Tag: Ross Colton

Sharks Buried by Avalanche, Shut Out 6-0

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Remember this guy in net that’s former San Jose Shark now Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood whose doing just fine between the pipes for Colorado delivering a shutout against his former team the Sharks at the Ball Center in Denver on Wed Nov 26, 2025 (AP new photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks were shut out 6-0 by the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The win was the tenth in a row for the Avalanche. It was also the 12th loss in a row for the Sharks in Denver. Ross Colton, Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Malinski, Josh Manson, Joel Kiviranta and Artturi Lehkonen scored for the Avalanche. Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for the shut-out win. San Jose’s Alex Nedeljkovic made 21 saves on 23 shots in relief. Yaroslav Askarov made 15 saves on 19 shots before being relieved.

“We were chasing it, right from the drop of the puck. Fast, physical team. They put us on our heels early,” said Sharks Head Coach, Ryan Warsofsky. “We got waxed, they’re a great hockey team,” said Macklin Celebrini. “That’s the best team in the League and that’s where we want to be. So it just kind of shows how much work we’ve got to do and put in to get to that level,” said Sam Dickinson.

Ross Colton gave the Avallanche an early lead, just 3:39 into the game. Colton came out of a neutral-zone scramble with the puck, skated in and snapped the puck past Askarov.

Nathan MacKinnon doubled the lead with a power play goal in the final minute of the period. Cale Makar set up MacKinnon’s slap shot after Gabriel Landeskog won an offensive zone faceoff.

The Sharks took two penalties in the first, and were outshot 15-5 by the Avalanche.

San Jose seemed to push back to start the second period but were quickly overwhelmed by three goals in quick succession. The first came at 3:44, a shot from the blue line by Sam Malinski. That shot was made possible when Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas won the puck along the boards.

The next goal came from Josh Manson at 4:51. Manson’s shot came from the blue line and went through traffic in front of Askarov. Assists went to Victor Olofsson and Parker Kelly.

Alex Nedeljkovic replaced Askarov after that goal, only to give up one himself just nine seconds later. Zack Ostapchuk went to the left, pushing Zakhar Bardakov off the puck, but leaving Timothy Liljegren to face a two on one. Joel Kiviranta went around him and scored. Assists went to Ivan Ivan and Bardakov.

The Sharks opted to use their time out after that goal. That pause did not produce any goals but it did stem the bleeding. The Sharks took one penalty and drew three to finish the period. San Jose also outshot Colorado 15-11.

In the third period, Colorado pushed back. They outshot the Sharks 16-4. Each team took one penalty. Still, it was not until 16:15 of the period before the Avalanche scored again. Nathan MacKinnon carried the puck into the zone and then passed it to Artturi Lehkonen in the slot. An assist also went to Martin Necas.

The Sharks next play back in San Jose on Friday at 1:00 PM PT against the Vancouver Canucks.

Sharks Fall 4-1 to Avalanche, Eklund Scores in Return

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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) and San Jose Sharks center Luke Kunin (11) settle their issues on the ice in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Sun Oct 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 4-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Ross Colton, Joel Kiviranta and Cale Makar scored for Colorado. Justus Annunen made 25 saves for the win. William Eklund scored for San Jose. Vitek Vanacek made 18 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro talked about what the message was after the 8-3 loss to Winnipeg on Friday:

“We came off of who we are as a team and I think we just got a little lazy. So, that was kind of the message to go out there today and get back to the way that we need to play in order to win games and we were closer. We’ve still got some steps to take.”

Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky showed cautious optimism, saying: “Definitely a step in the right, well, better than Winnipeg. Still got to find a way to create more offense, win a hockey game.”

Ross Colton gave the Avalanche the lead with a power play goal at 6:23 of the first period. Nathan MacKinnon sent the puck to him in the slot for a wrist shot. Assists went to MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

Colton scored his second goal at 16:37. With a series of quick passes, the Avalanche moved up the ice and sent Colton into the zone at speed with the puck. Another wrist shot made it 2-0. Assists went to Mikko Rantanen and Makar.

William Eklund cut the lead in half with a power play goal at 18:25. Mikael Granlund found Eklund near the post for a wrist shot. An assist also went to Tyler Toffoli.

At the end of the first, the Sharks had been outscored 2-0 and out-shot 12-6. They were also short-handed twice while Colorado was only short-handed once.

In the second period, the Sharks had two overlapping penalties to kill, but the Avalanche had three penalties, two overlapping to give the Sharks some five-on-three time. Despite all of those, neither team scored in the second period. The Sharks did out-shoot the Avalanche in the period, 13-6.

The next goal went to the Avalanche, at 9:57 of the third period. Josh Manson sent the puck to the net where Joel Kiviranta caught it and then backhanded it around Vanacek. Assists went to Manson and John Ludvig.

The Sharks pulled Vanacek for the extra skater with just under four minutes left in the game. They did get some chances after but Cale Makar scored into the empty net at 18:23. Assists went to MacKinnon and Samuel Girard.

The Sharks finished the third period with seven shots to Colorado’s four.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday in Anaheim against the Ducks. At 7:15 PM PT.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Jets Morrisey to miss rest of playoffs; Bruins Krejci sits for game 4; plus more

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The Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey is listed out of action for the remainder of the NHL playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights. Morrisey was injured on Sat Apr 23, 2023 in Winnipeg during the first period at 1:43. (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko one of the key Winnipeg Jets Josh Morrissey will be out for the remainder of the playoffs due to an lower body injury. The Jets who trail the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in the Jets 5-4 double overtime loss to the Knights on Saturday night saw Morrisey suffer the injury at 1:43 of the first period. Marko talk about how Morrissey’s absence will impact the Jets.

#2 The Boston Bruins defenseman David Krejci sat out for game 4 against the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Krejci was a late scratch Sunday after taking in the morning skate and the pre game warm ups. Krejci has only one assist in the first two games of the playoffs. Also the Bruins are missing center Patrice Bergeron who did not travel with the Bruins to Florida. Bergeron is likely to return on Wednesday for game 5.

#3 The New Jersey Devils came away with a 2-1 one goal overtime win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Devils Dougie Hamilton scored at 11:36 in the overtime stanza for the game winner. Despite the win for New Jersey they still trail the Rangers by a game 2-1 in the series. New Jersey and New York battle again for game 4 tonight at MSG.

#4 Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala is a possible return against the Edmonton Oilers tonight in Los Angeles. Fiala looks forward to getting in the game as he has not played since Apr 1 due to a lower body injury. Fiala did practice with the Kings wearing a non contact jersey. Fiala suffered the injury back on Mar 9th when he got into knee on knee hit with the Colorado Avalanche’s center Andrew Congliano, the Oilers came away a 5-2 winner in that game.

#5 Marko, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty was fined the NHL maximum $3,108.11 according the collective bargaining agreement for cross checking the Tampa Bay Lightning’s forward Ross Colton in game 3 on Saturday. Lafferty checked Colton at 15:10 in the second period. The Maple Leafs edged the Lightning in overtime 4-3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Join Marko for the NHL Playoff podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com