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 Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Matt Harrington: Rangers stay alive with 5-3 win over Penguins; Panthers eliminate Capitals; plus more

New York Rangers center Mike Zibanejad congratulates left winger Chris Kreider after a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Fri May 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The New York Rangers avoided getting eliminated as Chris Krieder scored a third period goal at 1:28 that broke a 3-3 deadlock with a shot from the left point that deflected off the Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domigue for the score. The Rangers would win it 5-3 tying the series at 3-3.

# 2 The Florida Panthers advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 4-3 overtime win over the Washington Capitals at the Capital Center. The Panthers Carter Verhaeghe scored at 2:46 in overtime for the game winning shot.

#3 The Dallas Stars defeated the Calgary Flames on Friday to tie up the series 3-3 with a 4-2 win. The Stars Joe Pavelski said that they are a confident group that can play through tight games and the Stars have been competitive in the playoffs.

#4 The Boston Bruins avoided elimination on Thursday with a win to tied up the series with the Carolina Hurricanes 3-3. Both teams meet again today for a 1:30 pm PDT puck drop.

#5 The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs face off at 4:00 pm PDT as the series is tied at 3-3.

#6 Kings-Oilers battle in Edmonton tonight at 7:00 pm PDT as this series is tied 3-3 everything on the line tonight.

Join Matt throughout the NHL Stanley Cup postseason for analysis on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt Harrington: Bruins win a game push past Hurricanes 4-2; Leafs pour it on Lighting in 5-2 win; Caps get huge win over Panthers 6-1

Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) scores on Carolina Hurricanes’ Pyotr Kochetkov (52) during the first period of Game 3 at TD Garden in Boston on Fri May 6, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Boston Bruins came into the TD Waterhouse Garden down 2-0 knowing if they’d drop Friday night’s third game they’d have their backs to the wall going into a game four down 3-0 such was not the case as he B’s saved themselves but cutting the visiting Carolina Hurricanes lead down to 2-1.

#2 Matt, talk about Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman and how crucial was he stopping 25 shots and allowing two goals in the 4-2 win.

#3 The Bruins Brad Marchand scored a goal and had two assists and David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle scored and had an assist for the Bruins how important were these guys in game 3.

#4 The Toronto Maple Leafs came into this game with grit playing against one of the toughest teams in the NHL the Tampa Bay Lightning in this round 1 as they came away with a three goal 5-2 win. The Leafs scored twice in the first and third periods and goaltender Jack Campbell stopped 32 shots and allowed to two goals.

#5 The Leafs now lead the Lightning 2-1 in the best of seven series. For the Bolts goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 34 shots a good number but allowed three goals. Was this game a matter of Vasilevskiy just not being on his game or was the Leafs offense just that good and had their way with the Lightning defense?

Join Matt Saturdays for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Matt Harrington: Pens to face Rangers in first round; Sabers overtime win against Blackhawks 3-2; plus more

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evan Rodrigues (9) scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender J-F Berube (30) in first period action at PPG Paints in Pittsburgh on Fri Apr 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Pittsburgh Penguins (46-25-11) advanced to the playoffs with a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets (37-38-7) 5-3 on Friday night at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins will face the Rangers for the Eastern Conference first round in game 1.

#2 Both the Buffalo Sabers (32-39-11) and the Chicago Blackhawks (28-42-12) concluded their regular season with the Sabers getting an overtime win over the Blackhawks 3-2 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo Friday. The Blackhawks started out with a 2-0 lead but the Sabers came back and tied it up in the second period 2-2. The Sabers Casey Mittelstadt got the overtime game winning goal at 2:53.

#3 The Boston Bruins lost their last game of the season to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night 5-2 and will face off with the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs will play the Tampa Bay Lightning.

#4 It was the first win for Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price since game 4 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs Finals. It was a landslide of goals scored by the Canadiens 10-2 over the Florida Panthers on Friday night at the Belle Centre. Price stopped 37 shots and it was his 700th start and 712th game with the Canadiens for his 361st career win.

#5 In his first game in five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings goaltender Magnus Hellberg it was like riding a bike you just don’t forget. Hellburg stopped 20 shots by the New Jersey Devils to help in a 5-3 win at the Prudential Center on Friday night. Hellberg played five years in the Kontinental Hockey League before signing an Apr 13th free agent contract with the Red Wings.

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Montreal Legend Lafleur passes at 70; Wild’s Kaprizov passes 100 points for the season; plus more

Former Montreal Canadien Guy LaFleur was a staple in Montreal sports, LaFleur was a five time Stanley Cup Champion and scored 50 or more points for six consecutive seasons (file photo from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 He was called the cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty, scoring at least 50 goals for six straight seasons for the Habs superstar Guy Lafleur died at age 70 after a three year battle with cancer. LaFleur played from 1971 to 1985 and returned to playing from 1988-91 and was a five time Stanley Cup Champion.

#2 The Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov scored his 100th point and then eclipsed it on Friday against the Seattle Kraken at the Xcel Energy Center in St Paul in a 6-3 win. Kevin Fiala set a Wild record with five assists for points in nine consecutive games.

#3 The Ottawa Senators goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 33 shots enough to hold back the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Friday night in Columbus. The Senators won in a shootout 2-1. The Sens Tim Stutzle scored the only goal in the shootout enough for Ottawa to get by Columbus.

#4 The Toronto Maple Leafs Wayne Simmonds was fined $2250 for charging the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Mikhail Sergachev at 15:21 of the third period of Thursday’s game in Tampa Bay. The money goes to the Players Emergency Assistance Fund.

#5 The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks are at SAP Center in San Jose. The Blackhawks have won two of their last 11 games, more recently winning two of their last five games. The Sharks come into tonight’s game winning one of their last 11 games.

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Canadiens hosting game with no crowd limit; Leafs won’t deal goalies; plus more

Montreal Canadien fans can fill up the Rogers Centre in Montreal tonight as they Habs host the Edmonton Oilers for the first allowed capacity game after many years of Covid 19 protocol restrictions (file photo Fox News)

On the NHL podcast with Matt:

#1 The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens face off tonight with no crowd limits, mask mandate still in effect. They expect 18,000 fans at Rogers Centre in Montreal. Fans are happy they get to fill the arena how safe will this decision be?

#2 Matt, the Toronto Maple Leafs say they have no plans to deal goaltender Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek. Both goaltenders combined have allowed 31 goals in the last seven games there have been calls in Toronto by fans and the media to trade one of the goalies. Kyle Dubas the Leafs general manager said he doesn’t need to deal either goalie but would like to obtain more defense.

#3 Matt how important is it that the Philadelphia Flyers Kevin Hayes has returned to the line up after missing 15 games and is expected to return this Saturday. Hayes said he had a bad groin infection that spread to his left side. Hayes says he feels pretty good now.

#4 The San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer is week to week with a lower body injury he sustained in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights on Tuesday who played in his 12th straight game. Matt, was it a matter of the Sharks just over played Reimer or some way some how Reimer was going to run out of gas and something was going to happen. Also talk who the Sharks most likely will go with in goal Adin Hill, Zachary Sawchenko, or Alex Stalock?

#5 Matt, the Carolina Hurricanes will get a shot at hosting the Stadium Series on Feb 18, 2023 when they host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at Carter-Finley Stadium at North Carolina State University in Raleigh NC.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks open five game road trip Sunday in Chicago

San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (88) takes control of the puck against Toronto Maple Leafs center Mitchell Marner (16) at SAP Center in San Jose on Sat Nov 27, 2021 (AP News photo)

SJ Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Len, the San Jose Sharks (10-9-1) embark on a five game road trip back east they open up against the Chicago Blackhawks (7-11-2). Tell us how you see this five game trip and the Sharks chances of success on this trip.

#2 The Sharks have lost five of their last eight games including a tough loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs (15-6-1) 4-1 on Friday night.

#3 James Reimer San Jose goaltender allowed four Toronto goals and saved 13 and was later relieved by Adin Hill who didn’t allow any goals and had 16 saves.

#4 Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll was like Wall he stopped 33 shots and allowed just one goal and the Maple Leafs defense kept the Sharks pretty much at bay much of the night.

#5 The Sharks play the Blackhawks Sunday afternoon at the United Center the Blackhawks have had their share of issues they started the season losing nine in a row, they had the David Aldrich sex scandal which played a role in disrupting the team, they fired their head coach Jeremy Colliton and assistant coaches Sheldon Brookbank and Tomas Mitell leaving with a 1-9-2 record on Nov 6th. Since new coach Derek King has taken over the Blackhawks are 6-2 and won their last game against the St Louis Blues (10-7-3) on Friday night in overtime 3-2. How do you see the Sharks matching up against the Hawks Sunday?

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

NHL podcast with Matt Harrington: Lightning’s Sergachev suspended two games for illegal check; Eichel to rehab from disk; plus more

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (left) goes airborne after getting checked in the head by the Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Mikhail Sergachev (right) on Thu Nov 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 The Tampa Bay Lightning’s defenceman Mikhail Sergachev who illegally checked the Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner in the head in the first period at 17:47 on Thu Nov 4 in Toronto. Sergachev was suspended for two games. Sergachev was also fined $48,000 which go to the NHL players fund.

#2 Matt, talk about the value of the Vegas Golden Knights acquiring center Jack Eichel who has to have a artificial disk replacement that will take three months for Eichel to come back and play again.

#3 The Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will return between the pipes after entering a players’ assistance program back on Oct 7th. Carey is expected to be back with the team on Monday but will not play right away and the team plans to have Price see a therapist and to later draw up plans.

#4 Former 2010 Chicago Blackhawks video goal coach and sexual abuser Brad Aldrich had his name scratched off the Stanley Cup Trophy with X’s this week for abusing former Blackhawk Kyle Beach back in 2010.

#5 The San Jose Sharks ended up reassigning rookie forward William Eklund to his former team in Sweden. Eklund is expected to be the future center piece for the Sharks.

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

San Jose Sharks podcast with Len Shapiro: Sharks on five game road trip three wins and two to go

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Michael Hutchinson (30) lays on top of the puck as the San Jose Sharks’ Andrew Cogliano (11) and Matt Nieto (83) try to dig it during the third period at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Thu Oct 22, 2021 (Canadian Press photo)

On the Sharks podcast with Len:

#1 The San Jose Sharks (4-0-0) it seems like no one can get in their way as they picked up their fourth straight win this time over the Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-1) 5-3 at Scotiabank in Toronto on Friday night.

#2 The Sharks drew first blood in the second period scoring twice and three times in the third period that speaks to their offense and they made work of Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson who faced 30 shots stopping 26.

#3 Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson and Jonathan Dahlen all scored a goal each and two from Logan Couture. Talk about the goal contribution the Sharks have been getting from those four on Friday night in Toronto.

#4 Looking back on the Sharks game in Ottawa the Sharks Erik Karlsson a former Senator let one slip on the air while being interviewed by TSN’s Gord Miller the former Senator Karlsson was congratulated by Miller for picking up his first point against the Senators and said “that don’t mean s-word.” Karlsson said they haven’t got the points yet when he was interviewed with 20 minutes left but said it was nice to be back.

#5 The Sharks are in Boston (2-1-0) for their next game on this five game road trip the fourth of the five. The Bruins always a tough customer took it to the Buffalo Sabers (3-1-1) 4-1 on Friday night in Buffalo. Getting got defensive help from goaltender Linus Ullmark stopping 35 out of 36 shots.

Catch the Sharks podcasts with Len each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Defeat Maple Leafs 5-3; Sharks undefeated at 4-0

The San Jose Sharks Logan Couture goes for the victory skate in front of the Sharks bench after scoring a second period goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Fri Oct 22, 2021 (Canadian Press photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks won their fourth in a row, beating the Maple Leafs 5-3 in Toronto. Sharks goals came from Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson and Jonathan Dahlen and two from Logan Couture. Adin Hill made 30 saves for the win. Jason Spezza, Ondrej Kase, and John Tavares scored for Toronto. Michael Hutchinson made 26 saves in the loss.

In a scoreless first period, the teams were tied in shots at 11 each. They each had one single-shot power play.

Logan Couture got the scoring started at 2:31 of the second period. He was the beneficiary of a dogged play by Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Off the face-off, Vlasic skated down and took a shot. The shot rebounded but he was already there to collect it, carry it behind the net to try for a wrap-around. That needed a little help and Couture was there to finish it off.

Jason Spezza tied it up with a quick shot from the slot at 3:27. The Sharks stopped several shots and attempts before Spezza’s got through. Wayne Simmonds got the assist.

Timo Meier gave the Sharks another lead less than 20 seconds later. His shot from the wall zipped through before Hutchinson could even see it.

Those three goals were scored in the space of just one minute and 13 seconds.

Ondrej Kase tied the game again at 10:44. After a flurry of activity in the Maple Leafs’ zone, Kase broke away for a clear shot at Hill. A little fake before a backhand shot tricked Hill and the puck went past the prone goaltender. The Sharks looked outmatched in the face-off circle, winning just 35% of the draws.

Erik Karlsson scored a little over a minute later to give the Sharks their lead back. Karlsson took the shot from the blue line and it went by a few bodies before sneaking into the short side top corner. An assist went to Middleton, who kept the puck in after Karlsson’s first shot and then got the puck back to Karlsson for the scoring shot.

The teams were tied in shots again in the second period, this time 12-12. In face-offs, the Sharks improved a bit, to a win percentage of 47. There were no penalties in the period.

25 seconds into the third period, Logan Couture passed the puck back from the goal line to the front of the net for Jonathan Dahlen. Dahlen put the puck in the net for San Jose’s fourth of the night. Assists went to Couture and Meier.

John Tavares got one back for Toronto at 13:39. William Nylander’s shot hit Adin Hill up high and spun into the air. It landed and hit Tavares’ skate before bouncing off of Middleton and into the net. Assists went to Nylander and Jake Muzzin.

Logan Couture scored into the empty net with 40 seconds left in the period. Andrew Cogliano got the assist.

The third period was by far the Sharks’ best in the face-off circle. They won 61% of those draws for a game total of 48%. Their power play got three shots on goal and their penalty kill gave up three shots. The final shot count for the game was 33-31 Toronto.

The Sharks next play on Sunday in Boston against the Bruins at 10:00 AM PT.