Tag: Stuart Skinner

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Hockey in Prague brings out over 16,000 fans; Keller named first captain in Utah history; plus more news

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Buffalo Sabres Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils Thomas Tatar second from right at the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal in Prague on Fri Oct 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 It had to be special for the New Jersey Devils who faced off with Buffalo Sabres in Prague. New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 shots in the 4-1 win Friday night at the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia presented by Fastenal. The game drew 16, 913 so the NHL is a hot commodity in Prague as well.

#2 Clayton Keller was named the first captain in Utah Hockey history Oliver Eckman Larsson was the Arizona Coyotes beginning Sep 13, 2018 and later was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on July 23, 2021. Keller was the alternate captain on the Coyotes for the last two seasons, he also led by example leading the Yotes in goals with 33 goals, assists with 43, and 76 points.

#3 While Edmonton Oilers Kris Knoblauch is still trying to decide whose going to work the blue lines with just six days left until the regular season starts. But there is no doubt that the Oilers will be starting Stuart Skinner in goal for this season. Stuart started in 57 games last season. Knoblauch said of Stuart, “You look at how well he’s handled adversity throughout the year. After a bad game, he’s always responded.

#4 Len, Austin Matthews comes into this season as the 26th named captain in Toronto Maple Leafs history. Matthews succeeds last season’s captain John Tavares. Tavares had been team captain for the Leafs since October 2019. Tavares will continue to bring a veteran presence. One of the big reasons for Matthews becoming the captain was given by team president Brenden Shanahan, “Over these past eight seasons, we’ve witnessed first-hand Auston’s trajectory and evolution as a player and a person,”

#5 The San Jose Sharks and NHL’s number one draft pick Macklin Celebrini is still nursing a nagging lower body injury. Celebrini was able to skate for the first time on Friday since his injury during Tuesday’s pre season game against Utah. Sharks head coach Ryan Warosfsky said “He skated on his own today, so I think we’re trending in the right direction. But again, it’s still very early in the process, and we’ll see how he is tomorrow and evaluate.”

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Bruins Swayman looking for long term contract; Sens Ullmark will be a UFA after this season; plus more news

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Boston Bruins are hoping to have restricted free agent goaltender Jeremy Swayman in the line up by opening night. Both sides are still negotiating financial terms of Swayman’s contract. Swayman is seeking an eight year deal. (AP News photo)

On NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is a restricted free agent. Swayman is seeking a eight year contract. The Bruins are seeking a long term deal with Swayman as well. The only hang up is agreeing on the value price of the contract. The Bruins are hoping to get Swayman signed before opening night.

#2 The Ottawa Senators Linus Ullmark is about to become a unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Ullmark has had a great pre season and had his best game against the Buffalo Sabres last Thursday night stopping 28 out 29 shots.

#3 The Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty is going through more testing after sustaining a lower body injury in pre season action against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday. Doughty hurt his leg when he was slammed against the boards by the Knights forward Tanner Pearson in the first period.

#4 Matvei Michkov the Philadelphia Flyers top prospect performed as expected getting an assist and scoring an empty net goals against the New York Islanders. Michkov 19, had his best game of the three pre season game on Thursday. So far Michkov has two goals and three assists.

#5 The Edmonton Oilers goalies going into camp last season that of Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner battled for the starting job that was up for grabs. Campbell started opening night. Both Campbell and Stuart struggled that first month but later Stuart got on track and later became on of the NHL’s top five starting goaltenders. This season Stuart is the clear starting goaltender and that’s partly awarded after Stuart and Oilers had a successful post season.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oilers Rout Sharks 9-2, McDavid Earns 100th Point of Season

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The San Jose Sharks William Eklund (72) taking a shot that was blocked by the Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard (2) in the third period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Mon Apr 16, 2024 (The Canadian Press via AP)

By Mary Walsh

Connor McDavid, Adam Henrique, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, Corey Perry, Cody Ceci, Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers. Stuart Skinner made 19 saves for the 9-2 win over the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Connor McDavid earned his 100th assist of the season in the game, only the second Oiler and the fourth NHL player to do so.

Danil Gushchin and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the Sharks. Mikael Granlund extended his point streak to 12 games with an assist. Devin Cooley made 14 saves on 22 shots before being pulled in the second period. Georgi Romanov made 15 on 16 shots saves in his NHL debut.

For the third time this season, the Sharks allowed nine or more goals. After the game, Sharks Head Coach David Quinn said: “We never looked like we were really… thought we had a chance. That’s kinda what it felt like. We were slow, very slow in everything that we were doing. We were losing a lot of battles and it was a lot of hesitation in our game.”

Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said: “That was really what I thought went wrong today, is we maybe looked at the lineup on the other end and we played scared in the first period. And obviously it was a snowball effect.”

Sharks center Luke Kunin talked about the disappointing game and how the team let goaltender Devin Cooley down: “We didn’t help him out at all. With the odd-mans, how many looks he was getting, with the way that we started the game. You know, try to say a few things to him, obviously he’s a competitive guy as well, it wasn’t his fault by any means.”

Connor McDavid started the scoring just 53 seconds into the first period. McDavid carried the puck into the zone at speed and as he approached the goal line, he centered the puck for Zach Hyman. The pass did not get through. Instead, it hit Marc-Edouard Vlasic and went into the net. An assist went to Darnell Nurse.

Adam Henrique made it 2-0 at 4:01. Catching a Brett Kulak pass from the blue line, Henrique settled the puck down in traffic before lifting it over Cooley for the goal.

Warren Foegele added another at 10:40. Skating in two-on-one with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Foegele scored with a wrist shot from inside the faceoff circle. An assist went to Leon Draisaitl.

At this point, the Sharks still only had one shot on goal. By the end of the period, they had six shots ot the Oilers’ 10.

At 19:35, Dylan Holloway tipped in the fourth Oilers goal off a shot from Adam Henrique. Assists to Henrique and Nurse.

The Sharks got on the board at 1:58 of the second period. Danil Gushchin took a shot from the goal line that snuck between the Skinner and the post. An assist went to Thomas Bordeleau.

Less than three minutes later, Foegele scored his second of the night to make it 5-1. Foegele redirected a shot from Nugent-Hopkins. Cooley stopped that but the puck got away from him and Foegele followed up and poked the puck over the line. Assists went to Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl.

Corey Perry made it 6-1 near the midpoint of the period. Evan Bouchard went for the shot and Cooley came out to stop it. But the puck went past him and Perry was lurking by the other post to poke the puck in. Assists went to Bouchard and Holloway.

Cody Ceci made it 7-1 at 13:18. Trailing the play and then going ot the net, Ceci redirected a pass from Henrique. Assists went to Henrique and Hyman.

Evan Bouchard made it 8-1, just 31 seconds later. In a play almost exactly like the prior one, Corey Perry sent the puck across the ice for Bouchard to redirect past Cooley on the glove side. Assists went to Perry and Holloway.

The Sharks pulled Cooley after that one and put rookie Georgi Romanov in net.

A little less than a minute later, Zach Hyman scored to make it 9-1. In another two-on-one, Connor McDavid and Hyman skated in. McDavid a short pass for Hyman to nudge in. Assists went to McDavid and Nurse.

That was it for the Oilers. The Sharks scored one in the third period. Mikael Granlund carried the puck in two-on-one with Fabian Zetterlund. Granlund took a shot while skating through center ice. Skinner stopped that. William Eklund got a stick on it but it did not go in. The puck bounced around in the blue paint before Zetterlund got his stick on it and scored with a backhand shot. Assists went to Eklund and Granlund.

The Sharks will play their final game of the season at 6:00 PM PT on Thursday in Calgary against the Flames.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro: Rangers Kane and Tarasenko might go UFA; Calder Cup candidates; plus more

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The New York Rangers Patrick Kane (8) and Vladimir Tarasenko (9) are considering unrestricted free agency the Rangers could be a big players in the sweepstakes (nhl.com file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The NHL named the finalists Norris Awards about an hour ago could you talk about who those finalists are.

#2 New York Ranger superstars Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko are considering unrestricted free agency after the post season this would be the first time that both Kane and Tarasenko would be free agents. That said is this like an invitation for the Rangers to name their price or start bidding on keeping Kane and Tarasenko.

#3 Also something to consider Kane might have to have lower body surgery he has been wanting to get this surgery for the last few seasons and wants to focus on the surgery before making a decision on free agency.

#4 Len, talk about the Calder Trophy Award candidates and the kind of season they had. From the Seattle Kraken Matty Beniers, the Buffalo Sabers Owen Power, and from the Edmonton Oilers Stuart Skinner.

#5 The Tampa Bay Lightning’s goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy said that his body just gave out in the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs also Vasilevskiy said that he had the lowest save percentage and highest goals against since 2017-18.

#6 Len, talk about the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights who face off for game 2 on Saturday night. Both teams are stacked and have guys who find the back of the net for the Knights, Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault, and Reily Smith. For the Oilers Connor McDavid, Leon Draisatl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Join Len throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for podcast coverage Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Shut Out at Home by Oilers 3-0

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Edmonton Oilers left winger Evander Kane (91) tries got get the puck past San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer (47) at SAP Center in San Jose on Mon Feb 14, 2022 (AP News photo) 

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– The Sharks resumed the season after a long break Monday, and lost to the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Warren Foegele, Darnell Nurse and Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers and Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the win. James Reimer made 36 saves for the Sharks.

The Sharks had not played a game since February 1. The All-Star break and the fact that the Sharks had so few games rescheduled meant that the Sharks went 12 days between games. After Monday’s game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

“I thought our legs were good in the first seven, eight, nine shifts of the period, you know, I thought had a little adrenaline. But as the game went on I think that you could see there wasn’t a lot of sharpness to our game. And that’s the worry after being on a break that long. But you’ve got to find ways at this time of year, and there’s no excuses. Those are big points we let go.”

Discussing the team’s offensive woes, Boughner said: “We just couldn’t generate any offense tonight. We looked like the more we tried the worse we got. You saw me trying to juggle lines, trying to get something going, nothing worked.”

The first period saw two quick goals from Edmonton. The first came at 6:05 from Warren Foegele. Evan Bouchard’s shot from the point went off of Derek Ryan and then Foegele before getting by Reimer.

The second goal came at 7:10 on a point shot through traffic from Darnell Nurse. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got the assist.

The Oilers took two penalties in the period, one before they scored and one after. The Sharks power play had three shots and gave up one short-handed. The overall shot count for the period was very close, 11-10 Oilers.

In the second period, the numbers were much less close. Though the Oilers did not score in the second, they out-shot the Sharks 14-2. On paper, the Sharks took three penalties and the Oilers took two, but most of those overlapped to create abbreviated power plays and a five-on-three for the Oilers. The Oilers power play ended up with seven shots and the Sharks had none.

Connor McDavid scored to make it 3-0 at 1:50 of the third period. The Sharks seemd to have escaped an onslaught from the Oilers offense but just when thought they could get out of the zone, McDavid was on his way back in. He evaded Brent Burns and took a quick shot that went by Reimer on the blocker side. Evan Bouchard got the assist.

The only penalty in the third period went against the Oilers. The Sharks power play managed two shots. The count for the period was 16-8 Oilers. In the face-off circle, the Oilers had a small edge with 52% of the wins.

At the end of the second period, Rudolfs Balcers was injured blocking a puck and did not return to the game. There were no updates on his status immediately after the game.

In his first game against the Sharks as an Oiler, Evander Kane had 4 shots, one hit, no penalties and no points.

The Sharks next play on Thursday at home against the Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 PM PT.