Tag: NHL

NHL, Sharks, Suspend All Games Due to COVID-19 Concerns

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The Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals NHL hockey club, sits empty Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Washington. The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak, the league announced Thursday (photo from usnews.com)

By Mary Walsh

On Thursday the NHL announced a pause in the season. They released a statement that read, in part:

In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019-20 season beginning with tonight’s games.

The move came on the heels of the NBA’s decision to suspend their season after one of their players tested positive for the new virus. Other leagues and events in the US are being suspended or cancelled daily due to concerns over the virus.

The San Jose Sharks had previously announced that March games would be played without fans and only limited media access, consistent with Santa Clara County’s March 9 ban large gatherings of people. After today’s NHL announcement, the Sharks released the following press release about the status of games and tickets:

The National Hockey League has announced today that the 2019-20 NHL regular season will be paused for the safety of its players, employees, and fans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharks Sports & Entertainment is fully supportive of the NHL’s decision.

With NHL games now being placed on hold as opposed to played without fans, ticket holders are asked to hang on to their tickets until additional information from the NHL becomes available.

As new developments arise, we will communicate with our fans and partners. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

The AHL has also suspended play, which puts the San Jose Barracuda and Stockton Heat and their fans in the same state of limbo as the Sharks.

The NHL expressed the hope that the season could resume at an appropriate time. There are 189 regular season games remaining, as well as the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the complete statement, go to the NHL website.

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: WHO declares pandemic; Games cancelled until further notice

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photo from sfgate.com: What maybe the last game that the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors may play for the season or until later this season. The view of Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Mar 10, 2020

On Headline with Tony:

#1 The Golden State Warriors have played their last game on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers as the NBA who announced suspending operations on Wednesday night after the Utah Jazz’ Rudy Cobert caught Coronavirus. The World Health Organization announced that the world is officially under a pandemic.

#2 The San Francisco Giants have announced they have canceled their pre season game against the Oakland A’s on Mon Mar 24th at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Moreover MLB, MLS and the NHL now will shut it down as they all have suspended their seasons. The NCAA and March Madness will continue but without fans in the building. 13 NCAA Tournaments are canceled and will resume next week.

#3 The Warriors originally were asked by city officials to cancel their games but at first refused after the World Health Organization announced on Wednesday that the Conoranvirus epidemic was a pandemic the Warriors decided to play their home games in front of empty seats going forward. Later the NBA suspended the season.

#4 The NHL have announced that they will suspend the remaining games of the season and this after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donavon Mitchell of the NBA have contracted Coronavirus.

#5 Tony now with Sacramento Kings basketball suspended economically how will this impact downtown Sacramento.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks’ skid continues on road; Blackhawks unload on SJ 6-2

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photo from sfgate.com: Chicago Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat (12) battles San Jose Sharks’ Noah Gregor (73) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) for a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Chicago

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ With their fourth straight loss and fifth consecutive on the road, San Jose slid further in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. 

It was the Sharks’ most goals given up since a month ago on February 10 versus the Calgary Flames. 

San Jose goalie Aaron Dell himself is mired in a five-game slump, with an average of over three goals given up meanwhile. 

Chicago star Patrick Kane led with two goals and a season-high 11 shots. He has had five goals in his last five games.

The Sharks scored in the opening and closing periods while the Blackhawks scored a trio of goals in the second and the third. 

The Blackhawks perhaps got their mojo going when they scored the second and third of a combined three special teams goals to start the game off.  Previously, Chicago was 0-for-14 with the man advantage.

First, though, it was San Jose’s turn. Chicago set the stage with two penalties taken 15 seconds apart, starting at 8:55. Dylan Strome was called for tripping and Ryan Carpenter whistled for hi-sticking. The Sharks’ Joe Thornton, situated in the right faceoff circle, passed it to Evander Kane, who was able to deflect the puck to the right side of goalie Corey Crawford into the net. This occurred with six seconds left on Strome’s penalty. 

The next four goals belonged to the Blackhawks. Alex DeBrincat got assists on the first three. 

After exchanging passes with Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith struck from the point with the help of a screen at 4:33. This came a minute after Antti Suomela was penalized for hooking.

Chicago went ahead for good when Kane scored his 32nd goal. He accomplished it with all the attention focused on DeBrincat, even though Kane was corralled by defenseman Radim Simek. The Sharks’ Brent Burns was in the box at the time for roughing. 

Brandon Saad made it 3-1 at 17:58 to end the second and Alex Nylander pushed the margin to three goals to open the third at 1:31. 

San Jose experienced a bit of relief when Timo Meier tacked on a goal at 6:39.  

Kane added his second goal at 16:19 and rookie Dominik Kubalik finished the game off with his 30th goal at 18:03. 

Up Next: The Sharks potentially (amidst coronavirus concerns) head to Saint Louis to hopefully cure their blues at 5pm on Friday for game two of their four-game road trip. 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: NBA season suspended; Quakes cancel home game Mar 21st; Giants and A’s could cancel games soon enough

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desertnews.com file photo: The Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the Coronavirus on Wednesday leading to the cancellation of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and suspension of the NBA season.

NBA season suspended due to Coronavirus/A’s Opener in Doubt

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The NBA who announced they have suspended their season until further notice. The Utah Jazz’ Rudy Gobert was making some fun about Coronavirus during a press conference before their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder started touching the surfaces and microphones that were there. Later that night he was diagnosed with the Covid 19 virus and the game was canceled leading later to the suspension of the NBA season.

The San Jose Earthquakes have canceled their home game on Saturday March 21st and it’s possible the MLS season could be suspended as well. The San Jose Sharks and the NHL have not suspended their season yet but the cost of having games and teams traveling to play in front of empty arenas will cost too much for the gate driven sport and they may end up canceling as well.

The Pac 12 Tournament is being played at T Mobile Center in Las Vegas as both the Cal Bears and the Stanford Cardinal faced each other on Wednesday night. The game was played in front of an empty arena as the rest of March will be unless the NCAA suspends March Madness as well.

The Coronavirus pandemic is starting to reach havoc in Bay Area sports. After Alameda County joined San Francisco in recommending events with 1,000 or more people be cancelled or postponed,it looks like the Oakland Athletics home opener on Thursday the 26th of March against the Minnesota Twins is very much in jeopardy. The Giants earlier today announced that the pre-season game against the A’s at Oracle Park Mon Mar 24th had been canceled after the city announced a two-week ban on all events (sports included) of 1,000 or more people.

Today the Oakland Athletics issued the following statement: Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our community. We will adhere to any government directives, and work with Major League Baseball on all alternative arrangements to ensure the health of our fans and our community remains a top priority.

While the A’s Opening Day is this 26th, the San Francisco Giants will be opening the season on the road for the 11th consecutive year, also the 26th at Dodger Stadium vs Dodgers. As of today that game is “on” as far as the Dodgers are concerned, but the situation about Coronavirus is very fluid, so things can change at any given time.

Meanwhile,the new Giants neighbors, the Golden State Warriors who announced today that the team will play its next home game without fans this Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets. Later after that announcement came the NBA has suspended the season.

Earlier this week, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS. These four major active sports leagues in the U.S. decided to bar nonessential individuals, including reporters, from clubhouses and locker rooms. It will be left to local communities/cities to play with or without fans,depending what part of the country the events take place.

The biggest sporting event in the world this year is the Olympics and If the Olympics can’t go ahead this summer in Tokyo because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the most realistic option would be to delay the event by one or two years, a member of the executive board for the Japanese organizing committee recently said.

All over the US,sporting events have been affected.

Note: Last time we had a flu pandemic of this magnitude(or close) was in 2009 when the virus was commonly referred to as “swine flu”,which began in the spring of 2009, the virus had spread to the US from an outbreak in Veracruz,Mexico. CDC estimated that about 59 million Americans contracted this virus strain, 265,000 where hospitalized as a result and 12,000 died.

California was the most affected State with 10,545 reported and confirmed cases and 657 dead. (World) 150,000 to 575,000 died. One quick note the Spanish flu lasted two years in 1918 killing an estimated 20-80 million people. Coronavirus is expected to dissipate at some point as the epicenter of the virus Wuhan China is now getting back to normal.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Will the NHL suspend the rest of their season?

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The Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan McKinnon (29) tries to put one past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (30) on Sunday night at SAP Center in San Jose (ap photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The Sharks are coming off three straight loses to Minnesota, Ottawa, and Colorado after winning three straight games

#2 The injury in the first period to Logan Couture taking a puck off a deflected pass had to be scary for the Sharks, Len gets us an update to Couture’s condition.

#3 In the win the Avalanche got four goals from Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Vladislav Namestnikov and Joonas Donskoi.

#4 The Sharks goalie Marty Jones faced 24 shots but stopped 20 was this a matter of an off night for Jones or he was not getting much defense in front of him last Sunday night.

#5 The Sharks start a four game road trip starting tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center Len sets this game up for us.

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

NHL orders players to limit contact with fans; Sens CEO fired domestic abuse; plus more

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nationalpost.com photo: Former Ottawa Senators CEO Jim Little said he swore at Senators owner Eugene Melnyk on Valentines Day which led to his firing Friday

NHL podcast with Daniel:

1 Coronavirus concerns: NHL urges players to limit fan contact; Report – NHL settling on date for draft lottery

2 Senators uncover domestic abuse claims against recently fired CEO

3 Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad pops in 5 goals vs. Capitals

4 Sharks help fan live out her Make-A-Wish dream

5 RIP Henri Richard, Pocket Rocket dies at 84

Daniel Dullum does the NHL podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Sharks Lose 2-1 in OT to Senators

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mercurynews.com photo: The Ottawa Senators Chris Tierney (71) tries to put the puck past San Jose Sharks goaltender Aaron Dell (30) during a penalty shot in the second period on Saturday night at SAP Center in San Jose

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE- The San Jose Sharks fell 2-1 in overtime to the Ottawa Senators Saturday at the SAP Center. Ottawa goals came from Nick Paul and ex-Shark Chris Tierney. Goaltender Craig Anderson made 31 saves for the win. The lone Sharks goal came from Evander Kane, while San Jose goalie Aaron Dell made 36 saves in the loss.

After the game, the Sharks goalie said: “We had only a couple breakdowns. For the most part I think we played a really solid game. And we had a lot of chances, just bounced over our stick a couple of times, just you know some bad luck I think. One of those goes in, it’s a whole different game.”

Sharks defenseman Brent Burns was asked how he felt after getting 31.5 minutes of ice time. He said: “I feel great, I feel good. I think we’re all in the same boat. We all train for the summer to play more than what we ever play so it’s good. I get to eat more tonight now.”

The Senators scored on their ninth shot of the first period, at 10:33. The Senators moved the puck from the blue line, below the goal line, back to the blue line, and behind the net again. Jayce Hawryluk gathered the puck behind the net and Anthony Duclair made a short pass to the front for the net for Nick Paul.

The Sharks had the only power plays in the first period, one at 7:41, one at 17:11 and a third at 19:32. They got three shots on those power plays before finally scoring at the tail end of the period.

Evander Kane tipped a Brent Burns shot but that did not go through. Kane followed up and got his stick on the puck again to pop it into the net. Assists went to Brent Burns and Timo Meier.

The shot count for the period was 16-14 Sharks. San Jose also had a very good period in the face-off circle, winning 65% of the time. Joe Thornton, Evander Kane and Dylan Gambrell shared the bulk of those face-offs, each taking five draws.

In his first NHL game, Nikolai Knyzhov took the Sharks’ first penalty of the game at 4:28 of the second. The Sharks killed that off, allowing just one shot on goal.
The teams traded breakaways in the final few minutes of the second period but both goaltenders were up to the task.

Radim Simek kicked the puck into the net with 24.8 seconds left and the goal was immediately waved off. Simek then went to the other end and swept the puck away from the crease before it could cross the line. Since he closed his glove over the puck, that earned the Senators a penalty shot, taken by Chris Tierney. Dell attempted a poke check, and then Tierney lost control of the puck before he could take the shot.

By the end of the period, the shots were 10-9 Senators.

Both teams had good chances in the middle of the third period, including shots from Couture and Labanc in quick succession, without breaking the 1-1 tie. The Senators pressed hard in the final minute and Dell had to stop a great chance for Colin White in the final 20 seconds to get the game into overtime. The shot count for the period was 13-5 Senators.

Overtime did not last long, ending after just 35 seconds. Christ Tierney scored in a two on one after Anthony Duclair made a pass across the ice, around a sliding Brent Burns. Assists went to Duclair and Chabot.

The Sharks next play against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday at 7:00 PM PT at the SAP Center.

Headline Sports with Barbara Mason: Girls basketball canceled due to virus related issues; Sharks have they turned the corner?; plus more Sharks

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ap photo: The San Jose Sharks Kevin LaBanc puts one on net against the Minnesota Wild’s goaltender Alex Stalock (32) last Thursday night at SAP Center in San Jose

On Headline Sports with Barbara Mason:

#1 Girls basketball game between Menlo Park-Ahterton and O’Dowd Oakland in the Interscholastic Federation Girls basketball league was canceled due to related concerns regarding Coronavirus.

#2 San Jose Sharks showing signs of improvement have won three of their last four games. They play back to back games this weekend Saturday and Sunday.

#3 Pac 12 Women’s Tournament in Vegas is underway the Cal Bears got a 71-67 win over Arizona State University. Cal senior Jaelyn Brown led Cal with 22 points.

#4 St Mary’s mens will play on Saturday a 9:15pm tip vs. Pepperdine in the WCC Tournament. St Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett said the WCC Tournament is meal to meal event.

#5 Oakland A’s pitcher AJ Puk was given a good news regarding his shoulder. Dr. Neal Elatrache said there are no structural issues.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks just missed it by a goal; Team credit’s Jones for effort in goal; plus more

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On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks took a loss Thursday night to the Minnesota Wild 3-2. The Sharks down 3-1 scored in the third period but fell a goal short.

#2 Sharks goaltender Martin Jones stopped 25 shots on Thursday night against the Wild a tough 3-2 loss and a close game.

#3 Jones has stopped 76 out of 80 shots during the Sharks three game win streak.

#4 Jones had struggled during the season and the Sharks Logan Couture said the team knows he’s turned it around, “he’s rewarded us with how he’s playing”

#5 Sharks have back to back games this Saturday and Sunday at SAP Center first it’s the Ottawa Senators at 4:00pm and on Sunday the Colorado Avalanche at 7:00pm

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

Stalock Stymies Sharks, Wild Win 3-2; Loss ends SJ’s three game win streak

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

photo from seattletimes.com: Minnesota Wild forward Alex Galchenyuk, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against San Jose Sharks’ Martin Jones, right, in the second..

By Matthew Harrington 

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Sharks longest win streak since November came to an end with the visiting Minnesota Wild getting a desperately needed 3-2 win. Former Shark Alex Stalock made 40 saves and Alex Galchenyuk scored the game-winner. Former Shark Gary Suter’s nephew Ryan scored for the Wild as well and Zach Parise added the insurance goal.

Stefan Noesen and Joe Thornton had the Sharks tallies and Martin Jones made 24 saves in his third-straight start. Suter scored his eighth of the year 8:34 into the first, but Noesen responded on a San Jose power play with 5:20 left in the frame. Noah Gregor and Tim Heed had the assists. 

The Wild capitalized on poor defense in the second period, scoring a pair of goals in the period. First Galchenyuk was given room to break towards the net, taking a Parise rebound to the net on the backhand for a 2-1 Wild lead 11:30 into the period. Suter also assisted on the goal for his second point of the night. 
Parise would finish off a cross-crease pass after he was left unmarked when a pair of Sharks defenders went after the Puck carrier Luke Kunin. After taking Kunin’s pass, Parise went five-hole on the backhand to beat Jones for his 25th goal with 5:32 left in the period. 

Joe Thornton scored on a net front scramble 9:08 into the third to make it 3-2 Minnesota. Despite an absolute flurry of shots, 20 by San Jose to just three for Minnesota, the Wild closed out the game. They hopped over a couple teams to now take the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. 

The Sharks next welcome the Senators to the Shark Tank for a Saturday afternoon tilt, then hit the ice Sunday night against another playoff bound squad, the Colorado Avalanche. 

Matt Harrington does the NHL podcast each Saturday for http://www.sportsradioservice.com