Sharks lose 6-5 in overtime to Canucks

San Jose Sharks left wing Oskar Lindblom (23) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Ilya Mikheyev (65) compete for possession of the puck during the second period at SAP Center San Jose on Wed Dec 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Elias Petterson’s goal at 4:25 of the overtime period gave the Vancouver Canucks (12-12-3) a 6-5 win over the San Jose Sharks Wednesday at SAP Center.

The Sharks (8-16-5, 20 points) let a 5-4 lead slip away in the third period. An unassisted goal by Jonah Gadjovich at 2:45 tied the game at 4-4. And Kevin Labanc’s sixth goal of the season – from Tomas Hertl and Erik Karlsson – gave San Jose a 5-4 lead at 11:28.

Andrei Kuzmemkpo’s 13th goal of the season, a power-play tally assisted by Petterson and Bo Horvat, provided the equalizer for Vancouver (11-12-2, 25) at 16:07.

The Canucks built a 3-1 lead on Nils Hoglander’s goal at 1:34 of the second period. San Jose came back with goals by Timo Meier (power-play )and Logan Couture (shorthanded), the latter tying the game at 3-3 at 10:53.

Rya Mikheyev put the Canucks back in front at 4-3, scoring at 19:28 of the second period.

San Jose’s Nick Bonoino opened the scoring 18 seconds into the first period with his second goal of the season. Vancouver responded nearly four minutes later with a goal by Dakota Joshua, and the Canucks took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on Joshua’s second goal of the opening period – a power-play tally – at 19:35 while the Sharks’ C.J. Suess served a minor for holding.

Vancouver goalie Spencer Martin turned away 34 of 39 shots. Kaapo Kahkonen started in goal for the Sharks, giving up four goals on 19 shots. Fetu Makiniemi replaced Kahkonen in the third period, stopping 8 of 10 shots.

San Jose was penalized four times, while the Canucks were also whistled four times, including a 5-minute fighting major to Joshua for a scuffle with the Sharks’ Radim Simek in the first period. The Sharks have now lost seven of their last eight games.

The Sharks travel to Anaheim on Friday for a Pacific Division contest against the Ducks.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Colorado’s Manson is week to week with lower body injury; Bertuzzi out six weeks with upper body for Red Wings; plus more

The Colorado Avalanche’s Josh Manson is out week to week due to a lower body injury (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche’s Josh Manson is out week to week due to a lower body injury. Manson was injured while playing against the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday. The Aves defeated the Sabers 6-4 and Manson has six points, two goals and four assists.

#2 The Detroit Red Wings Tyler Bertuzzi is out six weeks with an upper body injury Bertuzzi left Wednesday night’s game with a left hand injury after getting hit with a puck shot.

#3 Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will miss six weeks of action as he suffered a lower body injury. Demko left in the late first period during a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. Demko couldn’t put any weight on his right leg and had to be assisted off the ice after Ryan Lomberg with 47 seconds left in the first period.

#4 The Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a stroke. Letang was not suffering any post effects but will be test this upcoming week and his stroke is not considered career threatening according to Penguins general manager Ron Hextall.

#5 Matt the NHL did announce make up dates for the postponed game due to a water main break at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on back on Nov 26th when the Columbus Blue Jackets were to face the Nashville Predators which was rescheduled Tue Jan 17th.

Join Matt for the NHL podcasts Saturday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tightly contested game between Sharks and Canucks ends with Vancouver on top 4-3

Photo courtesy of San Jose Sharks Twitter. Matt Benning gets ready before the game against Vancouver.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

At the SAP Center the Sharks and Canucks battled it out in a back-and-forth affair that needed overtime but in the end the Canucks won by a final of 4-3.

The opening period was a close checking period with very few stoppages and quick play on both sides of the puck.

At the 7:26 mark though Kyle Burroughs would break the silence with a one time bomb from the point that made it 1-0. The assists on the goal going to both Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller.

After the goal it continued to be a tightly played game with the shots at the end of the period only slightly favoring the Sharks at 11-7.

Heading into the second the game continued to be played very similarly with Kevin Labanc breaking up the pace by taking a tripping penalty. Though the Canucks would threaten the PK unit for San Jose came through and killed the PP off.

A little over ten minutes after the PK the Sharks would get a fortuitous goal that bounced in off the back Luke Kunin out in front off a wrist shot from the point by Matt Benning. Nick Bonino also got an assists on the goal as it bounced off of him as well.

The period would end in a tie at 1-1 with the Sharks still leading in shots at 16-13.

In the third period at the 13:00 minute mark Burroughs would take a cross-checking penalty to give the Sharks their first power play of the game.

Only five seconds into said PP San Jose struck with a one time ripper from Logan Couture that beat Thatcher Demko. Erik Karlsson and Alexander Barabonov also got assists on the goal.

For the Sharks their lead would be short lived as a little over a minute later Ilya Mikheyev scored on a one timer in the slot to tie things back up at two. Both Andrei Kuzmenko and Elias Pettersson got assists on the goal.

Looking to end the game the Canucks kept up the pressure and scored again this time Pettersson got his 11th of the season on tip out front that beat Kaapo Kahkonen. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Mikheyev got assists on the goal.

With the pressure on them San Jose would not fold as instead they pressed back and got some good looks of their own.

With a little less than seven minutes left in the game the teal-and-white converted on a look with Kunin netting his second of the night. It was another one timer beautifully set up by Karlsson with Nick Bonino assisting on the play as well.

Despite some good chances late in the third for Vancouver overtime would be necessary for this matchup.

For the Canucks it would not take long for them to end it as just 1:12 into OT Kuzmenko found himself alone on a breakaway and sniped a shot past Kahkonen. Miller and Quinn Hughes got assists on the goal.

At the end of the game the shots finished in favor of the Sharks at 35-20.

“Pretty good I mean I felt good throughout the whole game obviously just frustrating way to end this game,” Kahkonen said after the OT loss.

The Sharks next game will be against the Montreal Canadians on Tuesday at the Bell Centre at 4 p.m.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Kings Doughty looks forward to facing Ovechkin; Bolts point scores twice in Panthers loss; plus much more

The Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin (left) has put eight shots against as the Los Angeles Kings Drew Doughty (right) stopped all eight but missed the last two games against the Caps. Doughty will get another chance again to face Ovechkin this Sat Oct 22, 2022 as the Kings and Caps drop the puck at Capital One Center in DC (NHL.com file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty express his excitement about the possibility of facing the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin this Saturday night at the Capital One Center in DC. Doughty has missed the last two games that the Kings faced the Caps the first time Nov 17th due to a knee contusion and the second time with Covid-19 protocols.

#2 Doughty has been able to block Ovechkin’s in 19 previous games he was able to block 31 Capital shots including eight from Ovechkin.

#3 You just can’t keep a good man down and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brayden Point is no exception scoring twice against the Florida Panthers on Friday night as the Bolts squeezed by the Panthers with a 3-2 win in Sunrise Florida. The Lightning also beat the New York Islanders 5-3 on Saturday to pick up their third win.

#4 The Vancouver Canucks returned to Rogers Centre in Vancouver Saturday night hosting the Buffalo Sabers, after opening up their first five games of the season all on the road with loses. Was this a matter of just bad scheduling opening up those first five on the road or the Canucks were just that bad?

#5 The San Jose Sharks will be hosting five throw back sweater nights starting Tuesday night at SAP Center in San Jose that will pay tribute to the first NHL team in the Bay Area the California Golden Seals who played at the Oakland Arena from 1966-1976 before moving to Cleveland. The uniforms resemble the Seals old sweaters the other 29 NHL teams are also doing throw back nights as well.

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

Sharks Fall 4-2 to Canucks, Canucks Sweep Season Series

Vancouver Canucks’ Alex Chiasson and fans celebrate his goal during third period action at Rogers Place in Vancouver on Sat Apr 9, 2022 (The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks’ Alex Chiasson and fans celebrate after Chiasson scores in the third period against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place in Vancouver on Sat Apr 10, 2022 (The Canadian Press via AP)

By Mary Walsh

VANCOUVER- The San Jose Sharks dropped their sixth in a row, a 4-2 road loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The loss concluded the season series between the teams, with the Canucks winning all three games. The win put the Canucks within four points of a playoff spot. Jason Dicksinson, Conor Garland, Alex Chiasson and Luke Schenn scored for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko made 35 saves for the win. Tomas Hertl and Nick Bonino scored for the Sharks and Kaapo Kahkonen made 35 saves in the loss.

Like many of the Sharks recent losses, the game was close in many respects. Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner listed some of the missed opportunities that the Sharks had on Saturday:

“Had our scoring chances, again, I mean, I sound like a broken record but we had breakaways, we had three posts, you know, we had looks at the end in our six on five, six on four situation. You know, we had plenty of opportunities to score, we didn’t get it done.”

Sharks defenseman Ryan Merkley took a hit early in the first period after missing the mark with a drop pass in the Canucks zone. While he was getting to the bench, the Canucks went the other way and scored. He left the game until late in the period. Boughner discussed the hit and the play:

“I thought [the hit] looked a little high. Concerned about that, also concerned about the play. In the back of our net, that’s how we start the game. Things that we’re trying to get out of his game, out of our game. He’s a young guy. But I think that he got hit high, I looked at it a few times. He went through protocol, got checked out, it was good to see him come back healthy and ready to help us. But those are learning plays.”

Jason Dickinson gave the Canucks the lead just 2:05 into the first period. He intercepted a pass in the Sharks zone and went the other way two-on-one. He tucked the puck into the net at the last minute after Kahkonen had come too far out of the net.

Tomas Hertl tied it at 7:33 with a power play goal. Erik Karlsson set up Timo Meier for a shot from the circle. Demko stopped Meier’s shot but the rebound went right to Hertl on the other side. Assists went to Meier and Karlsson.

Conor Garland made it 2-1 at 4:49 of the second period. Garland picked up the puck at the Sharks blue line and went the other way with speed. He took the shot from the circle and to score his 15th of the season. Alex Chiasson got the assist.

Nick Bonino, playing his 750th NHL game, deflected a Brent Burns shot from the point to tie it at 18:37. Assists went to Burns and Noah Gregor.

Alex Chiasson made it 3-2 at 2:07 of the third period. He caught the puck low in the circle and put the shot through the short side. Assists went to Bo Horvat and Tyler Myers.

Luke Schenn scored a short-handed goal into and empty net with a second left in the game to make it 4-2.

The Sharks killed seven penalties in the game, allowing 12 shots to the Canucks power play. The Sharks power play had five opportunities and got one goal and five shots. In the face-off circle, the Sharks won 55% of the draws.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday in Nashville against the Predators at 5:00 PM PT.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL Trade deadline some big names up for grabs; plus NHL action from Friday

Brandon Hagel was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks on Fri Mar 18, 2022 (photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt how important is it that the Tampa Bay Lightning picked up Brandon Hagel in exchange for forwards Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh from the Chicago Blackhawks?

#2 Matt, talk about the key winning goal by the Buffalo Sabers Tage Thompson that helped get the win over the Calgary Flames in overtime at 3:07 for a narrow 1-0 win. Also big hand for the Sabers goaltender Dustin Tokarski who stopped 24 shots for the shutout.

#3 The Ottawa Senators Josh Norris help end the Senators three game losing streak with a go ahead goal in the third period that handed the Senators a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday night. The Sens Aaron Forsberg stopped 28 out 29 shots.

#4 The injuries are piling up for the Vegas Golden Knights the latest have center Jack Eichel doubtful for against the Los Angeles Kings for Saturday. Eichel blocked a shot with his hand and could sit out. His teammates goaltender Robin Lehner, two defencemen Brayden McNabb and Alec Martinez and three forwards Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, and Reilly Smith are all on the injured list. Inspite of that the Knights snapped a five game losing streak with a win over the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Thursday night.

#5 Matt, just to name a few of the players who are trade deadline as of this morning maybe you could update us, the Vancouver Canucks Brock Boeser, New York Islanders Cal Clutterbuck, Andrew Copp Winnipeg Jets, Jake DeBrusk Boston Bruins, and Marc Andre Fleury Chicago Blackhawks. I’ll let you also add more to whose on the trade block for tonight.

Matt does the NHL podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Lose 5-4 in OT to Canucks, 5th Loss in a Row

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6), Matthew Highmore (15), center J.T. Miller (9) and Conor Garland (8) celebrate Miller’s goal in overtime at the SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Feb 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks lost 5-4 in OT to the Vancouver Canucks Thursday. Juho Lammikko, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, Connor Garland, and J.T. Miller scored for Vancouver. Thatcher Demko made 24 saves for the win. Logan Couture, Timo Meier ad Alexander Barabanov scored for San Jose, with two goals from Meier. James Reimer, making his sixth start in a row, made 22 saves in the loss.

In the first period, the Sharks were badly outshot, 15-4. In the second, the Sharks pushed back and had 15 shots to the Canucks’ 5, and in the third the Sharks had 9 shots to the Canucks’ 5. The Sharks had no shots in overtime. After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

“I think the shots were something like 24,25-10 in the last two periods. I thought we had a lot of good looks. So, yeah, that’s our identity, that’s how we gotta play. I think if we could play the way we played in the last two periods, we’re going to get our fair share of points down the stretch but we’ve got to start on time.”

Sharks forward Tomas Hertl summed it up as: “We need effort for 60 minutes otherwise we will not win games here.”

Brock Boeser scored the first goal for Vancouver at 14:54 of the first. Skating to the net, with traffic in front of Reimer, Boeser shifted around the traffic and found an opening. He put the puck in the to top corner on Reimer’s glove side. Assists went to J.T. Miller and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Quinn Hughes scored at 17:40 to make it 2-0. Hughes took a shot from the point that bounced under Michael Highmore, back into the air and past Reimer.

Logan Couture got the Sharks on the board 3:35 into the second period. Couture seemed to be making a pass to Gregor but the puck hit the stick of Tyler Meyers and went into the Vancouver net. Assists went to Matt Nieto and Noah Gregor.

Juho Lammikko restored the Canucks’ two-goal lead at 10:49. Kyle Burroughs took a shot from high in the slot and the puck went off of Lammikko and into the net. An assist went to Burroughs.

Timo Meier scored on the power play to cut the lead back down to one at 14:03. Tomas Hertl passed it to him from below the goal line. Meier found a small gap to put the puck between Demko and the post. Assists went to Hertl and Alexander Barabanov.

Meier scored a second power play goal to tie it just 45 seconds into the third. This time he took the shot from above the right face-off circle. Demko had lost track of the puck and Meier had an open net to shoot at. Assists again went to Hertl and Barabanov.

Vancouver grabbed the lead back at 14:23 with a goal from Connor Garland. During a scramble in front of the net, Garland found the puck and put it in.

In the final second of the third, with the Sharks net empty, Alexander Barabanov tied the game with a shot from just above the goal line. Assists went to Meier and Brent Burns.

J.T. Miller scored the game winner during a delayed penalty with a shot into the top corner over Reimer’s stick. Assists went to Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes.

The Sharks were dominant in the face-off circle through all three periods, winning 33 of 55 draws. The Sharks power play had seven shots, and their penalty kill gave up 3.

The Sharks next play on Sunday at 5:00 PM PT against the Vegas Golden Knights in San Jose.

Sharks-Canucks Game and Seven other NHL games Postponed

San Jose Sharks goaltender Adin Hill (33) can’t stop a shot by Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat during Sat Dec 18, 2021’s game at SAP Center in San Jose which will sit empty as the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks game has been postponed on Tue Dec 21, 2021 due to Covid 19 protocols. The NHL will reopen the season on Mon Dec 27, 2021 (TSN file photo)

By Mary Walsh

Tuesday’s San Jose Sharks game against the Vancouver Canucks has joined a list of eight games postponed for COVID-19 concerns. The Sharks game against the Edmonton Oilers that was scheduled for Thursday has also been postponed. The next Sharks game on the schedule is Monday in Anaheim, against the Ducks at 7:00 PM PT.

The NHL first announced on Monday that games between Canadian and US teams would be postponed until after the holiday break. Then the postponements expanded to include all games after Tuesday night. Wednesday’s games had already been postponed because the teams are shut down under COVID-19 protocols, and the NHL and the NHLPA decided to postpone the five games scheduled for Thursday. There will be two games played Tuesday and after that, the NHL holiday break will begin.

As of Monday night, the regular season is expected to resume on Monday, December 27. Players will report back to their teams on Sunday: “for testing, practice and/or travel only. Upon return from the Holiday Break to team facilities, no individual in the team’s Traveling Party shall enter the facility (other than for testing purposes) until they have a negative test result. Any practice scheduled for Dec. 26 must begin after 2:00 p.m. local time.”

44 games have been postponed this season, 39 in past 7 days. At this time, the NHL intends to continue with the regular season. Sunday, they released a statement that read, in part:

“The NHLPA’s and NHL’s medical experts have determined that, with virtually all players and club hockey staff fully vaccinated, the need to temporarily shut down individual teams should continue to be made on a case-by-case basis. The effects of recently introduced enhanced prevention and detection measures will be evaluated daily.”

On Monday, the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators were added to the list of teams shut down for COVID-19 concerns. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators were shut down Sunday. The Calgary Flames, with 19 players and three coaches in protocol, were shut down Saturday through the 27th.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks conclude two game series with Canucks Tuesday night

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kyle Burroughs (44) makes a save against San Jose Sharks left wing Jayden Halbgewachs (89) at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Dec 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks have lost five out of their last seven games and lost their last two games to the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks. The loss to the Canucks was a three goal loss 5-2. The Sharks are looking for that consistency.

#2 The Sharks Timo Meier has been having some success in scoring he scored his 100th career goal on Friday night against the Canucks it was one of two goals but none the less Meier is glad to reach the 100 mark.

#3 The win lifted the Canucks record to 6-0 since Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach. Meanwhile, the Sharks have just two wins in their last six outings.

#4 Sharks forward Andrew Cogliano said: “It seems like, you know, opportunities that they get are going in and we’re not fighting hard enough to score our goals. We just have to be more desperate.”

#5 The Sharks face the Canucks again this Tue Dec 21st at SAP Center for the second in a two game set the Sharks are hoping to take the second game.

Join Len for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Canucks Sink Sharks 5-2, Meier Scores 100th

Timo Meier (28) is congratulated by San Jose Sharks teammate Erik Karlsson (65) after scoring his 100th career goal in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Dec 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE– The San Jose Sharks fell 5-2 to the Vancouver Canucks Thursday. Bo Horvat, J.T. Miller, Jason Dickinson scored for Vancouver, and Brock Boeser scored twice. Thatcher Demko made 34 saves for the win. Timo Meier and Andrew Cogliano scored for San Jose and Adin Hill made 25 saves in the loss,

The win lifted the Canucks record to 6-0 since Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach. Meanwhile, the Sharks have just two wins in their last six outings. Tomas Hertl is on a 6 game point streak and Timo Meier’s goal was his 100th in the NHL.

Afte the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner shared his impression of his team’s performance:

“I thought that, you know, the way we played tonight, I felt good about our team. I felt good about the way we played but we just didn’t execute, like I said, we didn’t capitalize. I thought that, you know, we probably needed a save earlier that we didn’t get. And sometimes that’s demoralizing too, when you’re sitting on the bench thinking you’re carrying the play and you’re chasing the game.”

Sharks forward Andrew Cogliano said: “It seems like, you know, opportunities that they get are going in and we’re not fighting hard enough to score our goals. We just have to be more desperate. I think we’re in a situation now where we’ve given some games back in a race that there’s a lot of teams in. And our will to win needs to increase.”

Brock Boeser scored the first goal of the game at 12:41 of the first period. Tanner Pearson made a pass across the ice to Boeser, who took the shot from just above the hask marks.

Bo Horvat made it 2-0 with a power play goal at 16:23. J.T. Miller made a cross-ice pass to Horvat, who was just below the hash marks that Boeser scored from. Assists went to J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes.

Timo Meier cut the Canucks lead in half with a goal at 17:22. An Erik Karlsson shot was blocked and bounced out to Meier in the face-off circle. His shot went through traffic and in. Assists went to Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl.

Brock Boeser made it 3-1 with his second of the game at 17:17 of the second period. J.T. Miller passed the puck up from below the goal line and found Boeser in the face-off circle. Boeser took the shot and the puck went off of Hill’s glove and before going into the net just under the bar. Assists went to Miller and Tanner Pearson.

Andrew Cogliano made it 3-2 at 8:29 of the third period. Cogliano chased down his own dump-in and took a shot from a bad angle that may have suprised Demko. Assists went to Lane Pederson and Brent Burns.

J.T Miller scored into an empty net at 17:32. Jason Dickinson scored into an empty net at 18:57. Assists went to Elias Petterson and Kyle Burroughs.

The Sharks out-shot the Canucks 34-30 in the game. In the third period, however, while the Sharks trailed, the Canucks out-shot the Sharks 15-11. The Canucks won 57% of the face-offs. The Sharks had one power play and it had two shots on goal. The Sharks penalty kill allowed three shots and one goal in three penalties.

Jayden Halbgewachs made his NHL debut with the Sharks Thursday. He took one penalty and had three shots on goal in 16:44 of ice time with the second line.

The Sharks will host the Vancouver Canucks again on Tuesday, at 7:30 PM PT.