Tag: Nashville Predators

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Ovechkin is #2 on all time NHL goals list; Pastrnak scores twice in 4-3 Bruins win; plus much more

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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Washington DC on Thu Dec 22, 2022 (AP News photo)

On NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin scored career goals 801 and 802 to tie and pass Gordie Howe for second on the all time NHL list. Ovechkin scored at 18:22 in the first period and at 19:22 in third period Ovechkin scored goal number 802. The Caps defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1.

#2 The Boston Bruins David Pastrnak scored twice for the Bruins 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils for their fourth straight win. Pastrnak extends his point streak to 11 games.

#3 Good things are happening for the Carolina Hurricanes they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday 6-5. The Hurricanes hit a point streak of 14 consecutive games. Hurricanes have now won eight straight games and The Flyers lost goaltender Carter Hart who stopped six out seven shots after suffering an upper body injury.

#4 The Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard scored at 4:17 in the overtime stanza to help defeat the Nashville Predators on Friday at Bridgestone Arena. The Aves Evan Rodrigues said “We’ve been fighting, grinding out wins, low-scoring games,” Rodrigues said. “Even when we’re down, guys believe we can come back.”

#5 The Las Vegas Knights Chandler Stephenson picked up four points and scored in the shootout stanza to defeat the St Louis Blues 5-4. Stephenson scored a goal and had three assists.

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: CBJs-Predators game postponed in Nashville; Leafs extend point streak to seven; plus more

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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) and Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) go after the puck during the first period at the Excel Energy Center in St Paul on Fri Nov 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

On NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 A very unusual NHL occurrence as today’s game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators has been postponed due to a water main break at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The report says the break had significantly impacted the building and can’t service fans or even the players at the Nashville rink. The Jackets, Predators, or the NHL have not announced a make up date yet.

#2 The Toronto Maple Leafs have extended their point streak to seven games with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild at the Excel Energy Center in St Paul. The Leafs Mitchell Marner extended his point streak to 15 games with a goal. The Leafs have now won two straight games and got 25 saves from goaltender Matt Murray.

#3 The Montreal Canadiens Kirby Dach has an eye for the backend of the net during shootouts. Dach scored his second consecutive game winning shootout goal getting the Habs a 3-2 win over the visiting Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago.

#4 Can’t hold a good team down as the Boston Bruins won their 12th consecutive game which is a NHL record for home victories getting the win over the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. The Bruins David Pastrnak scored on a power play goal at 3:19 in the overtime stanza for a one timer after a pass from Brad Marchand.

#5 The Pittsburgh Penguins Ryan Poehling scored scored two goals which help contribute to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Pens Teddy Blueger had three assists, Josh Archibald got a goal and an assist, good enough for their fifth straight win.

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

Sharks Drop 2nd From Prague to Preds 3-2

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Luke Kunin second from right celebrates a goal scored in the second period it was Kunin’s first NHL goal this one coming against the Nashville Predators on Sat Oct 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks will be making the transatlantic flight home with lifelong memories and the experiencing of playing hockey in two World capitals. They will not, however, be returning with any points in yow after falling to Nashville 3-2 in Prague Saturday night. The Sharks went winless in both contests of the Global Challenge Series against the Predators.

Luke Kunin converted on the power play for his first goal in teal and Logan Couture scored his first of the campaign, but Nino Niederreiter scored twice and Filip Forsberg potted a goal for the victory. Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves, holding off a late Sharks push for the two points.

The Sharks held a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes thanks to Kunin knocking in a loose puck at the net front with 5:36 left in the frame, but Nashville outscored San Jose 3-1 in the middle frame.

Niederreiter beat Kaapo Kähkönen 4:35 into the second on a snap shot for his second goal against thr Sharks this season. Logan Couture answered right back on the next faceoff, beating Lankinen of a feed from Steven Lorentz ten seconds later for a 2-1 lead. Mario Ferraro also assisted on the goal, his second apple after picking up the secondary assist on Kunin’s goal as well.

The lead was short lived with Forsberg scoring on a wrap around chance the hit off Kähkönen’s pad below the goal line and up and in the net at the 6:29 mark. Niederreiter added his second at the 12:13 mark of the frame for a 3-2 edge. Kähkönen made 15 saves on 18 shots.

The Sharks pushed late, putting 15 shots on goal in the third while allowing only three, but Lankinen turned aside all comers to seal the win for Nashville.

San Jose look to give their coach and general manager their first wins Friday night when they open the season at home. They’ll be facing Brent Burns and the Carolina Hurricanes after an offseason swap.

They’ll then play another rare Friday-Saturday back-to-back when the Chicago Blackhawks come to town Saturday night. The Sharks will be honoring former captain and general manager Doug Wilson that night.

Notes: Steven Lorentz and Oskar Lindblom picked up their first points as members of the Sharks, while Kunin scored his first goal after an offseason trade brought him over from Nashville…the Sharks won the faceoff battle a second night in a row, taking 50.7 percent of the draws…Evgeny Svechnikov and Jaycob Megna drew in for the Sharks, replacing Scott Harrington and Noah Gregor from the opening game lineup…San Jose wore their all teal uniform set as the designated home team, meaning fans have now seen both sets with the Sharks wearing their white sweaters Friday.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks closing out pre season with NHL Global Series in Prague

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San Jose Sharks’ Timo Meier (28) and Nashville Predators’ Matt Duchene (95) battle for the puck as the Sharks Tomas Hertl (48) looks on in the background on Apr 12, 2022 in Nashville. The teams meet in Prague for the NHL Global Series starting Fri Oct 7, 2022 (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the Sharks open up the season in Prague today and Saturday with back to back games against the Nashville Predators. This Global Series means a lot Czech Republic to have NHL hockey play there.

#2 Tomas Hertl said after missing a third straight post season he now gets to play in front of his hometown fans in Prague and he’ll be pushing hard to win those two games.

#3 Hertl got a chance to practice in front of the Prague crowd who was cheering him on. It meant a lot to him.

#4 Len talk about the goaltenders competing for a starting spot can you break them down? There’s James Reimer, Kaapo Kahkonen and Aaron Dell.

#5 Len talk about the Sharks head coach David Quinn whose hoping to get this team started on a good note this season.

#6 Len talk about the Sharks shoot first mentality, all defencemen how they dividy up the time.

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

Hertl Scores in Hometown, Sharks Lose Opener 4-1

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San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl is exuberant after scoring in front of his hometown crowd in Prague but it would end up being San Jose’s only goal of the game. As the Sharks drop game one to the Nashville Predators in the NHL Global Series on Fri Oct 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

There was a storybook moment but no happy ending for the San Jose Sharks Friday in Prague with the Sharks losing the season opener 4-1 to the Nashville Predators. Tomáš Hertl scored playing in front of his hometown crowd at O2 Arena, but San Jose couldn’t pick up a win in the first game under new general manager Mike Grier and head coach David Quinn.

Nashville took an early lead with Kiefer Sherwood 8:36 deflecting a puck past Sharks netminder James Reimer 1:01 into play. Hertl responded just by beating Nashville goalie Juuse Saros on a scrambling play 8:36 into the first period. Hertl, Timo Meier and former Pred-turned-Shark Luke Kunin (an assist apiece on the play) all put in yeoman’s work at around the crease and in the corners on the shift, fighting for and winning the loose puck battles to create the chaos for hometown Hertl.

Eeli Tolvanen scored the game-winner on another early strike, this time 1:24 into the 2nd period and Nino Niederreiter lit the lamp with 4:46 left in the period to give Nashville a 3-1 lead. Matt Duchene potted the empty netter with 32 seconds left to finish of the scoring.

The Predators outshot the Sharks by a slim 32-31 margin and neither team capitalized on the four power play opportunities each team received. The Sharks did however score in the seconds after a penalty.

The Sharks have a chance at leaving Prague with a happy (long) flight as they wrap up the 2022 Global Challenge Series with another showdown with Nashville Saturday night. San Jose is expected to tap Kaapo Kähkönen in net while the Predators will most likely choose between one of Connor Ingram or Kevin Lankinen.

Notes: The Sharks won the faceoff battle 36-30 with Nico Sturm winning 7 of 9 faceoffs…Newcomer Luke Kunin was the Sharks leader among forwards in TOI, playing 21:23 including a whopping 3:52 on the penalty kill…As expected, youngsters William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau were not in Quinn’s Sharks lineup… Marc-Edouard Vlasic played 20 minutes in the season opener after playing 20+ minutes only three times last season…Jonah Gadjovich picked up the Sharks first fighting major of the year, dropping the gloves with Mark Borowiecki in the second period… Alex Barabanov was not in the lineup as he continues to recover from an injury, while Sturm drew in after missing out on playing in his home country against Eisbären Berlin on Wednesday…Markus Nutivaara also remained out.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Maddie Dutra: Rookies fighting for a roster spot; Brent Burns skates will be hard to fill

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San Jose Sharks David Quinn looks on when he was head coach of Team USA in the Hockey World Championships against the Czech Republic in Tampere Finland on Sun May 29, 2022. Will be taking the Sharks to Prague for the NHL Global Hockey Series (AP file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Maddie Dutra:

#1 One thing about pre season hockey Maddie it gets physical with the rookies who are literally fighting for a job.

#2 No more Brent Burns he was a main stay with the Sharks. Dealt in the off season to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sharks have to move on but he’ll be missed and was a defenceman who knew how to score goals.

#3 Sharks captain Logan Couture said if two of his Russian teammates Alexander Barabonov and Evgeny Svechinkov won’t be allowed to play opening games in Prague the rest of the team will not play there.

#4 Sharks with some changes in the off season we just wanted to get the opportunity to ask you about some of those changes in first year with the Sharks general manger Mike Grier and head coach David Quinn.

#5 The Sharks open the season hopefully in Prague against the Nashville Predators a lot of new faces and getting to know each other for Quinn to mesh together for the regular season.

Maddie Dutra writes for Fear of the Fin and guested for the San Jose Sharks podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Troy Ewers: Sharks stand behind Barbanov and Svechinkov in Czech Republic Russian ban

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San Jose Sharks Alexander Barabanov is seen here skating against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks during last season’s pre season game on Sun Sep 26, 2021 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. NHL Russian players Barabonov, teammate Evegeny Svechinkov and the Nashville Predators Yakov Trenin are banned from playing in Prague for the Oct 7th and 8th games by the Czech Republic government. (AP News file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Troy:

#1 With the Czech Republic letting NHL teams know don’t even think of bringing your Russian players to Prague San Jose Sharks team captain Logan Couture made it clear that if Russian teammates Alexander Barabonov and Evgeny Svechinkov are not welcome in Prague the team is not welcome in Prague. Couture said they will do everything as a team.

#2 The NHL never considered banning it’s Russian players. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that the NHL Russian players are there for their teams, the fans, and the league.

#3 From the Czech prospective because of their neighboring location near Russian and because the world has viewed the Russian military devastation on the Ukraine as unacceptable they have decided to ban Russian players but as the Couture has said that the Russian players didn’t do anything wrong they shouldn’t be punished.

#4 The two regular season games with the Nashville Predators are scheduled for Oct 7th and 8th in Prague and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that after the NHL received letters from the Czech Government he was assured that things can get worked out to allow the three Russian players in question to be allowed to play.

#5 Troy, got to ask you your thoughts on Sharks general manager Mike Grier who said of the Russian ban in Prague “We are a team. Either we all play, or we don’t play.” 

Join Troy Ewers filled in for Matt Harrington for the SJ Sharks 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

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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 1-0 to Predators in OT

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Nashville Predators’ Mattias Ekholm (14) celebrates with Ryan Johansen (92) after Johansen scored the winning goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) in overtime at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Tue Apr 12, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost their seventh in a row 1-0 in overtime to the Nashville Predators Tuesday. Ryan Johansen scored the lone goal of the game. Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the win. The Predators moved into the first wild card spot with the win. Kaapo Kahkonen made 40 saves for San Jose in the loss.

Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen described what he saw from his team: “Good road game. We battled hard and we didn’t step back and did a lot of good things. We were in the game all game, just a tough result again. But I think a lot of good things for being on the road and playing a good team.”

Despite their current losing streak, the Sharks have been very close in many of their recent games, including this one. Sharks forward Rudolfs Balcers described the mood in the room after the game: “Frustrating, you know, trying to get that win here, it’s been too many losses. I mean, it’s just tough, you don’t score goals you don’t win a game. So, the guys are a little down.”

The Sharks put up a good fight, including fights in the first period and the third from Jeffrey Viel and Nicolas Meloche. In general, the team played well and certainly improved on their prior meeting with Nashville, when they lost 8-0. After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

“I think that we did a decent job of sort of establishing our game. I think I looked up at the clock at one point in time it was 11 or 12 minutes to play in the first period and the shots were 2-1. So, those were things that we wanted to come out and establish. You know, we stood up to them physically and [Couture] came out hitting, [Viel], Meloche, guys like that. We took the hit to make the play we gave hits, it was a physical grind and I thought we answered the bell.”

There were two goals from the Predators in the game, but the first one was called back when the Sharks challenged the play for offside. Ryan Johansen’s overtime goal came 3:18 into the the extra frame. Johansen took the shot from a bad angle and it seemed to deflect of off a Shark before slipping under Kahkonen and into the net. Assists went to Mattias Ekholm and Filip Forsberg.

The Sharks were outshot by the Predators 25-41 through the game. In the face-off circle, they did well in the first period but by the end of the game were down to 43%. The Sharks killed two penalties, allowing just three shots. Their power play had one opportunity and got one shot on goal. Matt Nieto led the team in shots with four.

The Sharks play again on Thursday in Chicago against the Blackhawks at 5:30 PM PT.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Colton scores twice for Bolts in win over Hawks 5-2; Ducks end 11 game loss streak with a shutout

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Ross Colton (79) puts one on net against the Chicago Blackhawks center Tyler Johnson (90), and defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Fri Apr 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Tampa Bay Lightning’s (43-18-6) Ross Colton found the back of the net twice on Friday night in helping the Bolts defeat the Chicago Blackhawks (24-35-10) 5-2 at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay. The Lightning’s Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point both scored a goal each.

#2 The Anaheim Ducks (28-30-12) Trevor Zegras helped end the Ducks 11 game loss streak with a sound 5-0 shutout over the Arizona Coyotes (21-42-5) at Gila River Arena in Glendale on Friday night. Zegras scored his 17th goal of the season at 9:42 in the first period. Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz a shutout saving 22 shots.

#3 The Vegas Golden Knights (38-28-4) Jack Eichel scored twice to help the Knights pick up a three goal win over the Seattle Kraken (21-41-6) 5-2 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

#4 New York Islander (31-27-9) goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots in a 3-0 shutout over the New York Rangers (44-20-9) at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Varlamov’s second shutout this season and his fourth straight over the Rangers at MSG.

#5 The Buffalo Sabres (25-33-11) Tage Thompson scored two times and was good enough as the Sabers edged the Nashville Predators (39-25-4) at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The Sabers Peyton Krebs and Victor Olofsson scored a goal each in the Sabers 4-3 win.

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