Photo: Twitter
Erik Karlsson is back.
After a fantastic start to the season, he showed off his old ways last night.
He settled the meeting with Toronto – with a delicious solo goal.
Erik Karlsson has been mocked and laughed at in the NHL in recent years. He signed a lucrative monster contract with the San Jose Sharks after dominating year after year with the Ottawa Senators, but it hasn’t exactly turned out well. The Sharks have underperformed and barely made the playoffs, and Erik Karlsson hasn’t come up to the level we’re used to.
Back in old form
However, the Swede has been extremely injury-prone at the same time, and had difficulty getting continuity in his game. But ahead of this season, he has, for the first time in a long time, been completely injury-free, and hopes thus grew. And a few games into this year’s season, no one can say he’s a disappointment. And last night he really showed that he is back in the olden days.
The meeting between the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs went into overtime after ending 3-3. Erik Karlsson accounted for two assists in the second period, and would at least have a key role in the decision. In overtime, when the teams played three-on-three, Karlsson grabbed a puck for himself after a wrong pass from a Toronto player, and then no one followed.
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Incredible goal
Karlsson showed tremendous skating skill when he skated away from a Toronto player John Tavares, and free against the goalie, he showed tremendous composure. Karlsson stopped, tricked the goalkeeper in one direction, before flicking the puck into the roof of the net with the other. The goal has received enormous attention in North America, and everyone agrees that it is one of the absolute best looking goals of the year.
Erik Karlsson has now been recorded for nine points nine points in ten games from his back position, and in the NHL the fans are now confirming: The old Erik Karlsson is back.
“He is finally injury-free and whole. I love to see it!”, writes one.
“I’m so hell bent on seeing Erik Karlsson resurrected. Holy shit, he’s back,” writes another.
“Erik Karlsson is still one of the league’s best skaters. Incredible to see,” writes a third.
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