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“Islanders too tight” for Sharks, defense shuts down San Jose’s shots 4-1

Published on February 23, 2020February 24, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: New York Islanders right wing Leo Komarov (47) and San Jose Sharks defenseman Radim Simek, right, battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, in Uniondale, N.Y.

By Jessica Kwong

UNIONDALE, NY—The struggling San Jose Sharks extended their losing streak to four games with a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, the night before the NHL trade deadline.

Despite the back-to-back situation, San Jose played a “tight game for most of the night,” Sharks interim head coach Bob Boughner said.

“It was just one of those games, back and forth. The Islanders are pretty tight, they don’t give you a lot,” Boughner said. “We just couldn’t seem to generate any second or third chances around their net.”

Islanders center Mathew Barzal made a saucer pass to center Anders Lee, who scored at 6:49 in the first period to put the Islanders up 1-0.

The Sharks responded at 10:36 into the period, when center Dylan Gambrell redirected defenseman Radim Simek’s shot and tied the game at 1-1.

But the Islanders wasted no time in the second period. At 1:10, Lee scored, assisted by Barzal and defenseman Devon Toews to put the Islanders up 2-1.

Islanders center Brock Nelson forced a turnover and passed the puck to Toews down the slot for a shot into the top right corner of the net to extend New York’s lead to 3-1 at 17:38.

The Sharks failed to rebound in the third period. Lee passed the puck to center Josh Bailey for an empty netter at 17:41 and sealed the Islanders’ 4-1 victory.

Sharks center Barclay Woodrow said the team played well for some stretches, but had a couple of breakdowns including when he was stripped from behind.

“So it’s those little things that are costing us right now and we’ve just got to find a way to bury more shots and try to get some more goals,” Goodrow said.

Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov, who was on his fifth straight start, made 29 saves.

The Sharks are likely to make a move by Monday’s trade deadline, judging from their disappointing performance this season after coming within two wins of making the Stanley Cup final last year.

San Jose made the playoffs for the past four seasons and all but one of the last 15, but appear to be out of contention this season.

Regarding the trade deadline, Goodrow said, “there’s always a lot of unknown this time of year so it would be good to just get that over with.”

San Jose has been playing without three of their top players—captain and center Logan Couture (broken bone in the left ankle), center Tomas Hertl (torn left ACL and MCL) and defenseman Erik Karlsson (broken right thumb).

Boughner said that crossing the trade deadline should bring “some relief” to the team and “hopefully we’ll get a couple guys back healthy” as well as a head coach decision.

“Cross our fingers, I think we’ll start getting back some semblance of our line combinations at least,” Boughner said.

The Sharks (26-32-4) complete their four-game road trip on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers (35-20-7) at Wells Fargo Center. The puck drops at 4 p.m. PT.

Sharks can’t hold it together in third period lose to Rangers 3-2

Published on February 22, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from sjgate.com: San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK—The San Jose Sharks fought hard and alternate captain Joe Thornton reached an achievement at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, but they fell apart in the final period and lost 3-2 to the New York Rangers.

Thornton scored both goals for the Sharks and became the third player 40 years of age or older to have a two-goal game at the Garden, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. But the Sharks, tied with the Rangers after the second period, were scoreless in the third.

Sharks interim head coach Bob Boughner said the team “couldn’t have a better first period” and “produced a lot of chances.” But the Sharks are struggling with three of their best players injured: center and captain Logan Couture, defenseman Erik Karlsson and center Tomas Hertl.

“Again, I’ve said this, seems like a little bit of a broken record but I say that with the personnel that we have in there now we have to almost play a perfect or near to perfect game when you’re only scoring one or two a night,” Boughner said. “And it’s not for lack of effort, it’s not for a lack of compete, it’s not for a lack of chances.”

Rangers right wing Jesper Fast scored the first goal of the game at 9:35, assisted by left wing Artemi Panarin who was left alone, and center Ryan Strome.

Center “Jumbo” Thornton scored at 17:55 into the first to tie the game at 1-1, assisted by right wing Timo Meier and defenseman Mario Ferraro. It was Thornton’s third goal of the season.

“Timo just made a nice play and kind of pounded it,” Thornton said.

The Sharks took the lead at 13:47 into the second period. Thornton scored on the power play with the help of defenseman Brent Burns and right wing Kevin Labanc.

“Burnzie’s shot just tipped off my kneepad, so just at the right place at the right time,” Thornton said.

Thornton became only the third player 40 years or older to hit two goals at the Garden, and it was his first two-goal game since Feb. 18, 2019, against the Boston Bruins. He had a hat trick that night.

But the Rangers tied the game at 2-2 when center Mika Zibanejad scored at 17:27 into the second period, assisted by Panarin. The Rangers had the 8 final shots including a penalty shot that did not go in.

The Sharks came up in the third but the Rangers took control of the period, with Jesper scoring 6:54 in, assisted by defenseman Jacob Trouba and Strome. The Sharks blocked 9 shots.

Sharks goalie Aaron Dell said he thought he played “fairly good most of the time.”

“I think kind of the same story, soft in front of both nets,” Dell said. “And I think we had times where it was good and times where it wasn’t.”

The Sharks (26-31-4) continue their four-game road trip on Sunday against the New York Islanders (34-20-6) at Nassau Coliseum at 2 p.m. PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks have lost three of last five games; team lacking offense try for win tonight at MSG

Published on February 22, 2020February 22, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo sfgate.com: New Jersey Devils teammate celebrate with left wing Jesper Bratt (63), center, after Bratt scored a game-tying goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Newark, N.J.

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Sharks lost in very narrow game to the New Jersey Devils Thursday 2-1 it was the Sharks third loss in five games

#2 Tim Heed was the only player to score a goal from the Sharks on Thursday the offense was simply shut down by New Jersey

#3 How much of an impact were the season ending injuries for defenseman Erik Karlsson and forward Tomas Hertl?

#4 The suspension of Evander Kane has taken away a chunk of the offense the Sharks can just get over the hump right now.

#5 Sharks face the New York Rangers tonight at MSG New York could this be another handful for San Jose

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Wild Sprugeon gets hat trick in 5-3 win; Blues Perron gets 24th goal in 5-1 win; plus more

Published on February 22, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from startribune.com: Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman (38), Marcus Foligno (17) and Jared Spurgeon (46) celebrate a goal against the Oilers during the second period.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The Minnesota Wild’s Jared Sprugeon got a natural hat trick on Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers 5-3. The Wild also got goal help from Kevin Fiala and Carson Soucy as the Wild pick up their second straight win.

#2 The St Louis Blues David Perron found the back end of the net again scoring his 24th goal as the Blues defeated the Dallas Stars 5-1. Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop left early in the contest after allowing multiple goals.

#3 The Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron scored a pair of goals in the Bruins 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames, Bergeron is on a roll scoring 21 times in 32 games

#4 The New York Rangers got three goal win over the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2, the Rangers Mike Zibanejad scored a goal and had two assists. The Rangers will be on back to back games hosting the San Jose Sharks tonight at MSG.

#5 The Chicago Blackhawks edged the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Friday night, the Hawks Alex DeBrincat got a third period goal and also in overtime to put Chicago over the top 2-1

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

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Caps Ovechkin just one goal short for 700 club; Knights Martinez gets first goal in first game; plus more

Published on February 21, 2020February 21, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals who scored his 699th goal of his career on Thursday night in Washington just one short of the 700 club (photo from wikipedia.com)

On the NHL podcast with Joe:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights Alec Martinez had a goal and an assist in his first game with the Knights that help defeat the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night at T Mobile Center

#2 The Winnipeg Jets Mark Scheifele who went 12 games without a goal made up for lost time with a hat trick scoring three power play goals in the Jets victory over the Ottawa Senators 5-1

#3 The Toronto Maple Leafs shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 as the Leafs goaltender Frederik Anderson stopped 24 shots. The Leafs Jake Muzzin score a goal with two assists.

#4 The Philadelphia Flyers Kevin Hayes got an overtime goal at 3:51 that was the difference in the Flyers 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Toronto. Stefan Matteau Jr scored his first goal since March 10, 2016.

#5 The St Louis Blues got a 1-0 shutout against the Arizona Coyotes as the Blues Ryan O’Reilly scored the games on goal and goaltender Jordan Binnington made 14 saves for the shutout.

Joe Lami does the NHL podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NJ’s Blackwood still on fire with 36 saves in 2-1 win over Sharks

Published on February 20, 2020February 20, 2020 by smallforceLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: New Jersey Devils center Pavel Zacha (37) pressures San Jose Sharks center Noah Gregor (73) in front of Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Newark, N.J

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ New Jersey Devils’ rookie goalie MacKenzie Blackwood followed his 52-save outing previously, with another fine performance for his fifth straight win Thursday.

With an average of 39.2 saves and a goal allowed during that streak, he made 36 saves against San Jose while holding them to a solo goal. The last time the Sharks scored less was February 1st.

Opposing goalie Martin Jones did not go down easy though, as he held his own, saving 23 of 25 shots.

The Devils now have wins in three straight home games, while the Sharks ended their hot four-game road streak.

On special teams, San Jose committed six penalties and New Jersey three. The game-winner occurred during the Shark’s fifth penalty.

Jacob Middleton for San Jose and the Devils’ John Hayden saw the box first at 7:26 for fighting. Middleton also tacked on an unsportsmanlike conduct. This gave Middleton a total of seven penalty minutes, his first as a member of the Sharks this year.

San Jose Barracuda call-ups were all featured in the opening scoring play. Alexander True in the faceoff circle recovered the puck, Middleton then got it, before passing cross-ice to Tim Heed. Heed put the first tally on the board through traffic from the far right point, with his first goal of the season in 27 games. It was also his second point of the season, with an assist back on November 12th. Middleton earned his first assist and point in five games this season. True played his seventh game and earned his fourth assist, his second in as many games.

Stefan Noesen ended the period for the Sharks with a tripping call at 19:46.

The second period featured five penalties, four of them before any scoring and four of them involving interference.

New Jersey followed shortly after Noesen’s with Wayne Simmonds interfering 47 seconds into the second. Teammate P.K. Subban got called for the same infraction at 7:11. San Jose’s Dylan Gambrell decided to interfere too at 9:55. Teammate Melker Karlsson had the only non-interference penalty of the period, as he put the puck over the glass for a game delay.

Jesper Bratt put the Devils on board at 16:15, after taking a long pass from Pavel Zacha all the way at the other end. Bratt won the one-on-one battle versus the outstretched Jones, sliding the puck around his skate.

Mario Ferraro also delayed the game with a puck over the glass to start the third at 1:06. This one was costly though, as Subban scored the game-winner with 10 seconds left in the penalty.

With Miles Wood screening Jones, Subban converted from the top of the right faceoff circle to give New Jersey the only lead they would need.

Up Next: Dakota Mermis made his Devils’ debut and finished a +1 in 17:44 of ice time. San Jose’s “Melker Karlsson left in a walking boot. He didn’t play in the third period,” reported Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. The Sharks continue their four-game road trip in the neighboring New state with the New York Rangers Saturday at 4pm.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro : Sharks open four game road trip after struggling with Florida last Monday

Published on February 19, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky blocks a shot from the San Jose Sharks in the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in San Jose, Calif

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks have been involved some blow outs, close loses and rough games and the loss to the Florida Panthers was no exception in a three goal defeat 5-3 on Monday.

#2 Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves for the Florida Panthers and it was enough for him and the Panther defense to stop the Sharks for the two goal win

#3 Dylan Gambrell, Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier scored a goal a piece for San Jose it was enough goals to win a game but not this one

#4 The Sharks were coming off a two game win streak and the Panther were coming off a two game win streak so Panthers really grinded it out for the win

#5 The Sharks hit the road to face New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers Len sets up the road trip

Len does the Sharks podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Manfred says Astros disciplined enough; Fans miss most of outdoor hockey game because of traffic; plus more

Published on February 18, 2020 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from bleacherreport.com: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will not punish any of the current players on the Houston Astros and is investigating if the 2019 Boston Red Sox stole signs under former Red Sox manager Alex Cora

On Headlines podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara big league players are upset that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred did not discipline any of the Houston Astros players for the sign stealing scandal how much of a consequence will this be for MLB?

#2 Manfred said that in a perfect world the Astros players would face suspension of some type but he said he and MLB were satisfied with the suspension of former manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow and that should be enough discipline for now

#3 The game started at 6:00PM for an outdoor hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy’s Air Force Base fans said they missed a large portion of the game due to bad traffic conditions. Some fans left at 3:30 to get to Colorado Springs and didn’t get in until after the first period ended

#4 The Stanford Cardinal are on a four game losing streak their latest loss came against Arizona a home loss 69-60 the Wildcats are noted for their physical size and offense.

#5 Gerrit Cole pitcher for the New York Yankees is getting attention for his hard work and attention to detail and was a 20 game winner for the Houston Astros last season

Barbara Mason is a sportswriter for areagrande.com and does Headlines podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Short-handed Sharks Fall to Desperate Panthers 5-3

Published on February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

photo from sfgate.com: Florida Panthers’ Mike Hoffman, right, celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in San Jose, Calif.

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN JOSE–The desperate Florida Panthers started the first game of the dreaded three-team California gauntlet with a 5-3 win over the San Jose Sharks in a Monday matinee. Sergei Bobrovsky made 29 saves and Evgenii Dadonov, Mike Hoffman and Colton Sceviour scored for the Cats while Dylan Gambrell, Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier scored for San Jose who were coming off two-game road winning streak.

Florida avoided a three-game losing streak and now sits three points back of Philadelphia for the second Eastern Conference Wild Card spot.

The Sharks continue to be without a core group of players with Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and now Erik Karlsson out with injury and Evander Kane in game two of a three-game suspension for an elbowing penalty Friday in Winnipeg.

They may add another player to the walking wounded after Antti Suomela exited the game after the second period after taking a hit from Josh Brown.

Dadonov opened the scoring for Florida when the Sharks defense loosened up enough for him to slip in and take a Frank Vatrano feed to beat Aaron Dell 4:52 into play. Gambrell picked up the equalizer, his fourth goal of the year, on a pass from Suomela right into the slot 11:30 into the period.

The Sharks fell behind 2-1 halfway through the game when Mike Hoffman picked off a d-to-d pass in his defensive end and went end-to-end before burying the puck 22nd goal of the year. A wild third period started with Colton Sceviour firing a puck on Dell, following up on his rebound and scoring at 10:04.

Kevin Labanc answered back with a strike with 5:26 left in regulation to open up a six minute span that saw teams swap four goals. Anton Stralman, Meier and Vincent Trocheck all scored down the stretch for the 5-3 final.

Next up for the Sharks is a four-game road swing through the Tri-State area, facing off against the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers before returning home to the Shark Tank to face the Devils once again February 27th.