NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Tampa Bay’s Vesilevskiy fastest goalie to reach 300 wins; New Jersey’s Bratt gets hat trick defeat Panthers 6-2; plus more news

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s defenseman Victor Hedman (77) congratulates goaltender Andrei Vesilevskiy (88) after he picked up his 300th career NHL win in Tampa Bay on Thu Nov 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vesilevskiy became the fastest goalie to reach 300th win as the Lightning defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Thursday night. It was the Jets second loss in 15 games.

#2 The New Jersey Devil’s Jesper Bratt’s hat trick help beat the Florida Panthers 6-2. It was Bratt’s second career hat trick. New Jersey got goals from Stefan Noesen who scored twice, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes picked up a goal a piece in the win.

#3 The Philadelphia Flyers Matvei Michkov scored a game winning overtime goal to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-4 in at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Thursday. Michkov’s game winner was a sharp angle shot that went past Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark with just enough daylight to get the Flyers the win.

#4 For the New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad the nine game drought without a goal has ended as Zibanejad scored off a rebound on Adam Fox’s shot at 11:41 in the second period that tied up the game 1-1. The Rangers would add two more goals for a total of three goals in the second period that was all the scoring they would need to edge the San Jose Sharks 3-2 at Madison Square Garden.

#5 The Buffalo Sabres edged the St Louis Blues Thursday night 4-3 in overtime. Tied 3-3 in the overtime stanza the Sabres Rasmus Dahlin scored at 1:33 on a power play goal to lift Buffalo to victory. It was a back in forth game that saw the Sabres score twice in the first period to make it 2-1, the Blues came right back with two goals to take the lead 3-2, the Sabres would score in the third period to tie it and get the win in the overtime.

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

NHL All-Star Game podcast with Len Shapiro: Splash Shot skills happens at Ft Lauderdale beach; Sabers Thompson out with upper body injury; plus more

The NHL All Star Game will host the Splash Shot skill competition at Ft Lauderdale Beach on Fri Feb 3, 2023 (photo from NHL.com)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The NHL Splash Shot takes place Friday night in the 2023 All Star Skills at Ft. Lauderdale Beach, participants include Sid Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.

#2 The Atlantic Division added Ramus Dahlin defenceman who will replace Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabers. Thompson is suffering an upper body injury. On Wednesday Thompson sat out at Key Bank Arena in the Buffalo Sabers 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Thompson leads Buffalo with 34 goals and 34 assists.

#2 The Vegas Golden Knights Mark Stone is out indefinitely due to having back surgery on Tuesday. Stone while playing against the Florida Panthers injured his back on Jan 12. Stone has 17 goals and 21 assists in 43 games this season.

#3 The Columbus Blue Jackets Gustav Nyquist suffered a shoulder injury on Jan 25 during overtime against the Edmonton Oilers in a 3-2 win over the Oilers. Nyquist left the game in the first period at 2:56.

#4 The St Louis Blues Vladimir Tarasenko said despite the Blues five game losing streak there is “belief in the room.” Tarasenko is still pushing the Blues to move up in the standings while he’s been part of trade rumors to help another club who are in playoff position.

#5 Len, You’ve been in the NHL a long time and Gary Bettman Commissioner of the NHL was addressing diversity in the league and Emmanuel Umoffia center from the University Florida Memorial basketball team is at the NHL All Star week and said he was surprised to see the number of black people and diversity in the league. You’ve been in the NHL since the 1970s how far has the NHL come along becoming a diverse league?

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