NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Ovechkin reaches NHL record 13th season scoring 40 goals; Brian Boyle joins NHL Network; plus more

The Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin scored his 40th goal for the 13th time in his career setting an NHL record surpassing previous record holder Wayne Gretzky. The Capitals lost to the Blue Jackets in overtime 7-6 on Tue Mar 21, 2023. (photo by the Athletic)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin set an all time NHL record surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the most 40 goal NHL seasons doing it for the 13th time. The Caps were playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets when Ovechkin’s shot defected off the stick of the CBJ’s Nick Blankenburg at 5:12 in the first period on Tuesday night.

#2 Brian Boyle former NHL player will join NHL Network as a studio analyst, Boyle joins fellow studio analysts Jamison Coyle and Mike Rupp on NHL tonight seen Thursday and Friday. Boyle will work the intermission reports this Saturday with Tony Luftman. Boyle said while he didn’t want stop playing the game he will look forward to talking about the game.

#3 Jared Bednar signed a three year deal with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday the contract goes into effect next season through 2023-24. Bednar took over for former Avalanche coach Patrick Roy on Aug 25, 2016 and is 281-190-52 in 523 regular-season games.

#4 In an NHL Players Association Poll the Pittsburgh Penguins Syd Crosby was voted the most complete player for the forth year in a row picking up 30.1 percent of the vote. Other NHL players Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Andrei Vasilevekskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Toronto Maple Leafs Austin Matthews were also winners in the poll.

#5 The San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier has announced that forward Jacob Peterson has been recalled from their AHL affiliate the San Jose Barracuda. Peterson came to the Sharks from the Dallas Stars on Mar 3. Peterson has a career 66 games, 12 goals and five assists.

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

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Flyers DeAngelo suspended two games for spearing; Oilers Kane back tonight in Boston; plus more news

Edmonton Oilers Evander Kane returned to the Oilers line up tonight against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden in Boston. Kane is made his first appearance after missing nine games. (file photo from nhl.com

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo was hit with a two game suspension for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning Corey Perry in Tampa Bay on Tue Mar 7. The penalty was assessed at 17:20 of the third period a major penalty and a misconduct for spearing.

#2 Edmonton Oilers star Evander Kane has finally returned to the line up after missing nine games he played in tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Kane had got his wrist cut by a skate on Feb 17th returned on line changes with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.

#3 Len, the Carolina Hurricanes recalled goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov AHL affiliate Chicago on Wednesday. Kochetkov will replace Antti Raanta who suffered a groin injury on Tuesday in a Hurricanes 4-3 overtime shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said that Raanta tweeted his groin and hoped that it’s not too serious.

#4 The Oilers and Bruins game was nationally televised in order to highlight Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and the Boston Bruins David Pastrnak. The Oilers and Bruins are favorites to represent in the NHL Finals for the post season.

#5 San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn has been fined $25,000 for demeaning officials on Sat Mar 4th at SAP Center in San Jose in a game against the Washington Capitals. Quinn blew his top after on ice official Gord Dwyer had called Kevin LaBanc for hooking in the third period. Quinn was seen using colorful language and got the boot for a game misconduct abuse on an official.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts Thursday nights on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Teams dealing as trade deadline looms Friday

Former Arizona Coyote Jakob Chychrun was dealt to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for three draft picks. Chychrun was in the fourth year of his six year deal in Arizona (AP News file photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Len, the deals are in the making as the Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun was dealt to the Ottawa Senators for three draft picks on Wednesday. Chychrun was in the fourth year of his six year deal with the Coyotes which he signed in 2018. Chychrun had 28 points, seven goals, and 21 assists. Chychrun could be a unrestricted free agent in the 2024-25 season.

#2 Originally sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets sent Jonathan Quick to the Vegas Golden Knights they flipped him.

#3 The Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid can’t be stopped he has now scored two goals in each of his last five games and Wednesday was no exception as the Oilers made themselves right at home at Rogers Centre in Toronto with a three goal win 5-2.

#4 The New York Rangers are going to be a force in the post season and Vladimir Tarasenko helped the Rangers get a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia for an overtime win 3-2. The Rangers acquired Patrick Kane from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night will add extra punch for the Rangers. The Rangers did dropped a tough two goal loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night 5-3

#5 Tyler Seguin had two goals and an assist and the Dallas Stars made handy work of the Arizona Coyotes scoring four unanswered goals to hand the Coyotes a two goal 4-2 loss the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Stars Roope Hintz and Mike Heiskanen scored a goal each and goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots.

#6 Detroit Red Wings team captain Dylan Larkin who leads the Wings with goals and points could have very well been a free agent after this season but the Red Wings wanted to make sure he stuck around a little longer inking a eight year $69.6 million deal.

#7 Len, talk about the Boston Bruins just set a record tonight.

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

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Tarasenko dealt to Rangers from Blues; Sabers sign Cozens to $49.7 M seven year deal; plus more news

 Former St. Louis Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko (91) handles the puck during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Friday, May 27, 2022, in St. Louis. The New York Rangers have acquired Tarasenko and depth defenseman Niko Mikkola from the Blues in a deal made Thu Feb 9, 2023 (AP News File)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Vladimir Tarasenko was dealt the New York Rangers from the St Louis Blues today was this a requested trade or something that was worked out between the Blues and Rangers.

#2 The Buffalo Sabers signed center Dylan Cozens to a seven year $49.7 contract extension on Tuesday averaging about $7.4 million a year. Cozens has 17 goals and 43 points in 49 games for this season.

#3 The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the 2023-24 All Star game for the first time since 2012. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement before last Saturday’s All Star game in Sunrise Florida which was hosted by the Florida Panthers.

#4 The Arizona Coyotes are asking for big money for defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun would be a great acquisition for any team whose skills range from special teams to offense. Chychrun would provide the defense a team is looking for protecting the goaltender as well as the ability to grab the puck and force it back up ice.

#5 NHL teams are inquiring about the Sharks Kevin Labanc and Timo Meier. Labanc has ten goals, 15 assists and 25 points and Meier has 30 goals, 21 assists and 51 points. What’s the possibility of seeing Labanc and Meier traded soon.

Join Len for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Hot Oil, Edmonton has won six straight games; Sharks Meier could be part of trade rumors; plus more NHL news

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Tue Jan 17, 2023 (Canadian Press/via AP photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 How does any NHL team beat a team like the Edmonton Oilers (27-18-3) who have now won six straight games and are getting their offensive strength from Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent Hopkins they’re just clobbering everybody of late.

#2 The San Jose Sharks Timo Meier has become a NHL commodity and the subject of trade rumors. The New Jersey Devils (31-12-4) according to a source says that they are interested in obtaining Meier’s services and he could help New Jersey who has scored 28 goals in 49 games and is on a 47 goal pace.

#3 Pittsburgh Penguins (24-15-8) goaltender Tristan Jarry is out for the NHL All Star game slated for Feb 4th. Jarry also is going to miss the next two games against the Washington Capitals Thursday and the Sharks on Saturday due to a upper body injury. It might be Jarry some extra time as the Pens don’t play again until Feb 7th.

#4 Len, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said during a pre game press conference before the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens at the Belle Centre in Montreal that nobody tanks in the NHL referring to losing games deliberately so that they can get a better draft position in the NHL draft.

#5 Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau said that he was very sure of his firing coming back on Oct 8th but he just didn’t know when it was coming. Was this firing the fault of Boudreau he can’t skate, defend and shoot the puck or was it the Canucks organization who overhauled in the off season going into this season and they didn’t have the guys to win enough with a current record of (19-25-3) and Boudreau was made out to be the scape goat?

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Vegas’ Stone to sit out for tonight’s game; Leafs Matthews possible for tonight’s game; plus more NHL News

The Vegas Golden Knights Mark Stone is out with a upper body injury and will sit out for tonight’s game against the Edmonton Oilers (photo from NHL.com)

Check out Len on the NHL podcasts weekly:

#1 The Vegas Golden Knights Mark Stone is listed as week to week with an upper body injury. Stone left at 10:42 in the first period against the Florida Panthers on Thursday as the Knights won it 4-2. Stone didn’t practice on Friday and will sit out tonight against the Edmonton Oilers.

#2 Len, the anticipated return of Austin Matthews has finally arrived, Matthews whose been out of the Toronto Maple Leafs line up has missed the last two games. Matthews has been out of the line up since last Sunday and is a maybe for Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

#3 Nick Leddy of the St Louis Blues is set to return on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Leddy a defenseman has 11 assists in 39 games. Leddy has missed the last four games with an upper body injury. Leddy did not play since last Thursday.

#4 Nathan Bastian of the New Jersey Devils could return Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings. Bastian a forward was injured against the Washington Capitals on Nov 26th. Bastian has eight points, three goals and five assists.

#5 The Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Dallas Stars Jason Robertson, Tage Thompson Buffalo Sabers, and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals are up for being MVP the season isn’t over yet but these are some top candidates.

Len Shapiro filled in for Matt Harrington for the NHL podcast heard Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len Shapiro: Binnington lost for rest of second round lower body injury; Lightning lights up the lamp leads Panthers; plus more

Colorado Avalanche left winger JT Compher (37) reaches for the puck against the St Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during game 3 of the Western Conference second round playoffs at the Enterprise Center in St Louis. This would be Binnington’s last game for this round due to an injury on Sat May 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 St Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington will miss the rest of the Western Conference second round with a lower body injury rumored to be left leg against the Colorado Avalanche. Binnington got hurt during game 3 when teammate Calle Rosen and Aves Nazem Kadri knocked Binnington over. How is the loss of Binnington going to impact the Blues the rest of the second round?

#2 Also Colorado’s Samuel Girard is out for the rest of the playoffs with a broken sternum in game 3 in the first period at 1:42 on Saturday he was checked hard by the Blues Ivan Barbashev.

#3  In the battle of Florida The Tampa Bay Lightning are in the driver’s seat with the series lead 3-0 and their getting some great scoring not to mention great goaltending from Andrei Vasilevskiy in their game 3 win today 5-1.

#4 The Carolina Hurricanes lead the series 2-1 against the New York Rangers and played game 3 today at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won a crucial game 3-1 how did home ice pay off for the Rangers today?

#5 The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers are battling it out in Edmonton the Flames had Oilers came back on the Flames in game 1 only to lose the lead 9-6. The Oilers bounced back in game 2 with a 5-2 win and goaltender Mike Smith stopped 37 shots.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL Stanley Cup postseason podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Len Shapiro: Lightning eliminate Leafs in game 7; Canes Domi scores twice in 2-1 win; plus more

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) celebrates with teammate Victor Hedman (77) after knocking the Toronto Maple Leafs out of the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup in Toronto in game 7 on Sat May 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Len:

#1 One thing you can say about the Tampa Bay Lightning their like a boom a rang just was soon as you thought they were done they come back.

#2 The Bolts got help from one player who did all the work Nicholas Paul who scored twice that was all Tampa Bay need to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs four games to three in the best of four out of seven in a 2-1 game seven win to advance.

#3 The Carolina Hurricane’s Max Domi had a pair of goals and an assist which help defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 in Carolina. It was a series where the home team won each of the games as the Canes won the series 4-3.

#4 Rounding off Saturday night’s action the Edmonton Oilers shutout the Los Angeles Kings in game 7 in Edmonton 2-0. Oilers goalie Mike Smith stopped all 29 Kings shots for the win.

#5 The Oilers Connor McDavid and Cody Ceci scored a goal a piece both goals turned out to be critical for the Edmonton win.

#6 Evander Kane has been a big value for the Oilers in the regular season and in the playoff push, in hindsight do you think the San Jose Sharks who put him up for free agency might be thinking that they made a mistake letting Kane get away?

Join Len for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts each weekend at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Stars go up 2-1 on Flames; Caps Ovechkin scores in 6-1 win over Florida; plus more

The Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski (16) and Vladislav Namestinkov (92) celebrate Pavelski’s goal as the Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) is on his back looking up in Dallas on Sat May 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski scored twice to break ties in two consecutive playoff games against the Calgary Flames. Pavelski has been very instrumental in helping the Stars and in particular on Saturday in game 3 as the Stars go up 2-1.

#2 The Edmonton Oilers lead the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 and their two wins came after two defining victories 6-0 in game two on Wednesday and game three 8-2 on Friday. Both teams meet up again for game three on Monday night.

#3 One of the big games Saturday the Washington Capitals in game 3 gained on the Florida Panthers going up 2-1 in the series with a 6-1 win on Saturday. The Caps goal scoring help from Alex Ovechkin who scored his first goal of the playoffs.

#4 The Colorado Avalanche went up on the Nashville Predators 3-0 with a convincing 7-3 win in game 3. The Aves have a shot at sweeping this series on Monday night. The Aves Gabriel Landeskog scored twice with two assists.

#5 The Pittsburgh Penguins took a 2-1 lead on the New York Rangers as the Pens Damon Heimen got the go ahead goal at 11:02 in the third period. The Pens got the three goal win 7-4 win at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

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

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Raanta stops 35 shots in Canes 5-1 win over Bruins; Leafs Campbell shuts out Bolts 5-0; plus more

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta (32) tries to stop the puck on a Boston Bruins shot in game 1 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs at PNC in Pittsburgh on Mon May 2, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 The Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta stopped 35 shots as the Hurricanes won game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins 5-1 in the Eastern Conference first round in Pittsburgh’s PNC Arena. It was Ranata’s first NHL playoff game.

#2 The Toronto Maple Leafs let themselves be know in game 1 of the first round of the playoffs with a 5-0 shutout over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Austin Matthews scored twice for Toronto. The Leafs Mitchell Marner scored a goal and had two assists and goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 23 shots.

#3 Len, talk about the St Louis Blues who blanked the Minnesota Wild. The Blues were 13-1-1 since 2019-20 season. They really have the Wild’s number. Dave Peron had a hat trick and the Wild had six power play attempts and they did not score. Ville Hasso in goal for St Louis faced 37 shots and stopped all of them for the shutout.

#4 The Nashville Predators Juuse Saros will sit out for games 1 and 2 against the Colorado Avalanche because of a lower body injury. Saros missed the last two games of the regular season for the Predators how much will the Preds miss Saros out of the line up.

#5 After suffering an upper body injury and missing three games the Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on the radar to play in game 1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Florida Panthers.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com