NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro: Maple Leafs live another day with win over Bruins; Hurricanes move to next round with win over Islanders; plus more news

The Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Matthew Knies (23) celebrates scoring an overtime goal on Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) in game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs survived being eliminated defeating the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime. The Leafs trail the Bruins in this first playoff round 3-2. The Leafs Matthew Knies scored at 2:26 in the overtime stanza for the game winning goal.

#2 No time like the present with the New York Islanders playing for their lives down 3-1 they were in a 3-3 tie until the third period and couldn’t hold on as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied with three goals in the third period with goals from Jack Drury, Stefan Noesen, and Evgeny Kuznetsov for the come back 6-3 as the Hurricanes advance to the next round.

#3 The Colorado Avalanche had a 3-2 lead going into the third period in game five and the series lead as well at 3-1 against the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche added three more goals in the third period to put away the Jets and came away with a three goal 6-3 win in Winnipeg.

#4 The Nashville Predators came into game 5 down 1-3 against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and were facing elimination and defeated the Vancouver Canucks in razor close game 2-1. All the scoring took place in the third period with the Canucks Nikita Zadorov scoring to start the period at 3:11 on a wrist shot, then the Predators came back with two unanswered goals by Roman Josi at 7:15 to tie it 1-1 and Alexander Carrier at 12:46 for the winning goal for a 2-1 final.

#5 Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said on Tuesday that signing Steven Stamkos is a priority. BriseBois told the media two days after the Florida Panthers eliminated the Lightning at locker cleanout day in Tampa Bay that Stamkos “needs a contract and we want him part of that group.”Stamkos signed an eight year $68 million contract back in 2016 with the Lightning

Len does the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each Wednesday or Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len Shapiro: Capitals in trouble down 0-2 against Rangers; Panthers go up 2-0 after OT win over Bolts; plus more news

Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) and Martin Fehervary (42) protect the net from New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin (10) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in New York. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len:

#1 In game two the New York Rangers (2-0) edged the Washington Capitals (0-2) 4-3 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, Jack Roslovic, and K’Andre Miller each scored goals. Trocheck and Zibanejad each had an assist. The series goes back to Washington on Friday night at the Capital One Center at 4:00pm PDT.

#2 The Florida Panthers (2-0) Carter Verhaeghe scored at 2:59 into the overtime stanza to get the Panthers by the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Tuesday in game 2 of the playoffs. The Panthers and Lightning play game 3 Thursday in Tampa Bay giving the Lightning hope they can pick up a win on home ice.

#3 The Colorado Avalanche (1-1) defeated the Winnipeg Jets (1-1) convincingly 5-2 at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg. The Aves scored four times in the second period. Artturi Lehkonen scored a goal and got an assist. The Aves goaltender Alex Georgiev saved 28 out of 30 shots.

#4 The Nashville Predators (1-1) evened the series against the Vancouver Canucks (1-1) at Rogers Arena in Vancouver in game 2 with a three goal 4-1 win. Nashville scored three of the game’s first unanswered goals and Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros held off the Canucks to just 18 shots allowing just one goal.

#5 The San Jose Sharks announced today the firing of head coach David Quinn who in his second year as head coach lost the first 11 games of this season. The Sharks finished the season with a (19-54-9). They also failed to qualify for the post season for the fifth consecutive year. Sharks general manager Mike Grier said that Quinn was a good coach but even a better person. That Quinn and his staff worked hard over the last two seasons under difficult circumstances. The Sharks have not named a new head coach.

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

#1

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Matthews gets Leafs by Jets 1-0 with late goal; Panthers clobber Coyotes 6-2; plus more news

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Austin Matthews (34) scores on the Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit (39) in overtime at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wed Jan 24, 2024 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Toronto Maple Leafs put a win together on Wednesday night with Austin Matthews who scored with just 47 seconds left in the overtime stanza. The Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov saved 32 shots in the 1-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

#2 The Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart scored a goal and an assist and is now on an 11 game point streak. That effort helped the Panthers defeat the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night 6-2.

#3 The Boston Bruins dropped their nine game point streak Wednesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes Jordan Martinook scored a third period goal to help the Hurricanes to a 3-2 win at TD Garden in Boston.

#4 The Colorado Avalanche crushed the struggling Washington Capitals with a 6-2 win as the Ave’s Nathan MacKinnon scored four goals and had an assist to increase his point steak to 24 games and 82 points.

#5 The Seattle Kraken crushed the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night at Climate Pledge Arena 6-2. The Kraken scored twice in each period of the game. In the third period the Kraken’s Tomas Tatar scored twice.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts Thursday night’s at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Titus Wilkinson: Sharks give it a go tonight host Red Wings; SJ hopes to snap 8 game losing streak

The San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (left) tries to keep up with the Colorado Avalanche center Andrew Cogliano (right) in the second period at the Ball Center in Denver on Sun Dec 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Titus Wilkinson:

#1 The count down on New Year’s eve was the one that ends the San Jose Sharks (9-25-3) eight game losing streak which they weren’t able to accomplish as they lost to the Colorado Avalanche (23-11-3) 3-1 on Sunday night.

#2 The Aves Valeri Nichushkin scored a third period goal late that helped put away the Sharks with two goals in the third period for a two goal win 3-1.

#3 The Sharks on Thursday tried to see if see if bringing up goaltender Magnus Chrona who was pelted with Edmonton Oilers shots he faced 20 shots and allowed four goals and was pulled from the game. Did Sharks head coach David Quinn want to see what Chrona could deliver to strengthen the goaltending or to see if Chrona would fit in as a back up?

#4 Titus, coach Quinn and the Sharks had team captain Logan Couture on the Colorado trip to see how he would skate and how he’s handling practice plays and where he’s at physically. Asked if he was ready to return and Quinn said “zero” it was just an opportunity to see where he was at. How bad does this team miss Couture out of the line up at the juncture?

#5 The Detroit Red Wings face off with the Sharks tonight right here where were podcasting at SAP Center. The Red Wings are fifth in the Eastern Conference at 17-16-4. The Red Wings have lost seven of their last ten games. Could this be the Sharks best chance to snap this eight game losing streak tonight?

Titus Wilkinson is a San Jose Sharks beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Lose 3-1 to Avalanche, Ferraro Injured; SJ suffers eighth straight loss

The Colorado Avalanche’s right winger Valeri Nichushkin (13) takes a shot as the San Jose Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun covers in the first period at the Ball Arena in Denver on Sun Dec 31, 2023 (AP News)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks fell 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche Sunday night. Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Manson scored for Colorado. Alexandar Georgiev made 10 saves for the win. Tomas Hertl scored for San Jose and Kaapo Kahkonen made 31 saves in the loss. It was the Sharks’ eighth loss in a row.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach David Quinn recognized that his team was at a disadvantage, losing “our best defenseman five minutes into the game, playing a team that, you know, has a great chance to win the Stanley Cup.” Nonetheless, he saw some good in the Sharks game: “With our d-corps as young as we are, to hang in there against this team, I couldn’t be prouder of our team. Our goalie was outstanding. It’s 1-1 with five minutes to go and they get a … six-on-five goal and … an empty netter.”

The first goal of the game came on a Colorado power play at 6:58 of the first period. Nathan MacKinnon sent the puck across the ice low in the offensive zone. Mikko Rantanen was there to catch it and snap it over Kaapo Kahkonen. Assists went to MacKinnon and Nichushkin.

The Sharks had just three shots in that first period, while Colorado had ten. Additionally, midway through the first period, Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro took a hit from Nathan MacKinnon that knocked him out of the game with an upper-body injury. The team gave no update on his status after the game.

The only penalty in the first period was the too many men call against the Sharks. By contrast, the second period saw a slew of penalties: interference, hi-sticking, slashing, hooking and a set of matching roughing penalties, distributed fairly evenly between the teams.

The Sharks tied the game during one of those penalties, scoring a power play goal at 16:53. Mikael Granlund’s pass found Tomas Hertl in the slot for a quick shot past the goaltender. Assists went to Granlund and Calen Addison. That was the Sharks’ eighth shot of the game, their fifth of the second period.

The Sharks held the game 1-1 until late in the third period, despite having no shots in the period until the final five minutes. Even then, they only had two shots in the third.

During a delayed penalty against the Sharks, Colorado took the lead at 16:31. Valeri Nichushkin scored from just above the goal line off a pass from Jack Johnson. Assists went to Johnson and MacKinnon.

The Sharks pulled Kahkonen during a late penalty and then kept him out during the final minute. The Avalanche missed a few shots at the empty net before Josh Manson finally got one in.

The Sharks next play on Tuesday in San Jose at 7:30 PM PT against the Detroit Red Wings.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks hope to snap 7 game skid New Years Eve in Colorado

The San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) led the Sharks with the most shots on goal with six is defended by the Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak (27) at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Dec 28, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The Edmonton Oilers didn’t waste anytime getting on the scoreboard they got a goal and assist each from Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod. The Oilers skated away with a 4-0 first period to pin down the Sharks who had already lost six straight games going into the contest now at seven loses in a row.

#2 The Oilers Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added goals totaling four goals in the first period and one in the second period and that was all the offensive damage the Oilers needed to win it 5-0.

#3 Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner came away with a shutout with 25 saves. Each Sharks opportunity to put it on net failed miserably no matter how hard they tried. William Eklund led San Jose with six shots on goals all stopped by Skinner.

#4 The Sharks started Magnus Chrona in his first appearance for San Jose. Chrona got lit up facing 20 shots and allowing four and later was replaced by Kaapo Kahkonen who wound up giving up a goal on 19 shots.

#5 The Sharks go back to the drawing board as they face the rough and tough Colorado Avalanche. The last time the two teams met was on Sun Dec 17 and the Aves had they’re way with a four goal 6-2 win at the Ball Center in Denver. The Sharks hope to end they’re seven game losing streak on New Years Eve a 5:00pm PT face off once again in Denver.

Mary Lisa is a San Jose Sharks beat writer and covers the Sharks road games at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Edmonton Oilers Destroy San Jose Sharks 5-0; Sharks drop seventh game in a row

San Jose Sharks goaltender Magnus Chrona (30) made his Sharks debut against the Edmonton Oilers surrendering four goals at SAP Center on Thu Dec 29, 2023 (San Jose Sharks photo)

Thursday, December 28th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

San Jose, CA – The San Jose Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers in the final home game of 2023 and this game comes off a 4-1 loss Wednesday night to the Los Angeles Kings. Despite Kaapo Kahkonen making 37 saves and the Sharks killing all three Kings power plays, San Jose couldn’t get it done. The boys in teal lost another one at SAP Center in front of the home fans on Thursday night 5-0 to close out the year, as the hungry Oilers paved their way and went above .500 at 15-16-1 going into 2024. 

The game started with the Sharks starting Magnus Chrona in net for his first NHL game and it was a wakeup call of a first game for Chrona. A minute into the game, Ryan McLeod scored off of just great, efficient offense where the whole minute the puck was being passed tape to tape in Edmonton’s offensive zone and resulted in the first goal assisted by Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman, 1-0 Oilers.

For Hyman he wasn’t stopping there, because the offense was looking effortless for Edmonton as Connor McDavid hit a crisp pass to Hyman who tapped the puck past Chrona in net making it 2-0 Oilers. The wheels started to fall off for the Sharks as the Oilers continued this masterclass of offense with Bouchard firing a slap shot from the point, 3-0 Oilers.

The fans were already on their hands from this opening period mugging, but they would go completely silent after Leon Drasaitl scored off a wrist shot right in front of the net even with a defender draped on him, 4-0 Edmonton and that was our score going into the first intermission. The Sharks were outplayed the entire first period and the traveling Oiler fans were putting their shoes on the San Jose fans couch. 

Sharks changed goalies to start the second period and in net was Kaapo Kahkonen, but the only difference was less goals than the first period. Halfway through the period Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tipped in the puck past Kaapo and it was 5-0 Edmonton. The Sharks now down five were facing the reality that another blowout loss was in their future. 

Final period was both teams just trying not to make a mistake, because it was over and had been over since the first period. Fans chanting “one more goal”.  5-0 Edmonton wins the game in a major blowout and the arena erupted in boos as they left the building when the game was over. 

This game for the Sharks was just an egregious example of what has been happening in 2023. Bad defense, no offense generated, and missed opportunities. The final game for San Jose of the 2023 part of the season will be on New Year’s Eve against the Colorado Avalanche and maybe by some chance of a miracle, 2024 has more positives in store for San Jose. 

Sharks Buried by Avalanche 6-2 in Denver, Studnicka Makes Sharks Debut

Colorado Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon gets congratulated by the Avalanche bench after scoring in the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Ball Arena in Denver on Sun Dec 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks were defeated 6-2 by the Colorado Avalanche Sunday. Colorado goals came from Valeri Nichushkin, Mikko Rantanen, Miles Wood, Ryan Johansen, and two from Nathan MacKinnon. Alexander Georgiev made 27 saves for the win. Tomas Hertl scored twice for the Sharks and Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves in the loss.

The Sharks’ newest player, Jack Studnicka, made his debut Sunday. Studnicka was acquired Friday from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Nick Cicek and a 2024 sixth-round pick. Sunday he had one shot, three hits and won 4 of 16 faceoffs in 12:18 time on the ice.

After the game, he described his performance as “Just okay. I didn’t really have my legs, it’s kind of been a whirlwind. That’s no excuse but it’s been a lot of travel recently. Some ok moments, some good moments, some moments I’ve got to work on.”

Sharks Head Coach David Quinn said, of Studnicka’s first game: “Tough game to be thrown into, you know, I’m sure he’s just glad it’s over with. Didn’t really think he had a lot of pop in his skating tonight which usually he does. So it’s a tough situation to be put into but I thought he was fine.”

Less than three minutes into the game, Sharks defenseman Jacob MacDonald was called for boarding Sam Malinski. Malinski seemed to catch his skate and was off-balance before MacDonald hit him. Malinski was injured and bleeding. He missed a substantial amount of time in the first period, but returned to play before the period ended. MacDonald, however, was given a game misconduct.

During the ensuing five minute penalty, Colorado scored once. The Sharks penalty kill held the Avalanche off for 4:30. In the final seconds, Jonathan Drouin found Valeri Nichushkin next to the net for a tap-in goal. Assists went to Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon.

The Sharks were back on the penalty kill at 10:37, and Colorado scored at 12:15. Mikko Rantanen deflected a shot from MacKinnon, again late in the power play. Assists went to MacKinnon and Devon Toews.

Miles Wood made it 3-0 with a sharp angle shot at 18:20. Assists went to Ross Colton and Jonathan Drouin. Nathan MacKinnon made it 4-0 at 3:44 of the second period with an unassisted goal.

Tomas Hertl scored on the power play to make it 4-1 at 9:01 of the second. Hertl deflected a shot from the blue line by Mikael Granlund. The secondary assist went to Alexander Barabanov.

Ryan Johansen made it 5-1 at 9:01 of the third period. A rebound off of a Caleb Jones shot went right to Johansen with an open net in front of him. Assists went to Jones and Andrew Cogliano.

Hertl scored his second of the night, again on the power play. Right in front of ther net, Hertl gathered up a rebound after William Eklund took a shot. Assists went to Eklund and Granlund.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his second of the night at 15:11, into an empty net. The Sharks pulled their goaltender with five minutes left in the game.

The Sharks did well in shot count for the game, just one behind Colorado’s 29. In the face-off circle, the Sharks struggled again, winning only 38.2% of the draws.

The Sharks started the game missing several veteran players. Apart from the injured players, Anthony Duclair was a healthy scratch. After the game, David Quinn declined to share details about that decision and said only that Duclair would be back.

Sharks next play on Tuesday back in San Jose at 7:30 PM PT against the Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks look to rebound after getting shutout in Arizona; San Jose faces Colorado Sunday night at Ball Arena

The Arizona Coyotes left wing Matias Maccelli (right) puts the puck in the net for the game’s only goal against the San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (36) in the second period at Mullet Arena in Tempe on Fri Dec 18, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks were shutout 1-0 by the Arizona Coyotes Friday. Matias Maccelli scored the only goal in the game and Connor Ingram made 21 saves for the shutout win.

#2 Kaapo Kahkonen made 23 saves for the Sharks. It was the fifth time this season that the Sharks have been shut out. The Coyotes were coming off of a four game losing streak.

#3 The one goal of the game came at 14:45 of the second period. Nick Bjugstad took a shot into some traffic on the right side of the net. Kahkonen stopped that but sent a rebound out to the right, to Matias Maccelli. Kahkonen could not get across in time to stop that one. Bjugstad and J.J. Moser got the assists.

#4 It looked like the game was tied at 7:40 of the third period. William Eklund put the puck in the net off a rebound from a shot by Luke Kunin. However, the Coyotes challenged the goal. On review, contact between Kunin’s leg and Ingram’s stick was seen as goaltender interference and the goal was called back.

#5 The Sharks are in Colorado to face off with the Colorado Avalanche at 5:00pm at the Ball Arena in Denver. The Avalanche have won five of their last ten games and have won two straight. The Avalanche are in first place in the Western Conference. How do you see this match up on Sunday night?

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Three brothers play same game; Flames Markstrom is week to week; plus more NHL news

Vancouver Canucks Dakota Joshua (81) gets the knock down by the New Jersey Devils Luke Hughes (43) during the second period at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver on Tue Dec 5, 2023 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 It wasn’t the movie Slap Shot as the combination of three brothers played in the same game on Tuesday night in Vancouver. The New Jersey Devils Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists and Jack’s younger brother Luke Hughes scored a power play goal against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks Quinn Hughes had two assists in the third period. The Devils wound up edging the Canucks 6-5 at Rogers Centre.

#2 Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom is listed week to week after sustaining a fractured finger during practice on Monday. The Flames called up goaltender Dustin Wolf from their AHL affiliate. Markstrom 33, is 6-8-2 with 2.94 goals against.

#3 Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar did not play against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. Makar is listed out with a lower body injury. Makar skated in practice on Tuesday. Makar did not play against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday in the 4-1 loss.

#4 The Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk and Vladmir Tarasenko each had a goal against the first place New York Rangers (10-2-1) on Tuesday night. Anton Forsberg stopped 33 shots for the Sens and Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson scored for Senators (10-10-0).

#5 Jessica, in a game you covered the San Jose Sharks came back and defeated the New York Islanders on William Eklund’s overtime goal with five seconds left to defeat the Isles 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com