Tag: Wayne Gretzky

NHL podcast Len Shapiro Thu Mar 20, 2025: Ovechkin closes in on Gretzky now 7 short of record as Caps edge Flyers; Taveras’ two goals help Leafs beat Rangers 3-2; plus more NHL news

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42 year old Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin (8) celebrates his 888th career goal putting him seven goals behind NHL goal scoring leader Wayne Gretzky against the Philadelphia Flyers Thu Mar 20, 2025 at the Capital One Center in Washington DC (AP News photo)

NHL podcast Len Shapiro Thu Mar 20, 2025:

#1  Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin lit the lamp for a career 888th time and now moves within seven goals to break former NHL great Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record at 894 goals. The Caps defeated the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena in Washington on Thursday night 3-2.

#2  The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night 4-3 and got some big help from John Tavares who had three points to reach 1,100 points for his career total. Taveras also scored two goals and got an assist to become the eighth NHL player to achieve 1,100 points.

#3 The Ottawa Senators have cooled off after winning six in a row dropped their second straight game this time to the visiting Colorado Avalanche at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa 5-1 on Thursday night. The Aves Brock Nelson scored the first two goals of the game. Cale Makar scored a goal and an assist and Nathan MacKinnon also scored. The Avalanche are on a roll having won nine of their last 11 games.

#4 The New Jersey Devils couldn’t hold the 3-1 lead as the visiting Calgary Flames came back with flurry scoring four times in the third period to defeat their hosts at the Prudential Center 5-3 in Newark NJ. It took the Flames 15 third period shots on net to convert four of them for goals. Scorers for Calgary Connor Zary, Danil Miromanov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Nazem Kadri.

#5 It was a battle that carried over into overtime at Nationwide Arena in Columbus between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers resulting in a 1-0 Panthers win on Thursday night. The Jackets Alexsander Barkov scored from the top slot. The Jackets Kirill Marchenko at 19:30 put the puck over the glass and was called for delay of game and Barkov afterward ended up scoring the game winner. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots for the shutout his fifth this season.

Len Shapiro does the NHL podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Leafs Samsonov stops 30 CBJ shots for shutout; Rangers Tarasenko breaks in with game’s first goal vs. Kraken

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Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, left, makes a stop in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner, right, and Maple leafs defenseman TJ Brodie during the second period at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Fri Feb 10, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs (32-13-8) goaltender Ilya Samsonov stopped 30 Columbus Blue Jacket (15-33-4) shots in the Leafs win over the Jackets 3-0 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Leafs John Taveras scored two goals in the win.

#2 What a little inspiration will do as the New York Rangers (30-14-8) Vladimir Tarasenko on the first night on the job for the Rangers scored the Rangers first goal of the night at 2:49 in the first period vs. the Seattle Kraken (29-18-5). Tarasenko who was dealt to the Rangers from the St Louis Blues is enjoying his new environment.

#3 Matt, the Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown is having his sweater number retired #23. Brown also had his statue unveiled at Crypto.com Arena, Brown’s statue also joins former Kings greats Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille statues outside of the arena.

#4 The Dallas Stars Jason Robertson is grabbing all publicity that he can he is fifth among US born players in points with 193 goals in 178 games. Robertson is fourth of US born players with 91 since joining the NHL in 2020-21. His teammate Joe Pavelski who is second of US born players has 435 goals.

#5 While the Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane says he’s intrigued about going to the New York Rangers. Kane feels that Tarsenko filled that void going from the Blues to the Rangers. How true is that and could Kane help fill a void in Madison Square Garden?

Join Matt Harrington for the NHL podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com on Saturdays

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Letang expected to return to Pens in ten days; Leafs Engvall suspended for one game; plus more news

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 Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang plays during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Boston. It was reported that Letang could return in ten days after suffering a stroke back on Nov 28, 2022 (AP News file)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang was told that he could go back to a normal life Thursday after ten days. LeTang had a stroke back on Nov 28th. Letang 35, was back at practice this week after missing four games and is on a day to day stick tap.

#2 The Toronto Blue Maples Leafs forward Pierre Engvall was suspended for one game for high sticking the Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi at 1:02 in the third period Thursday night it was assessed as a match penalty.

#3 Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals scored an empty netter against the Seattle Kraken on Friday night it was goal number 796 making Ovechkin four goals shy of 800. Ovechkin is now five goals short of reaching Gordie Howe who is second on the all time list with 801. Wayne Gretzky is number one with 894 goals.

#4 Matt, how bad does it have to get for the Colorado Avalanche as Nathan MacKinnon will miss four weeks of action due to a upper body injury. MacKinnon left in first period against the Philadelphia Flyers. MacKinnon winced and favored his left side before leaving the ice.

#5 The Edmonton Oilers Jesse Puljujarvi has doubts about his ability to play in the NHL so far this season Puljujarvi has one goal, five assists in 26 games this season. Puljujarvi feels he’s gone down hill he had double hip surgery four years ago. Puljujarvi has ability if last season was any indication with 14 goals and 22 assists, and 36 points but this season has fallen off.

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