Avalanche Crush Sharks 6-0; Karlsson loses it after officials miss call

San Jose Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson sits on the bench assisted by the Sharks trainer just before throwing his helmet on the ice and receiving an unsportsmanship like conduct after taking a non call high stick to the mouth against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver Wed Mar 7, 2023 (still photo from NBC Sports and SJ Hockey Now)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks got a glimpse of just how far off from Stanley Cup contention they are Tuesday night in Denver, getting steamrolled by the defending Cup Champion Avalanche 6-0. The Sharks were stifled to just 13 shots, all turned aside by Alexander Georgiev.

Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin had four point nights and six different Avs scored in the rout. Kaapo Kahkonen made 19 saves on 24 shots against Colorado (35-21-6) and James Reimer stopped 18 of 19 in relief playing in back-to-back contests.

The Sharks (19-34-12) opened the game flat, managing only a pair of shots on goal in the first period. They found themselves trailing 3-0 after Cale Makar scored his 14th goal 4:08 into the game. Nathan MacKinnon doubled the lead at the 12:51 mark for his 26th of the year and Mikko Rantanen scored his 42nd on the power play with 2:59 left in the period. Colorado put 19 shots on goal in the period.

San Jose raised its shot total to five shots in the middle period, but again the Avs peppered the Sharks netminders to the tune of 15 shots. Nichushkin scored his 12th of the year just 1:22 into the period on a tip-in, Dennis Malgin made it 5-0 Colorado just 1:23 later and Arturi Lehkonen pitched in his 18th of the year, this one on Reimer who replaced Kahkonen after the Malgin goal.

Reimer finished up the game strong, stopping all nine Avs shots. The damage had already been done and the Sharks wound up committing two misconducts, one on Erik Karlsson and the other on Marc-Edouard Vlasic in the final period. They had 30 penalty minutes in total on the night. Karlsson was hit in the mouth with a high stick by the Avalanche’s Alex Newhook after being attended on the bench by the trainer Karlsson threw his helmet on the ice and said after the game he was disrespected by the officials Gord Dwyer and Corey Syvret for not making the high stick call.

The Sharks face the St. Louis Blues Thursday night in game three of a three game road trip. They’ll return home Saturday to face the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Forsberg and Sissons lead Nashville to 6-1 win in Anaheim; Canes Raanta shutsout Panthers 4-0; plus more NHL news

Nashville Predators center Juuso Parssinen, center, misses the puck on a rebound with Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, left, and right wing Troy Terry defending during the second period at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Fri Dec 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Nashville Predators Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Colton Sissons scored a goal and an assist as the Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim 6-1.

#2 Matt the Predators also got scoring help from Yokov Trenin, Thomas Novak, Roman Josi, and Nino Niederreiter the win ended Nashville’s two game loss streak.

#3 Jesperi Kokaniemi supplied the offense for the the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-0 defeat over the Florida Panthers. Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta saved 19 shots on goal by the Panthers and picked up his first shoutout for the 2022-23 campaign.

#4 The New Jersey Devils got a two goal win over the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. The Pens Jack Hughes scored two goals and teammate Nico Hischier scored a shorthanded goal as the Devils (13-2-1) are one of the hottest road teams in the NHL.

#5 Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon skated for the first time since his Dec 5 upper body injury. MacKinnon practiced at the morning skate on Friday and might get into Saturday’s line up against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Ovechkin is #2 on all time NHL goals list; Pastrnak scores twice in 4-3 Bruins win; plus much more

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reacts in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Washington DC on Thu Dec 22, 2022 (AP News photo)

On NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin scored career goals 801 and 802 to tie and pass Gordie Howe for second on the all time NHL list. Ovechkin scored at 18:22 in the first period and at 19:22 in third period Ovechkin scored goal number 802. The Caps defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1.

#2 The Boston Bruins David Pastrnak scored twice for the Bruins 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils for their fourth straight win. Pastrnak extends his point streak to 11 games.

#3 Good things are happening for the Carolina Hurricanes they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday 6-5. The Hurricanes hit a point streak of 14 consecutive games. Hurricanes have now won eight straight games and The Flyers lost goaltender Carter Hart who stopped six out seven shots after suffering an upper body injury.

#4 The Colorado Avalanche’s Samuel Girard scored at 4:17 in the overtime stanza to help defeat the Nashville Predators on Friday at Bridgestone Arena. The Aves Evan Rodrigues said “We’ve been fighting, grinding out wins, low-scoring games,” Rodrigues said. “Even when we’re down, guys believe we can come back.”

#5 The Las Vegas Knights Chandler Stephenson picked up four points and scored in the shootout stanza to defeat the St Louis Blues 5-4. Stephenson scored a goal and had three assists.

Join Matt for the NHL podcast Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Aves Nichuskin out for a month ankle surgery; Bruins cut Miller over racist bullying; plus much more

The Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichuskin (pitcured) will on the IL for a month due to having ankle surgery. Nichuskin’s teammates defensemen Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard also will be out with lower body injuries.(nhl.com photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche’s right winger Valeri Nichuskin will be out for a month after having ankle surgery. Nichuskin has sat out four games since he last played against the New York Rangers on Oct 25th. Also the Aves defensemen Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard both have lower body injuries during back to back games in Finland against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

#2 The Boston Bruins cut Mitchell Miller this week after finding out more information about Miller’s past. When Miller was 14 years old Miller called Isaiah Meyer-Crothers a black classmate the N word, gave him candy after wiping it inside a urinal. Mitchell hit Crothers and bullied him. Bruins team president Cam Neely apologized to the Meyer-Crothers family saying he was sorry this signing made you feel unseen and unheard.

#3 Indianapolis Colts assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier will help with the offensive play calling as named this week by Colts head coach Jeff Saturday. Colts owner Robert Irsay fired former head coach Frank Reich naming Saturday as head coach and Frazier has never play called the offense in an NFL game before. They will be working their first game together against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday in Allegiant Stadium.

#4 The Indianapolis Colts became another NFL team that did not hire a minority coach. Saturday said of his hiring “you’ve got to earn your place here” Saturday has no NFL coaching experience compared to many minority head coaches who would have liked the opportunity to coach the Colts.

#5 Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant and a longtime Washington Commanders fan said that he wants in on the team’s ownership. As the Commanders owner Dan Snyder has put the team up for sale amongst the scandals that involved the team. Durant says in a perfect world he would like to be involved with the team. Durant said he heard that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Jay Z might also join the partnership.

Join Jessica Kwong for Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Avalanche hoist Stanley Cup after 21 years of waiting; Aves defeat Lightning in game six 2-1

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals with Len:

#1 Len talk about how important Nathan McKinnon was in this game that was just completed game 6. McKinnon scored a goal and got an assist helping the Colorado Avalanche become the Stanley Cup Champions for the third time in franchise history.

#2 Len it’s been a long time coming the Avalanche haven’t won the Cup since 2002 some 21 years ago when they had a guy named Joe Sakic was on the team.

#3 Close game tonight the Aves held the lead and goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 out of 23 shots to hold back the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1.

#4 The Lightning will not threepeat something they came within one game of doing losing on their home ice 4-2 in series play.

#5 Len talk about some of the key players on the Aves key players who have been doing it all season and post season long McKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar.

Join Len next season (September) for NHL podcast coverage. Also our thanks for reporters who contributed to our NHL coverage this season Marko Ukalovic, Mary Lisa Walsh, Morris Phillips, Daniel Dullum and Matt Harrington as heard on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt Harrington: Avalanche could put it away Sunday; Lightning with a chance to tie series in game six

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is congratulated in game 5 after scoring a second period goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Friday, June 24, 2022, at the Ball Center in Denver (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche came into game 5 Friday night thinking that with a win they would be able to hoist the Stanley Cup on their home ice after taking a 3-1 lead. It was not to be as the Tampa Bay Lighting scored a goal in each of the first, second and third periods to come away with a 3-2 win and to stay alive for another game.

#2 The Lightning’s Ondrej Palat scored the game winner in the third period at 6:22 and Tampa Bay was able to defend keeping the Aves out of their net for the one goal win.

#3 Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 35 shots and looked like he was back in old form again shutting out the Avalanche in the first period while allowing one goal in each of the second and third periods.

#4 The Lightning also got goals from two reliable sources Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Jan Rutta which proved to be a total team effort by the Tampa Bay for the win.

#5 Game 6 is on deck in Tampa Bay this will give the Lightning a chance to tie the series on home ice or the Avalanche a chance to put it away on the road at Amalie Arena.

Join Matt throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Finals for coverage at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Lightning strikes twice Bolts get second win to stay alive 3-2; Aves with series lead 3-2

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Ondrej Palat (18) scores against the Colorado Avalanche and gets congratulated by Mikhail Sergachev (98) and Steven Stamkos (91) at the Ball Center in Denver in game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on Fri Jun 24, 2022

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche came into game 5 Friday night thinking that with a win they would be able to hoist the Stanley Cup on their home ice after taking a 3-1 lead. It was not to be as the Tampa Bay Lighting scored a goal in each of the first, second and third periods to come away with a 3-2 win and to stay alive for another game.

#2 The Lightning’s Ondrej Palat scored the game winner in the third period at 6:22 and Tampa Bay was able to defend keeping the Aves out of their net for the one goal win.

#3 Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 35 shots and looked like he was back in old form again shutting out the Avalanche in the first period while allowing one goal in each of the second and third periods.

#4 The Lightning also got goals from two reliable sources Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Jan Rutta which proved to be a total team effort by the Tampa Bay for the win.

#5 Game 6 is on deck in Tampa Bay this will give the Lightning a chance to tie the series on home ice or the Avalanche a chance to put it away on the road at Amalie Arena.

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

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Mary Lisa: Avalanche can put it away in game 5 in Colorado

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Nicholas Paul (20) controls the puck next to Colorado Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Colorado Avalanche are just one game away from hoisting the Stanley Cup taking a 3-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning as game 5 is coming back to the Ball Center in Denver.

#2 The Aves went up 2-0 and played game 3 on Monday at Tampa Bay the Lightning jumped all over the Aves 6-2 after the Aves won a laugher 7-0 in game 2. The Lightning showed for a moment there they would back on track.

#3 Now with game 5 in Colorado on Friday night the Aves showed they had a lot of advantages having home ice winning the first two games of the series at Ball Arena.

#4 There is no doubt that these two teams can score as they demonstrated in games 2 and 3 but they can both play some good defense as well in game 4 they kept it within a goal for a as the Aves came back to win it 3-2.

#5 Aves goaltender Darcy Kuemper in game 4 was the real difference stopping 37 of 39 Tampa Bay shots for the win.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Stanley Cup Final podcasts right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Len Shapiro: Lightning shooting to tie series; Avalanche would like to go up 3-1 tonight

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) checks Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals game 3 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay on Tue Jun 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Finals podcast with Len:

#1 Len, how big is this one tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning they lost the first two games got demolished in game 2, 7-0 but came right back on home ice to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in game 3 to cut Colorado’s lead 2-1.

#2 The Bolts Stephen Stamkos has stayed consistent in the post season and Monday night was no different as Stamkos scored one of the six Tampa Bay goals.

#3 Len talk about Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman who each had two assists and help the Lightning on offense.

#4 Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy saved 37 shots and allowed two goals only the Avalanche’s left winger Gabriel Landeskog did all the scoring with two goals.

#5 For game 4 Len who do you see getting the start in goal for the Avalanche Darcy Kuemper or Paul Francouz? Kuemper struggled in game 3 allowing five goals and Francouz allowed one goal in relief.

Join Len throughout the NHL Stanley Cup Finals for analysis at http://www.sportsradioservice.com