Tag: San Jose Sharks

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Sharks get key goals late against Avalanche; LA’s Brown four goals just enough to get by Wild; third period goals help Preds edge Caps

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On the NHL podcast with Joe:

#1 The San Jose Sharks got some key goals from Logan Couture, Joonas Donskoi, and Thomas Hertl in the third period to get a huge win past the Colorado Avalanche 4-2. The four-game skid is over.

#2 Dustin Brown scored his fourth goal for the LA Kings against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night to help the Kings get by 5-4. The win puts the Kings a point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks in division play.

#3 The Nashville Predators Craig Smith got two goals and Ryan Johansen put away the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Predators clinched for first place in the central divsion 4-3 over the Washington Capitals in Washington on Thursday night.

#4 The Pittsburgh Penguins squeezed out a close contest 5-4 over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets’ Phil Kessel got the overtime goal at 1:06 for the win.

#5 The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid was a beast on Thursday as McDavid picked up three assists for 106 total points for the season. The Oilers got to meet a very physical Vegas Golden Knights team that has been a very difficult team to beat.

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

 

Sharks Hit 100-Point Mark With 4-2 Win Over Avs

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Photo credit: nhl.com/sharks

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks chose the perfect time to pull out of a four-game losing skid, winning game No. 81 Thursday night at the SAP Center to keep Southern California foes Los Angeles and Anaheim at bay. San Jose topped the visiting Colorado Avalanche, a team clinging to the final Western Conference playoff spot by a point, 4-2 to stay two points ahead of the Kings for second place in the Pacific Division with just one game left to play in the regular season.

Justin Braun, Logan Couture, Joonas Donskoi and Tomas Hertl scored for San Jose and Martin Jones made 23 saves for his 30th win of the season. Mikko Rantanen and Blake Comeau scored for the Avs.

Braun opened the scoring in the first with a point shot that beat netminder Jonathan Bernier for a 1-0 lead 2:58 into the game. Braun’s fifth goal of the season, a career-high, would be the only action from either team until the third period.

The two teams traded power play goals, with Rantanen (4:43) and Couture (6:00) scoring on cross passes that resulted in open nets. Couture leads the Sharks with a career-best 34 goals.

Donskoi would add the game-winning goal 10:14 into the period after picking up a Dylan Demelo point shot rebound and backhanding it in the crease past Bernier. Comeau would score to pull Colorado within one with just under seven minutes left, but Tomas Hertl’s empty netter with two seconds left iced the game.

Game Notes: With a Kings overtime win Thursday, San Jose sits two points ahead of the Kings with one game to play. The Kings hold the tie-breaker with 43 regulation or overtime wins to San Jose’s 40. Anaheim (97 points) is three points behind San Jose, but has two games in hand and will face the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes.

Los Angeles also draws the Stars who will wind up being one of the first teams out of the playoff race with only 90 points. The California team with the most points will host the first round, while the last place team will likely face division winning Vegas in the first round.

If San Jose wins Saturday night against Minnesota, they will host a first round match up.

Up Next: The Sharks host the Minnesota Wild this Saturday, April 7th at 7:30 pm PT.

Stars Score Four Unanswered, Stun Sharks 4-2

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Jerry Feitelberg

Through two periods Tuesday night, the San Jose Sharks were a juggernaut. Unfortunately, there are three in a game, and a three-goal third period by the Dallas Stars sent the stunned Sharks down with a 4-2 loss at the SAP Center.

Dallas trailed 2-0 up until the final half minute of the second period and were being outshot 30-11 then the Stars reeled off four unanswered goals.

Jamie Benn potted a hat trick for Dallas, Mike McKenna subbed in for Kari Lehtonen midgame and picked up the win and John Klingberg picked up his 57th assist. Brent Burns tied Klingberg for second in defenseman scoring on a pair of assists (65 points apiece). Logan Couture scored his career-high 33rd goal of the year and Timo Meier scored his 20th of the year but the Sharks failed to put space between themselves and the Los Angeles Kings in the race for home-ice advantage to open the playoffs.
One game after an abysmal showing by the power play, the man advantage proved a benefit. Logan Couture used a perfect screen from Tomas Hertl to beat Lehtonen 9:21 into play for his 33rd goal of the year. Timo Meier added to the lead 2-0 with 4:44 left in the first after he drove to the net on a Burns point shot, scooped up a rebound and beat Lehtonen from the sharp angle for his 20th goal of the season.
The Sharks would continue to bombard Lehtonen until he exited the game 15:54 into the second period on a stinging shot. In stepped Mike McKenna, Dallas’ third string goalie dressed thanks to a Ben Bishop injury. McKenna hadn’t played in the NHL since his lone appearance in the 2014-15 season, a 5-2 loss as a member of the Arizona Coyotes against the Colorado Avalanche on February 16th, 2015. McKenna was perfect in his return to the show Tuesday, stopping 17 Sharks shots for his first win since December 23rd, 2013.
The Stars, out of the playoffs in a disappointing finish to a season they thought they were all in on, rallied back after the appearance by McKenna. Klingberg fired a perfect shot-pass from the point to Benn who was crashing the Sharks net on the far post. All Benn had to do was redirect the puck past Sharks goalie Martin Jones, something the former Hart Trophy candidate did with ease with just 31 seconds left in the second period.
Gemel Smith scored Dallas’ second goal of the game with 5:18 left in the third after Devin Shore lost the puck while driving to the net and trying to place the puck on his backhand. The puck slid out to Smith waiting on the halo for the faceoff dot. Smith hammered the puck past Jones before he could recover from Shore’s attempt to tie the game.
It didn’t take long for Dallas to break the Sharks down. Benn scored his second goal of the game after Tomas Hertl turned the puck over at the Sharks blue line. Hertl was skating out with the puck, but Benn managed to poke the puck off his stick then finish off the breakaway with a backhander to beat Jones. Benn finished off the hattrick on a empty-netter from the boards in his own end to pick up his 32nd goal of the year.
Though the Sharks clinched a playoff berth while in active Monday night, San Jose now sits just two points ahead of the Kings with two games remaining on the schedule for both teams. The winner of the standings race would get home ice in the probable first round playoff meeting.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Will Vegas turn out to be the Sharks’ toughest gamble going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

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On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights have a lot of speed and you can’t take a night off with them, according to San Jose Sharks forward Chris Tierney.

#2 The Sharks got goals on Saturday night in Vegas from Joe Pavelski and Marc Edouard Vlasic, but it wasn’t enough for the Sharks, who were confronting and who could be the best team in the NHL’s Western Conference. The Knights were not caving in whatsoever in the 3-2 win.

#3 The Knights got offensive help from Shea Theodore, Oscar Lindberg, and William Karlsson who each scored and who has been a big help for the Knights all season.

#4 Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots to keep Vegas in the game.

#5 The Sharks, after losing three straight including the recent loss Saturday night in Vegas, open a three-game homestand starting Tuesday night.

Len Shapiro does the SJ Sharks podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Who will be the NHL’s MVP; Sharks head into Vegas trying to avoid losing three straight; Emergency goalie is NHL’s player of the week

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Photo credit: @GlobalSportsCtr

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Who do you like as the NHL MVP? Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay, Connor McDavid of Edmonton, Taylor Hall New Jersey, Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado, Evgeni Malkin of Pittsburgh, Blake Wheeler of Winnipeg, Pekka Rinne of Nashville, Boston’s Patrice Bergeron of Boston, Anze Kopitar of L.A. or the Claude Giroux of Philadelphia.

#2 The Sharks, after dropping their last two games, are trying to avoid losing a third they’ll be put to the test tonight as they face off with the Vegas Golden Knights, one of the Western Division’s toughest teams at the T-Mobile Center.

#3 NHL player of the week no doubt goes to the Chicago Blackhawks emergency goalie Scott Foster, who played 14 minutes after the starter and the backup went out with injuries. Foster ended up stopping seven shots.

#4 The Anaheim Ducks got a big win past the LA Kings when Rickard Rakell scored in OT at 4:41 for the Ducks 2-1 win.

#5 The Tampa Bay Lighting continue to win this time with a 7-3 victory past the New York Rangers. Brayden Point and Cedric Paquette got two goals apiece for the win.

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

 

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Emergency goalie sets NHL record; Canucks get a comeback win; Sharks drop two straight; plus more

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On the NHL podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 What could you say about emergency goalie Scott Foster, a 36 year old accountant by day, back up goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks by night? Foster, who stopped seven shots after the Hawks’ first two goalies were hurt, helped in defeating the Winnipeg Jets 6-2. Foster set the NHL record for length of time played by an emergency goalie. The previous record was under 60 seconds. Foster was put into a situation where he was greatly needed as opposed to previous emergency goalies who played for just a few seconds and got the job done.

#2 The Vancouver Canucks got by the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. The Canucks’ goals from Sam Gagner and Derrick Pousiot were all that was needed. The Canucks were down 1-0, but came back with goals in the second and third periods.

#3 The Minnesota Wild made no doubts about who was going to dominate this game as they got three goals in the second period. The Wild got two goals from Zach Parise.

#4 The San Jose Sharks dropped their second straight game. This time to the Nashville Predators 5-3. Coming out of a 2-2 tie after the first period. the Preds got to work with a goal in second period and scored twice in the third period.

#5 It was all Blue Jackets in a 5-1 win past the Calgary Flames. Columbus’ Pierre Luc DuBois got a hat trick in the contest.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Sharks didn’t go on without a fight in loss to Blues to snap win streak

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On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh:

#1 The loss by the San Jose Sharks to the St. Louis Blues to end their eight-game win streak didn’t go without a fight as the game was forced into overtime by the Sharks as they tried to keep their streak alive.

#2 St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko took a pass from Vladimir Sobotka from behind the net. Sobotka took the puck in front of the net and passed it to Tarasenko show put it past San Jose goalie Aaron Dell, who was expecting it long side; but Tarasenko got the goal short side at 2:33 in the overtime stanza to get the Blues past the Sharks.

#3 Dell was left off balance on Tarasenko’s shot thinking he was going to get to the puck, but the game-winner made it in.

#4 Tarasenko is the Blues’ leading scorer with 31 goals and has also shot for 30 or more in each of the last four years.

#5 The Sharks head into Nashville for Thursday night’s contest. The Predators snapped a three-game loss streak on Tuesday loss streak and are looking to start putting a win streak together with the Sharks coming to town. This should be one of the best games of the week head-to-head.

Mary Lisa does the Sharks podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Sharks’ win streak ends at eight with 3-2 OT loss to Blues

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Photo credit: NHL.com/blues

By Pearl Allison Lo

The St. Louis Blues ended San Jose’s win streak with a 3-2 overtime win at the Scottrade Center Tuesday.

It was the Blues’ fourth overtime win during their now six-game streak.

It was another close game for both teams and the Sharks’ second back-to-back game that went beyond regulation.  

St. Louis, however, was the more desperate team in the Wild Card race. With the win, they moved above the blue line alongside the Los Angeles Kings. Vladimir Tarasenko won the game with his second of the match, the only time the Blues led in the game.

San Jose lost forward Barclay Goodrow due to an upper-body injury just 1:56 into the game, but was still able to start out with the lead for the third game in a row. Evander Kane struck for the third game in a row with his fifth point during that time.

However, the Sharks left the period without the lead again as Oskar Sundqvist scored his first goal and first with St. Louis to tie it at 17:43.

San Jose able to go ahead again in the second. Brent Burns found Pavelski who hit the top left corner at 7:07. Pavelski now has 20 goals and Burns 50 assists. The power play goal ended the Blues’ three-game streak of limiting their opponents to a lone goal.

St. Louis duplicated the opening third by responding in the same period with their own on the man advantage. Tarasenko hit his mark at the top right corner from the middle of the right faceoff circle at 12:03. It was Tarasenko’s 30th goal on the season.

Both teams stayed tied at two apiece as they searched for the game-winner. The Blues had an especially spirited attack in the third starting with 7:45 left. In two minutes, St. Louis garnered two shots, two missed shots, one blocked shot and two hits.

The Sharks’ Logan Couture mentioned coach playing “three and a quarter lines” in the third and it “caught up to us.”

St. Louis had all three shots in overtime. Brayden Schenn had one of them, a blocked shot four seconds later and a missed shot. Alex Pietrangelo, who had a game-high five shots, had the Blues’ second shot.

Tarasenko’s goal came after Sobotka preoccupied San Jose at one end before receiving his backwards pass.

The Sharks lost Barclay Goodrow in the middle of the first period. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer after the game mentioned it as an upper-body injury, but the extent beyond that is murky.  

Game Notes: Jake Allen, who has been in net each game of the Blues’ win streak, made 22 saves in the win for St. Louis. On the other side, Aaron Dell made 29 saves in a losing effort for San Jose.

Up Next: The Sharks visit the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena Saturday at 5 pm PST.

Sharks edge Blackhawks 4-3 in shootout for eighth straight win

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Photo credit: NHL.com/Sharks

By Pearl Allison Lo

San Jose Sharks’s Kevin Labanc went top-shelf short-side in the shootout to jump over the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 at the United Center Monday night.

This made the Sharks’ win streak into the longest since 2011.

In a much tighter battle then these two teams’ last meeting, it came down to shootout round No. 4. The Sharks’ Logan Couture scored in the first round and the Blackhawks’ Patrick Sharp scored in the third. San Jose goalie Martin Jones now has won seven straight.

Chicago is out of the playoffs, but they certainly did not play like it. San Jose made it 3-2 at 15:41 of the third, but Sharp returned the favor at 17:38.

The Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist.

The Sharks opened the scoring with a goal at 9:15 of the first. Jannik Hansen picked up a turnover, circled around the left faceoff circle and Marcus Sorensen was there to put in the lateral pass from across the goal line. It was Sorensen’s first goal since February 15.

However, Chicago eclipsed San Jose’s lead in a short span later. The tying goal came by way of an errant pass by Tomas Hertl as the puck moved quickly in the opposite direction. Vinnie Hinostroza shot from one side and DeBrincat made sure the laser rebound went into the net at 15:32. DeBrincat tied a team-high with his 26th goal.  

Connor Murphy followed to make it It 2-1 at 16:50. It was a long wait as the 25-year old birthday boy’s last goal came on November 9. Murphy retrieved a clear attempt and scored through a screen from the point as the puck went off goalie Martin Jones.

The Blackhawks retained the edge until Mikkel Boedker picked off a pass and connected with Evander Kane. Kane then went on a breakaway to score five-hole with his third goal in two games at 16:39 of the second.

The Sharks’ third goal took some physicality and finesse. Barclay Goodrow absorbed a hit and as the puck traveled, Hertl snapped it up and swiveled his way to a score.  

Sharp’s goal was surprising as well, as it bounced off Jones after he made the initial save. 

San Jose coach Pete DeBoer said of overtime, you “become a fan,” and it sure was entertaining.

Both goalies smothered early chances in the crease different ways, Chicago goalie Anton Forsberg falling back. Hertl reached up with his glove to help Jones after a save. Kane had another breakaway attempt but was unable to convert this time.

Both goalies were .500 in the shootout before it ended.

Game Notes: Kane had a game-high 10 shots. The most anyone else had was three.

Up Next: The Sharks will aim for win No. 9 with a back-to-back versus the Saint Louis Blues Tuesday at 5 pm PST.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks take seven-game win streak into Chicago tonight; Dillon and his Gordie Howe hat trick; plus more

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Sharks are on a seven-game win streak. They’re getting their last victory 5-1 and sweeping Calgary Flames in the season series 4-0.

#2 The Sharks got goals from Brendon Dillon, Janik Hansen, Evander Kane, and Justin Braun. A Gordy Howe hat trick for Dillon.

#3 Fr Sharks goaltender Marty Jones picks up his 37th save against NJ for the win.

#4 The Sharks are 10-2 since Kane’s arrival, and with seven games left, the Sharks are seven points behind Vegas.

#5 A look how the Sharks are doing on the on power kills, penalty plays and upcoming game for tonight in Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, and Vegas.

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