Erik Karlsson has etched his identify alongside among the NHL’s all-time best defensemen, scoring two targets for the San Jose Sharks on Monday to achieve 100 factors for the season.
Along with his two factors in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets, Karlsson grew to become simply the sixth completely different NHL defenseman to achieve 100 factors in a season, becoming a member of Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Brian Leetch, and Denis Potvin. Leetch was the final defenseman to achieve the century mark in factors, as he had 102 factors in 1991-92 for the New York Rangers.
“I’ve been very fortunate to educate some nice gamers,” coach David Quinn stated Monday after the Sharks’ 6-2 loss to the Jets, “however none better than him, I’ll inform you that.”
Karlsson scored his twenty fourth purpose of the season — and earned his 99th level — simply 20 seconds into the primary interval as he took a move from Jacob Peterson on an odd-man rush and beat Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck for a 1-0 Sharks lead.
Within the third interval on a Sharks’ energy play, Karlsson, on the 3:42 mark, took a move from Tomas Hertl and beat a screened Hellebuyck once more for his twenty fifth purpose and a hundredth level.
Whereas his teammates celebrated, with Hertl gathering the puck out of the web, Karlsson’s response on the ice was considerably muted. He did, although, get away a smile on the Sharks’ bench as he acquired extra congratulations from coaches and teammates and seemed on the scoreboard overhead.
“It’s clearly a really particular factor to do,” Karlsson stated. “It’s been a speaking level right here as of late, so it’s good to have it carried out and over with right here just a little bit early and end off these final two video games nearly as good as potential.”
Karlsson’s second purpose reduce the Jets’ result in 4-2. However Winnipeg responded with targets by Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele and handed San Jose (22-42-16) its fourth straight loss. The Sharks shut the season with video games in Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Captain Logan Couture assisted on Karlsson’s first purpose, giving him 700 factors for his NHL profession, all with the Sharks.
“Not numerous gamers who get to play on this league get to that stage,” Couture stated. “Performed with some superb hockey groups. Would have beloved to do it in a win, however we’ll be taught from this and transfer on.”
Karlsson entered Monday with 98 factors, simply bettering his earlier profession excessive of 82 set throughout the 2015-2016 season. Earlier than the Sharks confronted the Jets, Karlsson had seven factors in 4 video games this month, persevering with the torrid tempo he’s stored up all season.
EK65 REACHES 100 POINTS 🙌
What a season for Karlsson 👏 pic.twitter.com/u0N84zu81h
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 11, 2023
Karlsson had 11 factors in 11 video games in October and 40 factors in 27 video games in November and December.
Requested simply earlier than Christmas if Karlsson may sustain the outstanding tempo, Quinn answered with out equivocation.
“Completely. Zero query whether or not he can stick with it,” Quinn stated. “If he stays wholesome, he’s going to stick with it.
“He’s a particular participant. He’s the most effective defenseman within the league, and one of many high gamers within the league. This man, he modifies video games. It’s unbelievable to observe.”
Karlsson continued to place up factors at a ridiculous tempo within the new yr, with one other 40 in 27 video games from Jan. 1 to March 31.
“Bodily and mentally, I’m in a superb place in my life,” Karlsson stated. “I’ve been making an attempt to take it daily and hold the motivation going as finest as potential, regardless that it’s been robust as of late. Managed to get it carried out and I’m blissful about that.”
Contemplating his latest harm historical past, it will probably’t be understated how vital well being has been to Karlsson this season. Monday marked his eightieth recreation, a plateau he hasn’t reached since that 2015-16 season.
“It’s a terrific feeling,” Karlsson stated. “It’s a tricky accomplishment to do, to play all 82 video games yearly. Not many individuals handle to do and it’s one thing that myself and I believe all people else that performs this recreation takes numerous satisfaction in. We’ve received two extra to go and hopefully I’ll get by these as properly.”
Karlsson got here into Monday with 73 even power factors, third-most amongst all NHL gamers. Edmonton Oilers celebrity Connor McDavid had 75, serving to him to 151 factors for the season, and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon had 74.
Karlsson’s 25 targets are essentially the most in NHL historical past by a defenseman at age 32 or older. Doug Wilson in 1989-90, and Sheldon Souray in 2008-09 each had 23. It additionally represents essentially the most targets scored in a season by a Swedish-born defenseman. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has 23 targets for the Arizona Coyotes in 2014-15.
A defenseman has scored 100 factors in a season 14 instances in NHL historical past.
Orr reached 100 factors six instances, along with his 139 factors in 1970-71 nonetheless a single-season NHL document for a defenseman. Coffey did it 5 instances in seven seasons between 1983-84 to 1989-90, with MacInnis, Leetch, and Potvin every doing it as soon as in 1990-91, 1991-92, and 1978-79, respectively.
Gamers to achieve 100 factors already this season are McDavid and Oilers teammates Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, MacKinnon, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, Boston’s David Pastrnak, and Dallas’ Jason Robertson.
Karlsson improved to 98 factors on the season final Thursday within the Sharks’ 6-2 loss to the Avalanche.
Karlsson scored an even-strength purpose on the 15:43 mark of the primary interval, poking a free puck that was close to the crease by Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev’s legs for his twenty third purpose of the season. He later assisted on Steven Lorentz’s even-strength purpose on the 8:41 mark.
On the play, after Lorentz received a faceoff in Colorado’s zone, Karlsson took management of the puck, prevented a test as he darted towards the purpose line, then doubled again towards the blue line and skated towards the center of the ice. Karlsson then discovered Lorentz close to the facet of the Avalanche internet with a tape-to-tape move that the Sharks’ centerman fired right into a near-empty internet with Georgiev out of place.
Karlsson has now scored no less than two factors in a recreation 29 instances this season.