Minnesota Wild came right back after getting beat by the Dallas Stars 7-3 in game 2 on Wednesday. On Friday in game 3 the series tied at 1-1 the Wild came back with a convincing 5-1 win to take a 2-1 series lead. The Wild scored twice in each of the second and third periods and got good goaltending from Filip Gustavsson who stopped 23 out of 24 shots.

#4 The Carolina Hurricanes Teuvo Teravainen will be out for the rest of the playoffs due to a broken left hand during the Hurricanes 4-3 win against the New York Islanders. Teravainen’s hand hit the stick of Isle forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau at 4:24 in the third period. Carolina head coach Ron Brind’Amour said that Pageau tomahawked Teravainen’s hand and broke his hand.

#5 Matt, taking a look at game to be played later tonight the Seattle Kraken and the Colorado Avalanche with the series tied 1-1 this one is at Climate Pledge Arena. The Avalanche just got by the Kraken in game 2, 3-2 to even the series. Aves goaltender Alexander Georgiev allowed only two Kraken goals in the first period and shut them out the rest of the way for the one goal win.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Kings Vilardi and Doughty score third period goals 53 seconds apart to down Sharks 4-3 at Crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield, left, scores on San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer, right, as defenseman Matt Benning, second from left, defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, center, and center Anze Kopitar watch during the first period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wed Jan 11, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks (13-22-8) couldn’t hold their own on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles going into the third period with a 2-1 lead Timo Meier tied it 2-2. The Los Angeles Kings (24-14-6) got scoring help in the third period with goals by Gabriel Vilardi and Drew Doughty scoring 53 seconds apart for a 4-3 Kings win in the last meeting with the Sharks.

#2 The Kings Quinton Bayfield scored a goal and got an assist for the Kings who have now won three straight games.

#3 The Kings Phoenix Copely stopped 26 shots and is one of the winningest goaltenders in the NHL with a 12-2 record.

#4 The Sharks Timo Meier scored his first power play goal of the season and an assist. They were playing the second of back to back games after playing in Arizona on Tuesday night.

#5 The Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers (22-18-3). The Oilers having a pretty good run right now having won five of their last ten games and winning their last game convincingly 6-2 over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Tell us how you see this match up between the Sharks and Oilers Friday.

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

Sharks Lose 4-3, Suffer Season Sweep to Kings

Jonathan Quick (32) Los Angeles Kings goaltender congratulates teammate and starting goaltender Phoenix Copley (29) after defeating the visiting San Jose Sharks at Crypto.com Arena on Wed Jan 11, 2023 (Los Angeles Kings photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks scored their first power play goal of 2023 but it wasn’t enough to stave off a season sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday night in LA. Nick Bonino scored an un assisted goal and Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl lit the lamp but a pair of third period goals boosted the Kings to a 4-3 victory.

Adrian Kempe started the scoring for the Kings, beating James Reimer 5:59 into the game for a 1-0 lead. Kempe shoveled a puck fed from Quentin Byfield below the goalline past Reimer’s opposite side pad for his 18th goal of the year.

The Kings would fire 22 shots on Reimer but he stood tall apart from the one blemish, giving Bonino a chance to tie the game 1:20 into the 2nd period. LA goalie Pheonix Copley flubbed a shot from Erik Karlsson that went in and out of his glove. He tried to play the puck away from danger but heeled it, giving Bonino the gimme backhander for his 5th of the year.

Kings prospect Byfield scored his 1st goal of the year in 15 games, handing LA the 2-1 lead 6:58 into the 2nd on a netfront tip that beat Reimer five-hole. Timo Meier responded though, snapping am 0-for-16 power play drought when his wrister beat Copley at the 10:11 mark of the third period. Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson assisted on the goal.

The tie would last only 2:29 when Gabe Vilardi would beat Reimer with another slot tip for his 17th of the year. Drew Doughty then cashed in as a wide open trailer in what would become a 3-on-2 at the 13:33 mark for a 4-2 lead.

Tomas Hertl scored as the Sharks were attempting to pull Reimer with 2:06 left in regulation. Alexander Barabanov took the shot that presumably knicked Hertl on the way in with Meier also getting an assist for his 2nd point of the night.

The Sharks return home for a three-game homestand before hitting the road for 8 games with the All-star break in between the away set.

Reimer Sharp but Sharks Lose 3-2 Shootout to Kings

Los Angeles Kings’ Trevor Moore (12) scores against San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sat Dec 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

James Reimer made 39 saves in his second game back from injury but the San Jose Sharks dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Los Angeles Kings from the Crypto.com Arena. Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc scored in the loss, while Phillip Danault and Jaret Anderson-Dolan lit the lamp for LA(17-12-5).

Trevor Moore scored the shootout winner and Pheonix Copley stopped Alexander Barabanov to seal the loss for San Jose (10-16-6).

Danault opened the scoring on the power play 5:54 into the game when he managed to enter the zone and get Jaycob Megna turned around, roofing the puck for his 8th goal of the year with Drew Doughty and the goalie Copley picking up assists.

The Sharks evened it up on the power play with 6:37 left in the period when Erik Karlsson’s point shot rattled around before finding its way to Timo Meier on the opposite post. Meier knocked the puck home for his 15th of the year with Logan Couture picking up the primary assist in the aftermath of the Karlsson shot.

Labanc gave the Sharks a short-lived lead, scoring on a wrist shot with 4:34 left in the second. Meier chased down a failed backhand clearance from Sean Durzi then stripped Danault of the puck in the Kings zone. He then fed Labanc unmarked in the slot for the wrister.

The Kings tied it up just 50 seconds later when Mikey Anderson’s shot bounced off Reimer and landed at the feet of Anderson-Dolan for the second chance goal.

Neither team scored in the third period and the Sharks failed to cash in on an overtime power play. Gabe Vilardi and Logan Couture shared misses on the first two shootout attempts, then Reimer and Copley made saves in round two. The Kevin’s, Fiala and Labanc, scored for their respective teams in round three.

Moore scored in round four and wound up with his second shootout game winner courtesy a Copley stop of Barabanov after getting the decision against Boston Thursday as well (and inking a contract extention too).

The Sharks head home for a back-to-backer, facing Calgary Sunday at SAP Center. They won’t have to wait long for their next opponent to come to town as they’ll face the Flames again Tuesday before welcoming the Minnesota Wild Thursday.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks looking for third straight win against Kings tonight in LA

San Jose Sharks center Nick Bonino (13) falls as he passes the puck while under pressure from Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) during the third period at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Fri Dec 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 For the San Jose Sharks (10-16-5) Nick Bonino he’s finding the back end of the net without any problems scoring in his fourth consecutive game last Tuesday in the Sharks 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes (9-14-4).

#2 Sharks goaltender James Reimer picked up his first win since returning from his injury. Reimer allowed two goals and faced 22 shots in the one goal win for the Sharks.

#3 The Sharks in the first period didn’t waste anytime scoring as Bonino and Thomas Hertl scored in a 1:02 time span which was a crucial period for scoring in a tight game.

#4 Nick Sturm’s second period goal was crucial in the 3-2 win in a rare Sharks home ice win in San Jose their third win in 15 games for the Sharks.

#5 The Sharks prepare for Saturday night at cryptocurrency.com Arena for the Los Angeles Kings at 7:30pm. The Sharks have now won two in a row and are looking to try and extend the streak against the Kings.

#6 Tuesday was throw back California Golden Seals sweater night and that’s been such a popular promotion are fans gobbling up those sweaters and also it was Sharks TV broadcaster Randy Hahn 2,000 game as a Sharks broadcaster.

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