AHL Coming to California
(Originally published at Inside Hockey)
The American Hockey League has heard the call: “go west, young league, go west.” Beginning next season, the AHL will move five teams into California. This AHLien invasion will put an end to the Worcester Shuttle, a nickname for flying Sharks players back and forth cross-country for mid-season call-ups. The Sharks were not the only team struggling under a system that had the vast majority of AHL teams located on the east coast. For west coast hockey fans, and California fans in particular, it is good news. For some AHL fans, it is a sad day. (more…)
2015 NHL All Star Weekend Recap
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
Team Black won the Skills Competition, Team White won an All Star Game marked by more goals than ever and two plus hat tricks. Ryan Johansen was the MVP, Alex Ovechkin got a car (but not the one he asked for), the first ever All Star Draft trade took place. It was a busy weekend in Columbus Ohio. (more…)
Sharks Catch Flames But Can’t Beat Them
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
SAN JOSE-After a very poor first period, the San Jose Sharks rallied but still lost 4-3 to the Calgary Flames Saturday. The game winner was scored by Sean Monahan just 24 seconds into overtime. Other Flames goals were scored by Dennis Wideman, Joe Colborne and Jiri Hudler. Sharks goals were scored by Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson. Joni Ortio made 19 saves on 22 shots for the win, while Antti Niemi made 19 saves on 23 shots for the Sharks. (more…)
Better Effort Not Enough As Sharks Lose 3-1 to Rangers
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
SAN JOSE– The New York Rangers defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Saturday. New York goals were scored by Martin St. Louis and Chris Kreider in the first period, and Rick Nash in the third. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 of 31 shots for the win. The win completed a sweep of the California NHL teams, as the Rangers beat the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings in back to back games earlier this week.
Joe Thornton returned to the Sharks lineup Saturday in time to face his old teammate Dan Boyle.It was Boyle’s first time playing against the Sharks as a Ranger, since he was out with an injury when the teams first met this season. In Saturday’s game, Boyle had one shot on goal for the Rangers, one hit and one blocked shot in 18:58 of playing time. (more…)
Missing Sharks Don’t Explain 7-2 Loss to Blues
(Originally published at Sports Radio Service)
SAN JOSE– It was Joe Pavelski’s 600th NHL game. As an indicator of how the San Jose Sharks play without their not captain Joe Thornton, Saturday’s 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues was something of a worst possible scenario.Thornton did not seem to the be only Shark missing, and no one had a sound explanation afterwards.
The game start was eerily similar to the last time these teams played, on December 20th. The Blues came out fast and furious, outshooting the Sharks badly in the first ten minutes. From there the two games diverged sharply. Instead of a turn around for the Sharks, things went from bad to worse as the game wore on. (more…)
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