Erik Karlson he’s still in the mood to score. The 32-year-old Swedish star guard for the San Jose Sharks reached 50 points (13+37) on the season and recorded two assists as the Sharks fell to the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-4 in overtime on home ice at the SAP Center in San Jose.
The Sharks smelled a win, but they busted.
– They (Flyers) were more alert than us in the third period. We tried not to give him anything during the match, but unfortunately the same happened, he said Erik Karlson to NHL.com/sv about the game, which the Sharks led 3-1 in the third period.
– Teams that win big are often good at maintaining their lead, teams that win little are not good at it. So it’s something we have to work on, figure out how to play in those situations.
Video: SJS-PHI: DeAngelo, Provorov and collaboration
Erik Karlsson needed just 37 games to reach the 50-point plateau in the 2022-23 season, and with that he takes his place right behind a trio of celebrities in NHL history. Among defensemen, only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis have reached 50 points in fewer games.
Karlsson, originally from Landsbro in Småland, is making his 14th year in the National Hockey League and fifth in the San Jose Sharks after his first nine NHL years in the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson’s 50-point total after 37 games is his best record in a Sharks jersey and promises more: if Karlsson continues to average 1.35 points per game throughout the season, he’ll end up at a superb 111 points. .
Karlsson’s previous best record with the Sharks jersey is 45 points (3+52) in 53 games in the 2018-19 season. In Ottawa, Karlsson’s career high was 82 points (16+66) in 82 games in the 2015-16 season.
Karlsson scored in all eleven games the Sharks played in December – a total of 18 points, split between two goals and 16 goals. The Swede outscores defensemen in the NHL in superior style, and his eleven point games are the longest streak by a defenseman in Sharks history.
The Sharks still have one game to play in 2022: on New Year’s Eve away against the Dallas Stars, returning at 2pm. All wins welcome: The Sharks are in a bad position, currently far from a Pacific Division (Western Conference) playoff berth.
– We are a competitive team, but we are where we are (in the standings) for a reason. What has happened now is not due to a lack of commitment or attitude; they played well and we played well and unfortunately they scored one more goal than us, said Karlsson.
– It is as it is. Now we have to be ready to play like this every night and hope to get the results.
San Jose led Philadelphia 3-1 until just under six minutes into the third period, when the Flyers began to rally from the deficit; Tony DeAngelo decided 1.10 in extra time.
– It sucks, sighed Karlsson. I thought we had a good game but they played the whole game… they pressed and when you have to defend for 20 minutes it can be difficult. It was a lesson for us that we must be able to bet forward to decide.
The defeat of Sharks and Erik Karlsson also meant the first victory in the second NHL game for the Flyers goalkeeper Samuel Erson. The 23-year-old Falun mas saved 25 of 28 shots by Sharks players — including two by Erik Karlsson — and was recorded for an 89.3 save percentage.
– The fact that we picked up that disadvantage… shows the character of the team, Samuel Ersson summed up his and Philadelphia’s efforts. It’s something we can build on in the future.
The game against the Sharks was only Ersson’s second in the NHL. The first, against the Carolina Hurricanes (5-6) on Christmas Eve, ended with five conceded on 22 shooting. Ersson was replaced by Carter Hart at the start of the second half. When Hart was injured, Ersson had to return; he compiled a combined save percentage of 83.3.
– This was a match I really needed to come back to, Ersson said. It wasn’t a perfect match, but definitely a step forward. I thought I had to show what I could; I made some really good saves and that’s what I needed; to show the team that I can help them win.
