NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Canes stop postgame celebrations, Wild skate past Knights in 3-2 win; Yotes drop three points behind Avs; plus more

smirfitts.com file photo: The Carolina Hurricanes propose to stop celebrations like these after getting criticism from other teams saying “it’s not professional”

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Carolina Hurricanes have put an end to the postgame celebrations called the “Storm Surge.” They also will not bring it back in the event they were to get into postseason. Was there a behind the doors nudge by the league or someone that said these kind of celebrations had to stop?

#2 The Minnesota Wild got a one-goal win over the Vegas Golden Knights, a team Matt will be seeing tonight. Devan Dubnyk stopped 32 shots for the Wild. The Knights, even though they lost Friday night’s game, clinched because the Arizona Coyotes lost their game.

#3 Speaking of the Arizona Coyotes, they dropped a shootout when the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon’s goal was the gamer. The Avs move close to a wild card spot with the win.

#4 The Nashville Predators’ goalie Pekka Rinne stood on his head for 60 minutes, stopping 42 Pittsburgh Penguin shots. Rinne was closing in on his fifth season shutout until the Pens’ Nick Bjugstad scored with 1:03 remaining in the game.

#5 The Detroit Red Wings got a 4-0 shutout over the New Jersey Devils. The Wings used two goalies for the shutout: Jonathan Bernier and Jimmy Howard.

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

San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu: Quakes have been getting some work done

Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose Earthquakes podcast with Ana Kieu:

1. The Earthquakes lost to the Monterrey Rayados 2-1 in a friendly at Avaya Stadium last Saturday.

2. Do you feel that the Quakes’ lineup changes affected the outcome of their friendly vs. Monterrey?

3. JT Marcinkowski and Jackson Yueill made the Quakes proud Sunday.

4. Richard Mulrooney and Dave Obenour were inducted into the Quakes Hall of Fame Monday.

5. The Quakes caught a lot of flak on Twitter for their recent tweet asking fans to join them in defending their home.

Ana does the San Jose Earthquakes podcasts each Friday for SportsRadioService.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: On Fiers, A’s get pitching and a shutout on Opening Day

Photo credit: @anda_chu

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 How uplifting is it that the A’s not only got a 4-0 win on Opening Day against the Los Angeles Angels, but also got a shutout from their Opening Day starter Mike Fiers?

#2 Fiers went six innings and surrendered just one hit. Did he look good enough to complete the game?

#3 The A’s bullpen came through with a shutout after Fiers left the game.

#4 The A’s, who won 4-0, got their runs early, and by the end of four innings,, they already had a 3-0 lead.

#5 After watching this opener, was this a surprise considering how the club struggled so badly and getting swept by the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo to open the season?

Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Bummed out–Giants and Bumgarner get shutout 2-0 in opener

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Madison Bumgarner started for the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day and was able to keep the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado under control, but the Padres still won it 2-0.

#2 The Padres’ Fernado Titas got two hits to help contribute towards the win. The Padres’ Wil Myers got a home run off Bumgarner and the Padres had a 2-0 lead.

#3 This was Machado’s first game as a Padre playing in Opening Day. Although Machado didn’t get a hit, the game was a win and it should be memorable for Machado.

#4 Padres starter Eric Lauer (1-0) pitched six innings of shutout ball against the Giants, surrendering four hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

#5 Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (0-1) pitched seven innings along with five hits and two runs and posted nine strikeouts for the loss.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Joe Lami: Sharks’ problems just beginning, face Vegas-Calgary this weekend; Three NHL shootouts Thursday; plus more

Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the NHL podcast with Joe:

#1 The San Jose Sharks lost another one on Thursday night but they didn’t lose by two or three goals in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Did the Sharks look improved over their last seven loses or did they look just as bad.

#2 The Washington Capitals Nic Dowd scored on a deflected pass which was good enough for the win. The Caps defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.

#3 It went to a shootout and the Dallas Stars topped the Edmonton Oilers 3-2. The Stars Jami Benn scored the game winner.

#4 In another shootout the Vancouver Canucks Tanner Pearson scored a fourth round goal to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Thursday night.

#5 The Montreal Canadiens didn’t stand a chance as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated Montreal 6-2. Oliver Bjorkstrand got two goals and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 27 shots. The Jackets are in the Eastern Conference wild card spot.

Join Joe for the NHL podcast each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Baer will lose control of team when he comes back from suspension; New CEO Dean to take Baer’s spot

Photo credit: @Deadspin

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, the San Francisco Giants have decided to have acting CEO Rob Dean as their frontman. In a statement from the team on Tuesday, the Giants have said that upon returning from suspension on July 2nd, Baer will no longer have control of the team, although he will retain his title as CEO and president.

#2 The players have stated that regardless of the off-the-field issues regarding Baer, they are determined to stay focused, and outfielder Steven Duggar says playing between the lines has been a safe haven for the players.

#3 The Giants have been struggling in spring training are are now open their regular season today in San Diego. They do have one of the best defensive infield in the National League coming into the season.

#4 The Oakland A’s, who were left for dead after their starting rotation either went on the DL or underwent surgery, came back later in the season and made it to the Wild Card. You just can’t count a Billy Beane team out.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Can Sharks start a miracle tonight and end six-game skid?

Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Sharks missed a great opportunity last Monday night when they could have gained some ground on the Calgary Flames after the Flames were shutout by the Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks then went out and lost to the Detroit Red Wings on home ice for their sixth straight loss.

#2 The Sharks, without Joe Pavelski and Erik Karlsson, saw the Red Wings wasted no time at 4:23 in the first period with a goal from Andreas Athanasiou for his 29th goal of the season.

#3 The Sharks goalie Martin Jones had to stop three breakaways in the game, and with breakaways, you never know how their going to turn out.

#4 The Sharks got goal help from Evander Kane his 28th of the season, but the Sharks would have to wait until the third period with five seconds left in the game when Tomas Hertl scored a goal, but the Sharks came up a goal short in the 3-2 loss.

#5 The Chicago Blackhawks will visit SAP Center tonight. The Sharks badly need to snap this streak as their home ice advantage hopes for the playoffs are starting put them in a lower ranking priority.

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

 

Warriors take down the Grizzlies 118-103

Photo credit: @warriors

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors traveled to Memphis to face the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. The Grizzlies, coached by J.B. Bickerstaff, had a record of 30-44 before the start of the game and were not going to make the playoffs this year. The Grizzlies traded their star center Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors for Jonas Valanciunas. Valanciunas, who did not playing much in Toronto, found a new home in Memphis. The Grizzlies have played well and beaten several postseason-bound teams. The Warriors, who were embarrassed at home by the lowly Phoenix Suns, did not want to suffer the same fate at the hands of the Grizzlies. The Warriors entered the game with a record of 50-23 and are in a race to win home court advantage in the Western Conference.

The two teams played a very entertaining first quarter. The Warriors led 30-27 late in the period when Memphis went on a 10-1 run the finish the period 37-31. Former Warrior Justin Holiday connected on a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Memphis increased the lead to 41-31 before the Warriors started clawing their way back. Golden State’s second unit of Quinn Cook, Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, and Klay Thompson knocked down threes and the Warriors tied the game at 50. The Warriors continued to play well and finished the first half 66-60.

The Warriors were hot from the floor. They were 26-for-41 from the floor and made 11 three-point shots. Curry and Kevin Durant led the team with 14 each, Quinn Cook made three threes for nine points total. The Grizzlies’ Jonas Valanciunas had 16 and Michael Conley added 11. Conley passed M. Gasol to become the Grizzlies’ leading scorer in franchise history.

The Grizzlies used a 8-2 run in the third quarter to tie the game. Klay Thompson made a three and Steph knocked down two more threes to put the Warriors ahead 77-68. The Grizzlies refused to quit and went on an 11-2 run to trail 85-84. Curry made two free throws and Alfonzo McKinney hit a deuce to finish the quarter leading 89-84.

The Grizzlies continued to fight back and briefly held a 92-91 lead. The Warriors took control of the game behind the play of Durant, Livingston, Cousins, and Draymond Green. The Warriors won 118-103.

Game Notes and Stats: Kevin Durant had the best shooting night of his career. He missed just one shot from the floor. He made 12 buckets in 13 tries. He was 3-for-3 in three-point shots. In addition, he had nine boards and six assists.

Curry had a double-double with 28 points and led the team with 10 rebounds,

Cousins scored 16, while Klay Thompson had 13.

Memphis’ leading scorers were Jonas Valanciunas with 27 points, Michael Conley with 22 points, Bruno Caboclo with points 17, and Chandler Parsons with 13 points.

Up Next: The Warriors meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis Friday at 5:00 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Avenatti says that Nike paid college athletes; Kings may not make playoffs, but still not giving up games; plus more

Photo credit: @nypost

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Michael Avenantti, former attorney for Stormy Daniels, has said this week that Nike had paid student-athletes at various colleges. Avenatti has been charged for extortion as he is accused of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike.

#2 After the feds have made charges against Avenatti for the extortion charge, Avenatti–some 24 hours later–made the claim that Nike was paying its Nike Elite Basketball Youth Program bribes in college basketball.

#3 This is a Sacramento Kings basketball team that never gives up. They lost a close five-point game on Sunday to the Los Angeles Lakers, but turned around on Tuesday night and beat the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas 125-121. They’ve got a little something in the tank.

#4. The Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty has questioned whether the San Jose Sharks Brent Burns should have won the Norris Trophy, saying Burns gets beat three times a game and that the Calgary Flames’ Mark Giordano should get the award. Burns leads the NHL defensemen with 77 points to Giordano, who’s in second with 72.

#5 Baseball season opens on Thursday. The Oakland A’s already opened their season in Tokyo last week and are playing their first regular game stateside against the Los Angeles Angels. How much does this take out of a team with the jet lag playing two exhibitions and two regular games then playing in Oakland just one week later?

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Race in playoff standings tightening as Cuda battle San Diego tonight

sjbarracuda.com photo: The score explains the results of the last game between the San Jose Barracuda and the Tucson Roadrunners. The Barracuda will be in San Diego tonight trying to get back into the win column.

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko in recent weeks the Barracuda have fallen from grace looking like a sure lock team for post season but fell on hard times will this be a scratch and claw how shaky is it now for them to make the AHL playoffs?

#2 Has promoting some of the key players they had from earlier this season to their parent club the Sharks taken away from their talent pool and as a result this is what you see now?

#3 Tough road trip so far they lost by a goal on Sunday 2-1 to the Tucson Roadrunners this is a game they really wanted to get but the Roadrunners are always a very vibrant and resisting club on their home ice and this was a late goal on a tip shot from the Roadrunners Michael Bunting that sank the Barracuda’s game.

#4 The Roadrunners have closed the gap now and are just four points behind the Barracuda and the Barracuda move onto San Diego tonight how crucial of a game is this with wiggle room getting less and less in the playoff race for San Jose?

#5 With some of the players getting promoted this season and you see the depth on defense changing how much pressure has this been put upon on goaltender Antoine Bibeau?

Marko does the SJ Barracuda podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com