Sharks Fall to Oilers 5-2, Kahkonen Makes 36 Saves in SJ Debut

San Jose Sharks’ Noah Gregor (73) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) during first-period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Thu Mar 24, 2022 (Canadian Press photo via AP)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks lost to Oilers in Edmonton by a score of 5-2 Thursday. Kailer Yamamoto, Leon Draisaitl, Derick Brassard, and Evander Kane scored for the Oilers. Mike Smith made 28 saves for the win. Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks. Kaapo Kahkonen made 36 saves in the loss, his first appearance as a Shark.

Logan Couture left the game midway through the second period after being injured by a Brent Burns shot. The puck seemed to hit him in the side and the injury was described as upper-body. There were no specific updates after the game. Timo Meier, who left Tuesday’s game with a lower body injury, was on the ice Thursday.

The Sharks penalty kill was conspicuously less good on Thursday than it has been this season. They failed to kill either of the penalties they took. That is in part due to the absence of regular penalty killers, Jake Middleton and Andrew Cogliano who were traded Monday and Matt Nieto who is still injured.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said: “We’re using a lot of different faces in our penalty kill and you could see that tonight.” Some of those new faces included Rudolfs Balcers, Sasha Chmelevski and Noah Gregor.

Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson did not think the penalty kill was terrible: “They’re one of the best power plays in the league, I think they showed that today. The goals that they scored are high-skilled goals. There’s nothing you can do about it sometimes.”

Karlsson scored the first goal of the game at 1:08 of the second period. After cleaning up an odd-man rush the other way that started with a broken stick in the Oilers’ zone, Karlsson got the puck to Timo Meier by the blue line, then skated in. Meier passed the puck across the ice to Tomas Hertl, who sent it back across the ice to Karlsson by the net for the shot.

Kailer Yamamoto tied it up at 4:34 with a power play goal. The Oilers got past the Sharks at the blue line and Yamamoto was in a shooting position before the Sharks could get back. Assists went to Ryan McLeod and Duncan Keith.

Leon Draisaitl scored at 7:39. Zack Kassian got the puck off of Erik Karlsson’s stick by giving him a shove in the hip and throwing him off balance. That went uncalled as Draisaitl skated by and took the puck to the net to score. After the game, Karlsson said, of the incident: “That’s hockey, it’s going to happen.”

Derick Brassard made it 3-1 at 6:49 of the third period. Brassard thew the puck at the net from the blue line. At first it seemed to go off of Ryan-Nugent Hopkins as he dove for the net. It did not hit him as it bounced over the line. Assists went to Jesse Puljujarvi and Evan Bouchard.

Tomas Hertl cut the Oilers lead down to one with a goal at 7:18. Timo Meier Had the puck on his was to the goal line and he found Hertl in the slot with a pass. Hertl shot it past three Oilers and past Smith of the stick side. Assists went to Meier and Karlsson.

Leon Darisaitl scored his second of the night at 13:55, on the power play. Zach Hyman caught a cross- ice pass from Connor McDavid and sent the puck to the net for Draisaitl to tuck into the net.

Evander Kane scored into an empty net at 17:18, with assists to McDavid and Yamamoto.

The Sharks were outshot 41-30 and won 49% of the face-offs. Their power play had four shots in two opportunities.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at home against the Anaheim Ducks at 7:30 PM PT.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: NHL teams zeroing in on Hertl; GM Will says Sharks looking forward to negotiating with Hertl

The San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl (48) is thrilled after scoring a first period goal against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Thu Jan 20, 2022. Hertl is rumored to potentially to be sought by a number of teams. The NHL trade deadline is Mon Mar 21, 2022 (AP News photo file)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 Len, from all aspects the San Jose Sharks will could get some players for the future or a key player for Tomas Hertl but Sharks interim general manager Joe Will says he doesn’t want to do anything else outside of contract negotiations concerning Hertl.

#2 Hertl has said that he would even take less money to stay in San Jose and go somewhere else and play and play out his full financial potential when he could go all out in San Jose for the rest of his playing days.

#3 The Sharks and other teams pursuing Hertl are aware that Hertl at 6’3 presents a player who executes on the power play and penalty kill. Hertl also can score 30 goals a season, handles the center position as one of the best in the league. However things turn out Hertl is a presence.

#4 Other issues that Will will be dealing with is former Shark Evander Kane’s grievance regarding his termination from the team, general manager Doug Wilson is away for a persistent cough, Kevin Labanc and Nikolai Knyzhov’s are out with injuries, could William Eklund return this season, and head coach Bob Boughner will he be back after this season?

#5 The Sharks take on the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night at SAP Center and the return of former Shark Evander Kane. What kind of reception do you see him getting on Monday and do you see him playing with a little extra against his former teammates?

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: As Kane joins Oilers he goes off on TSN talk show host; Snowstorms cancel Kraken at Isles game Sat; plus more

TSN 1050 talk show host Jeff O’Neill (left) and Edmonton Oilers left winger Evander Kane traded barbs over O’Neill saying that Kane needed to repair his relationship with his daughter amongst other insults (image from the New York Post)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, with Evander Kane signing on with the Edmonton Oilers this week it didn’t take long for someone in the Canadian media to take a shot at him. TSN radio’s Jeff O’Neill said on TSN 1050 that Kane should repair his relationship with his daughter. Kane responded wishing O’Neill played in the NHL and asking what does O’Neill know about his relationship with his daughter?

#2 The Seattle Kraken ran into some rough weather their game against the New York Islanders has been postponed due to emergency winter storm warnings and rescheduled for Wed Feb 2 at UBS Arena in Elmont. The Kraken are scheduled for a match with the New York Rangers for Sun Jan 30th Matt any word if they’ll play that game?

#3 Matt, talk about the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon who was hit by the Boston Bruins Taylor Hall during Wednesday’s game in the first period at 2:22 the hit put MacKinnon face down on the ice and he was listed with a concussion and facial fracture.

#4 The New York Rangers Adam Fox will not play in the All Star game due to an upper body injury he will miss three games on Fri vs. Minnesota, Sun vs. Seattle, and Tue vs. Florida. Fox got pinned against the boards by the Columbus Blue Jackets Vladislav Gavrikov in the third period of Thursday’s game.

#5 NHL All Star game will be played on Sat Feb 5th at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas. This will mark the first time in Vegas Golden Knights history that the Knights organization will host the mid-winter classic. The All Star game skills contest will be on Fri Feb 4th to start things off.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Will former Shark Kane correct some of his past mistakes in Edmonton?

Newest Edmonton Oiler Evander Kane who met with the Edmonton media on Fri Jan 28, 2022 at Rogers Place in Edmonton for an introduction presser will make his Oilers debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Sat Jan 29, 2022 at the Belle Center in Montreal (photo by Canadian Press via AP)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 Len, how much of clean slate is it for former San Jose Shark Evander Kane to correct some of the mistakes or misunderstandings that he went through while he played in San Jose now that he’s with the Edmonton Oilers.

#2 TSN 1050 Toronto talk show host Jeff O’Neill said that Kane should fix his relationship with his daughter, O’Neill on the air called Kane an idiot, jerk and a goof. Kane responded by saying that he wished that O’Neill played in the NHL right now and he didn’t know anything about his relationship between Kane and his daughter.

#3 Kane said during Friday’s press conference at the Rogers Centre in Edmonton for fans, teammates, and the Oilers front office to be patient and “see what I bring to the table”

#4 The San Jose Sharks (22-19-2) who surprised the Washington Capitals (23-12-9) on Thursday night with a 4-1 win the Sharks face off against a very good Florida Panthers (30-9-5) team at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise this afternoon talk a little about today’s contest?

#5 The Sharks and Carolina Hurricanes (29-9-2) share something in common they both will be playing back to back games this Saturday and Sunday the Sharks coming from Florida tonight and the Hurricanes play the New Jersey Devils tonight. The Sharks and Hurricanes face off at 2:00 pm PST at PNC Arena Sunday.

Join Len Shapiro for the San Jose Sharks podcasts Saturday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shaprio: Sharks try to get back in win column against Lightning tonight; How Sharks/Barracuda plan to handle Hrabik situation

The Tucson Roadrunners Boko Imama (center right) is restrained from getting at the San Jose Barracuda’s Krystof Hrabik who has been suspended 30 games for making ape like gestures at him during AHL game on Wed Jan 12, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose (photo from fearofthefin.com)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks (21-18-2) coming into tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning have won six out of their last 11 games and have played for the most part .500 hockey in the last nine games going 4-5.

#2 The Sharks in their last game against the Seattle Kraken (12-23-4) at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle took a one goal 3-2 loss. It was the Sharks third loss in four games and head coach Bob Boughner is hoping that the Sharks could get some traction and pick up some wins.

#3 Len, things started out promising to start the last Thursday’s game when Tomas Hertl scored in the first 38 seconds of the game but it was the Kraken’s Carson Sousy who help deliver the goods scoring twice and Carne Jarnkrok scored a third period goal which turned out to be the game winner.

#4 The Sharks minor league affiliate the San Jose Barracuda Krystof Hrabik on Jan 12th made a apelike gesture toward the Tucson Roadrunners Boko Imama as Hrabik has been suspended for 30 games. It’s not the first time the Imama had been racially taunted he was called a racial slur in the 2020 season by the Ontario Reign’s Brandon Manning.

#5 Is the Hrabik gesture any reflection on the Barracuda’s position on minorities and people of color in the game when they have not used and have all but erased Evander Kane from their roster or the other side of the argument that Kane’s case has nothing to do with the Barracuda being racially biased?

Join Len Shapiro for the San Jose Sharks podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Beat Flyers 3-2 in OT With Hertl Hat Trick

The San Jose Sharks Tomas Hertl is jubilant after nailing the game winning goal in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on Sat Jan 8, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime, again, on Saturday. It was the same score as on December 30 in San Jose. Tomas Hertl scored all three Sharks goals and Adin Hill made 29 saves for the win. Brent Burns had 3 assists and led the team with 29:35 TOI. James van Riemsdyk scored both Flyers goals and Martin Jones made 44 saves in the loss.

Logan Couture and Lane Pedersen are still out on the COVID list. Erik Karlsson, James Reimer, Rudolfs Balcers and Jacob Middleton are all out with injuries.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner talked about how Tomas Hertl helped balance out those absences:

“What I loved about it, even when we got down 2-0, even in the last two games, he’s taken on a huge void, leadership role, And he’s saying ‘it’s alright, we’re still in this, we’ve got this, let’s keep going, let’s keep working. We’re playing well.’ So Tommy was just more than being the player of the game, you know, he was pretty inspirational in the locker room and on the bench tonight.”

The games was scoreless for 40 minutes. The shots were close, 15-13 Flyers in the first, 13-10 Sharks in the second. Each team had one power play. The Sharks power play had two shots and their penalty kill gave up one. With the teams so close in so many aspects, it was no wonder they were tied at 0 going into the final frame.

The Sharks had some good chances in the first minute of the third, but, just as that minute expired, James van Riemsdyk got around Marc-Edouard Vlasic and broke away for a shot from the face-off circle. The puck went by Adin Hill and into the top corner. Assists went to Oskar Lindblom and Kevin Hayes.

The Flyers scored again at 6:47, this time on the power play. Cam York sent the puck to the net and it went off of van Riemsdyk, then bounced over Hill. Assists went to York and Cam Atkinson.

Tomas Hertl got one back for the Sharks at 7:47. Timo Meier made a quick back-hand pass from just above the goal line. Hertl was at the net ready to put it away. Assists went to Meier and Brent Burns.

Hertl put the puck in the net again at 14:29. In the midst of net-front traffic, he kicked the puck to his stick for a backhand past Jones on the far side. Assists again went to Meier and Burns.

The Sharks out-shot the Flyers 20-5 in the third period. Each team had a power play. the Sharks had two shots on theirs and the Flyers got one that went in.

Hertl completed his hat trick with the Sharks’ first shot in overtime, 24 seconds in. Brent Burns won the puck in the corner at the Sharks’ end and got the puck to Hertl. Hertl carried it the other way, and by the time he reached the Flyers blue line, Timo Meier was there for a two-on-one.

The face-off battle went back and forth from period to period. The Sharks won 61% in the third, but the Flyers won 52% in the first and 75% in the second, and the only face-off in overtime.

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

In other news, the Sharks announced that they have put Evander Kane on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. The statement specified that this was “for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols.”

If that termination goes through, the Sharks will be free from all salary obligations to Kane and his salary will come off of their salary cap.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Fan favorite Drew Remenda will do color on Sharks radio this season; plus more Sharks news

San Jose Sharks radio analyst Drew Remenda joins play by play announcer Dan Rusanowsky for the Sharks 2021-22 season. Remenda is best remembered for doing TV work with Sharks play by play announcer Randy Hahn (file photo from Bay Area 4 Bar Stool)

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Former San Jose Sharks fan favorite Drew Remenda returns to the Sharks broadcasts this time as color announcer on radio. Remenda who worked with the Sharks last season doing a few Sharks games but will be doing all Sharks games on radio with Dan Rusanowsky this season.

#2 Remenda left the Sharks in 2015 to do Edmonton Oilers games on TV as color analyst. Remenda will also be joined on the radio side by Scott Hannan, Bret Hedican, Mark Smith.

#3 The Sharks have left Evander Kane off their opening night roster for this Saturday night’s game against the Jets. The Sharks are waiting for the NHL’s investigation results regarding Kane’s wife’s accusation that he assaulted her.

#4 Kane’s $7 million contract for this season will not impact the Sharks cap and gives San Jose some $8.8 million in cap room going into opening night.

#5 The NHL nor league Commissioner Gary Bettman has not suspended Kane under the code of conduct rules. The Commissioner can also cancel Kane’s contract but most likely the league is waiting on the results of the assault accusation.

Mary Lisa does the Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Kane house sold could it be an indication he’s done with San Jose; plus more Sharks news

The San Jose Willow Glen home which was sold by San Jose Shark Evander Kane could it be an indication that Kane is done in San Jose as he’s under investigation for using a fake Covid-19 card and allegations of assault on his wife (photo from Bay Area News Group)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 San Jose Shark Evander Kane has sold his San Jose Willow Glen home over the asking price the cost of the sale is $3,430,000. Kane got a buyer the original asking price was $3,199,950. Is this an indication that Kane is clearing out of San Jose and there is some acceptance that he maybe done with the Sharks?

#2 Kane is still under investigation by the NHL for allegations by his wife Anna that he assaulted her and the use of a fake Covid 19 card. By Kane’s selling the house in San Jose could that be he’s leaving San Jose nothing has been ruled out yet.

#3 Vancouver Canucks winger Jonah Gadjovich has been picked up by the San Jose Sharks off waivers. Gadjovich was about to be sent down to the Abbottsford Canucks of the AHL but the Sharks took him off the waver wire.

#4 Gadjovich said that the Canucks had a concern about his skating and speed something that Gadjovich said he had worked on the last five years.

#5 Len the Sharks play their last pre season game on Saturday night at SAP Center against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks are 2-3 and head coach Bob Boughner likes what he’s seen out of the veterans and young players.

Len Shapiro does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Latest Kane allegation using a fake vaccination card

San Jose Sharks Evander Kane is under investigation by the NHL being accused of using a fake vaccination card. He currently is being investigated for being accused of assaulting his wife and has been on administration leave during this period (USA Today file photo)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa we could be watching the deconstruction of a great talent in that of Evander Kane who scored 22 goals last season and has all sorts of abilities to help a club. Instead after being accused of gambling on hockey and getting cleared for those accusations. Kane now faces a new allegation that he used a fake vaccine card.

#2 The penalty for using a fake Covid 19 card in the US is six months in jail and a $750,000 fine. We knew that Kane was being accused of Covid 19 protocols but using a fake Covid card took everyone by surprise.

#3 Kane had been accused of gambling on hockey but was cleared of those accusations but is accused of assaulting his wife which that investigation has not cleared Kane as of yet.

#4 Mary Lisa wanted to now ask you about William Eklund who was drafted number seven overall this summer from Sweden, he will be 19 on opening night, he will be great in the mix, the Sharks were shocked that Eklund was available and was not scooped up quickly by an NHL club.

#5 The Sharks close out the pre season with a game against the Vegas Golden Knight at T Mobile Center in Vegas. The last time the Sharks met with the Knights on Sun Sep 26 the Sharks came out of that one a 4-2 winner. There is little doubt with players fighting for a job this last game should be a thriller.

Catch Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Kane being investigated by league for alleged assault allegations by wife and Covid 19 protocols; plus more Sharks news

San Jose Sharks Evander Kane with wife Anna at the Espys during happier times both have filed counter restraining orders against each other siting domestic violence allegations (Press Democrat file photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa, the NHL came out with a statement on Tuesday saying they are investigating San Jose Sharks Evander Kane for two separate issues the first for last week’s domestic violence and sexual assault allegations made against Kane by Kane’s wife Anna. Kane has said that Anna had been violent against him and he had filed a restraining order against Anna in Santa Clara Family Court.

#2 The second allegation that the league is looking is Kane had violated Covid 19 protocols the NHL was not forthcoming with details about how, when or what happened but a second investigation against Kane is coming.

#3 Mary Lisa the whole Kane situation has been taking up a lot of headline space how does that translate to the dressing room. The Sharks had split squad games on Sunday in Anaheim and Las Vegas and a game in San Jose against the Los Angeles Kings. We know head coach Bob Boughner had to handle some questions regarding Kane.

#4 Kane was coming off gambling allegations made by Anna who said that he bet on the Sharks and threw games. After an investigation by the NHL the league that started on Jul 31 the league could not find any documentation or witnesses that Kane had bet on hockey.

#5 In pre season action the Sharks played the Kings on Tuesday night the Sharks also got a win over the Vegas Golden Knights and a loss against the Anaheim Ducks last Sunday. After following their last two games in Vegas and in LA who are some of the players that stand out so far?

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