Couture’s 5 Points Boost Sharks to 6-4 Win Over Pens

The San Jose Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) puts the puck in the net on Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) at PPG Paints Arena on Sat Jan 28, 2024 (@SanJoseSharks photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks snapped a four game losing streak, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 Saturday night from PNC Arena. Logan Couture had five points, including two goals and Alex Barabanov and Erik Karlsson had multipoint nights. Evgeni Malkin scored twice for the Pens and Sidney Crosby scored as well.

Malkin scored with 9:54 left in regulation to tie the game, but Couture scored with 4:25 left to play for the lead. He also scored an empty netter for his career high 5th point and 19th goal of the year.

Michael Eyssimont scored 1:25 into the game, but Malkin and Crosby scored power play goals for a 2-1 lead. Erik Karlsson scored his 16th of the year to tie the game 2-2 with seven seconds left in the opening frame.

Noah Gregor lit the lamp 4:54 into the second period for a 3-2 lead, Ryan Poehling responded with a short-handed strike with 5:06 left in the period. Alexander Barabanov handed the Sharks the brief lead, scoring his seventh of the year with 2:53 left in the second.

Kaapo Kähkönen made 37 saves for the Sharks in net for the win while Casey Desmith made 26 in defeat.

The Sharks get a brief rest but hit the road again on the other side of the break. They’ll face Tampa Bay, Florida and Washington to kick off the second half.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Bruins coach Montgomery leads by being positive; Heads or tails on Canucks new coach Tocchet for now; plus more NHL News

Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery talks with his players during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, in Boston. The Bruins hired Montgomery at the start of the 2022 season as their new coach. (AP News file)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 Matt, talk about Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery this is his second team in the NHL he first coached the Dallas Stars before being fired by them in 2019 and has done a bang up job as head coach leading the club to a 26-6-4. Talk about the job Montgomery has done building up the Bruins?

#2 Under Vancouver Canucks (19-26-3) new head coach Rick Tocchet he’s 2-1 so far and in the first win he handled the Chicago Blackhawks rather handily 5-2 and in the second game in Seattle the Canucks got crushed 6-1, and on Friday the Canucks picked up a three goal win over the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2. It’s early to tell but the Canucks critics say should have held onto Bruce Boudreau and let him finish out the season.

#3 Matt, are the Toronto Maple Leafs going to miss Austin Matthews something awful, Matthews is out with a knee sprain for three weeks, Matthews is second in goals, and is third in points. Matthews injured himself on Wednesday against the New York Rangers during a 3-2 overtime win.

#4 The Florida Panthers Aleksander Barkov will replace Matthews at center at the NHL All Star game in Florida on Sat Feb 4th. Barkov is second on the Panthers with 43 points with 13 goals and 30 assists. He should get a good ovation when he is introduced in Sunrise next Saturday.

#5 Despite winning seven of their last ten games the Chicago Blackhawks (15-28-4) and defeating one of the tougher teams in the NHL the Calgary Flames (23-17-9) 5-1 on Thursday night in Calgary the Blackhawks are looking to deal stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews each player is in the final year of their eight year contract.

Matt Harrington does the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Stunned By Late Canes Rally, Lose 5-4 OT Decision

San Jose Sharks Nick Bonino (13) brings up the ice shavings in front of Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Annri Raanta (32) at PNC Arena in Raleigh NC on Fri Jan 27, 2023 (@SanJoseSharks photo)

By Matthew Harrington

In a season where the San Jose Sharks have found creative and painful ways to lose games Friday night proved to be a season-low. The Sharks had a 4-2 lead after scoring an empty net goal with 1:52 left in regulation, but surrendered two goals to the Carolina Hurricanes in the waning moments of regulation before Martin Necas netted the overtime winner 5-4.

Michael Eyssimont had a three-point night in the loss, Mario Ferraro had a goal and an assist and Nick Bonino and Oskar Lindblom lit the lamp in defeat. James Reimer made 31 saves for the Sharks (14-25-11), but Necas and Sebastian Aho scored a pair each and Calvin De Haan pitched in with a goal for the host Hurricanes (31-9-8).

The third period proved wild Friday night, as both teams were tied 1-1 entering the frame thanks to a goal by Lindblom and De Haan’s response both occurring in the final five minutes of the first period. Aho gave the Hurricanes the lead 17 seconds into the final frame with a power play goal.

Eyssimont picked off a Aho dump in, feeding Nick Bonino on a drive towards the Canes net for a breakway. Bonino beat Antti Raanta for his ninth goal of the season to tie the game at the 6:50 mark.

Eyssimont’s strong game continued after Nico Sturm kept a Mario Ferraro pass from jumping out of the offensive zone. He passed the puck to Eyssimont on the wall and drove the net, creating a screen for Eyssimont’s shot to sneak through to give San Jose a 3-2 lead with 8:45 left in regulation.

Ferraro picked up the empty netter at the 18:08 mark, but Sebastian Aho was able to slip behind the Sharks defense and take a pass from Teuvo Teravainen that Aho was able to easily shoot past Reimer just 15 seconds later to make it 4-3.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour pulled the goalie yet again, and this time it paid off after Aho’s near goalline fling on net rebounded in the slot to Necas with 12 seconds left. Necas was able to slide the rebound home for his 20^th goal of the year and force overtime.

Necas played the hero in overtime after the Canes found themselves on a 3-on-1 breakaway after Eyssimont’s attempt to break up the rush failed. Andrei Svechnikov went down the left side and hit the cross-crease pass to Necas who buried the one-timer 55 seconds into the extra frame.

The Sharks have now lost four consecutive games, all on the road and have lost the last two in overtime. They won’t have long to scratch their heads over the loss as they head north to face the Pittsburgh Penguins at PNC Arena Saturday night. After that, they head to All-Star break before continuing the tough roadie with games against the Lightning, Panthers and Capitals before returning home to face the Penguins again on Valentine’s Day.

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

Red Wings Take 3-2 OT Win Over Sharks, San Jose Loses Third In A Row

Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during overtime in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at Little Caesars Pizza Palace in Detroit (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

San Jose twice found responses to the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night at little Caesars Arena, but Andrew Copp scored 25 seconds into overtime to hand the Sharks (14-25-10) their third loss in a row and sixth loss in seven games.

Erik Karlsson assisted on both Sharks goals, strikes by Logan Couture and Timo Meier and James Reimer made 32 saves in the loss. Ville Husso made 28 saves in net for the Red Wings (20-18-8), Michael Rasmussen had a goal and an assist and Adam Erne also lit the lamp for the Winged Wheel.

Copp’s game winner, his fifth of the year, came on a net front scramble after a Rasmussen shot bounced off Reimer. With Reimer down and all skaters searching for the puck, Copp picked up the loose change to end the game.

Erne opened the scoring on a tip-in 2:17 into the second period, but Timo Meier was able to cash in on a wrap around from behind the net to Husso’s left, scoring his 28th goal of the year 7:58 into the period. Karlsson and Tomas Hertl assisted on the goal.

While Little Caesars may not have the lively boards that Joe Louis Arena was known for, the Wings still can benefit from a Detroit bounce from time to time.

That was the case for Rasmussen’s goal, after a clearing attempt off the glass by a Sharks defender found its way right back into the slot on an unexpected carom. Rasmussen was there to wire it home past Reimer for a 2-1 Detroit lead with 3:31 left in the second.

Couture tied the game in the closing seconds of the middle frame, beating Husso with just seven seconds remaining before the second intermission. Karlsson took a pair of shots that took healthy bounces off a pair of Wings defenders. Couture, waiting to Husso’s left, managed to bat the puck out of mid-air for his 17th goal of the year.

Nico Sturm nearly won the game for San Jose on a breakaway after a dogged back check forced a Wings turn over, but Husso was able to shut the door to set up Copp’s heroics.

The Sharks continue the arduous roadie, heading to Carolina to face Brent Burns Friday night. They’ll then head to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins in a back-to-back before adjourning for the All-star Break. They’ll open post break with contests against the Lightning and Panthers on the road , finishing up with another road game in Washington D.C. Sunday the 12th. In total, that’s four playoff teams of five with the Panthers also waiting in the playoff wings.

Sharks Shut Out By B’s 4-0; SJ’s fourth loss in five games

San Jose Sharks left wing Alexander Barabanov (94) is unable to get the puck past Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) in the second period at TD Garden in Boston on Sun Jan 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks were shut out by the the league leader Boston Bruins 4-0 Sunday from TD Garden, dropping their second game in as many nights to kick off an eight game road trip.

San Jose (14-25-9) managed just 18 shots on goal, failing to slip a puck past Linus Ullmark and a brief appearance by Jeremy Swayman while the starter was getting a skate blade repaired. San Jose managed just five shots in each of the first two periods. The Bruins (37-5-4) have now won 11 in a row against San Jose.

Hampus Lindholm beat James Reimer 7:16 into the first period and fellow defenseman Charlie McAvoy dangled through a trio of Sharks to score his fourth goal of the year 4:08 into the second.

Nick Foligno tipped a puck past James Reimer 7:46 into the second and David Pastrnak scored his 36th of the year on the power play 2:40 into the third.

The Sharks were able to limit the Bruins shot totals, suppressing them to 22 shots though four found their way behind the goalie. They did kill off two penalties, but went 0-for-2 on the power play. 

Up next is another Original Six match up for Team Teal. They face the Detroit Red Wings in Motown on Tuesday. They will then get a steady diet of playoff hopefuls starting with games in Carolina and Pittsburgh before heading to the Allstar Break.

Blue Jackets Rally Late to Topple Sharks 5-3

San Jose Sharks’ Nick Bonino, left, carries the puck behind the net as Columbus Blue Jackets’ Sean Kuraly defends during the first period at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Sat Jan 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks took the lead 1:53 into the third period, but the Columbus Blue Jackets scored three unanswered goals at home to beat San Jose 5-3 Saturday night. Nick Bonino and Timo Meier scored the Sharks, while Nico Sturm had a team best two points on a goal and an assist.

Kaapo Kahkonen made 24 saves on 28 shots for San Jose (14-24-9), while Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves on 25 shots for Columbus. five different Blue Jackets (14-30-2) had two-point nights to snap a three-game losing skid, sitting in last place in the league standings with 30 points.

The 3-2 lead wasn’t the first to slip out of the Sharks’ grasp. Meier scored his 27^th goal 10:49 into the first period and Bonino doubled the lead 2-0 5:39 into the second on a wrap around. Free agent signing Johnny Gaudreau scored a power play goal  11:19 into the second and Boone Jenner beat Kahkonen on a wrist shot at the 12:31 mark of the middle frame to tie the game.

After Sturm gave the Sharks the 3-2 lead on an unassisted strike, Patrick Laine picked up his 13^th goal of the year at the 3:04 mark of the third. Former Shark Gustav Nyquist provided the game-winner at the 12:38 mark with Kent Johnson picking up his second assist of the game on the goal.

Sean Kuraly scored the empty netter with 1:04 left in regulation for the 5-3 final. Gaudreau (1-1-2), Nyquist(1-1-2), Laine (1-1-2) and Nick Blankenburg (0-2-2) were the other multi-pointers for CBJ.

The Sharks go from worst to first in terms of opponents. They head to Boston for a lopsided back-to-back, facing the Bruins at TD Garden Sunday night. James Reimer, fresh off his 200^th career victory, is expected to start for San Jose.

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Sharks Karlsson open to trade to a contender; Canucks coach Boudreau could be gone at anytime; plus more NHL news

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) works for the puck against Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023 at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 The San Jose Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson says while he likes playing in San Jose he would consider a trade to a team that is going to go deep in the post season. Karlsson came to San Jose from Ottawa back on Sep 13, 2018 and hasn’t played more than 56 games since he was acquired. That said this season Karlsson leads NHL defencemen with 15 goals, 47 assists and 62 points.

#2 Things have not gone so well for the Vancouver Canucks (18-23-3) the Canucks have lost four of their last ten games are sixth place in the Pacific Division. Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau knows all too well that the Canucks have had a rough season and that his time at head coach could be ending soon as saying he doesn’t know what is going on and also saying how great the game is.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov who said he could not wear the Pride themed sweater designed for the pre game skate on Tuesday night. Provorov said that he couldn’t wear it for religious reason being a Russian Orthodox. Provorov’s number 9 sweater became the hot seller after the story went viral. Critics of Provorov’s decision not to wear pride sweater said he had no problem wearing a military sweater he wore 2021.

#4 The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry made his return as netminder on Friday night after missing seven games and stopping 46 shots in the Penguins win over the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Jarry suffered a lower body injury. The Pens have been struggling a bit lately especially after losing defensemen Jeff Petry and Kris Letang who are on the injured list as well.

#5 Max Pacioretty of the Carolina Hurricanes who tore his Achilles tendon last Thursday night had to helped off the ice when he was skating near Minnesota Wild’s end of the ice almost behind the net when he tore the tendon for the second time since he had surgery for it back on Aug 9th. Pacioretty will have a second surgery for it. Pacioretty teammate Brady Skjei said “It definitely put a damper on the win a little bit,”

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks remarkable comeback to defeat Stars; Sharks open 8 game road trip Saturday

A look at the San Jose Sharks bench during their game against the Dallas Stars at SAP Arena in San Jose on Wed Jan 18, 2023 (NHL/TNT photo grab)

On the SJ Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 No one would have thought it after the San Jose Sharks (14-23-9) who were struggling to pick up a win could come back to win on their home ice and for that matter to come back on the Dallas Stars (26-13-7) for a two goal 5-3 win at SAP Center on Wednesday night.

#2 The Sharks who really needed some offense got some from their defenceman Erik Karlsson who scored a goal and had three assists in the two goal win for San Jose.

#3 Len talk about the second period where the Sharks got three goals from Steven Lorentz, Nick Bonino, and Timo Meier it was a crucial period for the Sharks if they were to prove something to themselves and their confidence.

#4 James Reimer the Sharks goaltender who stopped 32 shots and picked up his 200th career win said he had forgotten all about that and really wanted to get a win after the team had been struggling.

#5 The Columbus Blue Jackets (13-29-2) who are struggling have lost five of their last eight games will host the Sharks who open the first of eight road games on Saturday. How do you see the Sharks faring in Columbus and talk about the length of this long road trip.

Join Len Shapiro for Sharks podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks come back from three goal deficit to beat Dallas 5-3

Photo courtesy of San Jose Sharks Twitter. Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson celebrate a goal on January 18th against the Dallas Stars.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

SAN JOSE – Off of a incredible second period come back the Sharks rode that into a victory over the Dallas Stars by a final of 5-3.

Heading into this game the season series between these two teams was at a draw as both teams had beaten each other once.

This game also involved two of the best penalty killing teams in the league with Dallas ranked fifth and San Jose ranked third in the league.

The Sharks got off to a slow start in this one as they only had one shot in the first six minutes of the period.

On the other hand Dallas moved the puck efficiently and had the Sharks chasing the play.

With the momentum on their side Dallas pushed for a goal and Ty Dellandrea delivered at the 13:17 mark of the period.

Streaking down the right wing boards Dellandrea fired a shot towards the net that beat Reimer on the glove side scoring his fifth goal on the year.

Mario Ferraro took a penalty a little bit later for holding but the PK unit for the Sharks killed it off.

After the kill San Jose gained some momentum and Mikey Eyssimont came close to tying the game as he rang one off the crossbar.

The end of the first definitely ended a lot better for the Sharks than the beginning but they were unable to tie the game heading into the intermission down one.

The shots at the end of the period favored Dallas 10-6.

San Jose did have to start off the second on the PK but Jason Robertson towards the end of the power play took a penalty making it a four-on-four.

Once San Jose did get on the power play they weren’t able to muster any good looks as the Dallas’s PK unit killed off the opportunity.

With the Sharks hemmed in their own end Colin Miller circled the net and fed a pass out front to Jason Robertson who fired it past Reimer to score his 30th goal of the season.

Dallas did not stop the onslaught at the beginning of the second and less than five minutes after Robertson’s goal Radek Faska cashed in as well.

It was a sort of broken play on the Faska’s fourth goal of the season as he tried to feed his teammate but, the the shot instead went in off of a Shark.

The energy was definitely sucked out of the building after the Star’s quick start to the period.

San Jose did not give up though as Noah Gregor after keeping the puck in the Stars end got the puck to Steven Lorentz in the slot who scored.

With the score now 3-1 the Sharks smelt blood in the water and pushed for more.

As the Dallas defense backed up Alexander Barabonov rushed into the zone and wrapped a pass around the net to a waiting Nick Bonino who scored his seventh goal of the campaign.

The crowd was now into it and San Jose drew a penalty putting themselves in the perfect spot to tie the game.

Timo Meier did just that on the opportunity as similar to Faska’s goal he tried to feed it to a teammate but instead got a lucky bounce.

The goal sent the now already fired up crowd into a frenzy and the Sharks responded in kind by keeping the chances up.

That did end up being all the scoring in the period though with the shots still favoring Dallas at 20-18.

The third did get off to a tough start for San Jose as they had to kill off a tripping penalty taken late in the second by them.

The Shark’s PK once again showed why their a top five unit in the league though as they killed off another PP.

After the PK both teams exchanged chances back and forth as both goalies made big saves.

At the 9:19 mark of the third Nick Bonino found Erik Karlsson creeping in backdoor and fead the defenseman. Karlsson then proceeded to make a difficult shot look effortless as he scored his 15th goal of the season.

The lead now 4-3 the Sharks looked to hold on to their lead as they trapped it up.

Dallas pulled their goalie to try to tie it but Logan Couture got the puck and fired it into the empty cage to end the game at 5-3.

The shots at the end of the game favored the Stars at 36-28.

The three stars of the game were: 1st: Erik Karlsson 2nd: Nick Bonino 3rd: Miro Heiskanen

With the victory over Dallas Reimer got the 200th win of his NHL career.

“I think we can be really proud of this win tonight and it was a solid effort,” Meier said after the game.

The Sharks next game will on Saturday and also kicks off a long road stand for the team were they will do battle with Columbus.