Erik Karlsson had two assists and tied his personal NHL scoring record.
But the Swedish star is also heavily cut for a sequence during the match.
“Outright embarrassing,” writes one supporter.
Erik Karlsson is having by far the best season of his NHL career. After a few years where he was unrecognizable, he now completely dominates the back side of the San Jose Sharks, and he is the favorite to win the Norris Trophy, as the league’s best back, later this year.
Sawn for the pictures
Erik Karlsson has previously, when he excelled most in the Ottawa Senators, scored 82 points in one and the same NHL season. He is already up to that number now, after only 64 games. Karlsson accounted for two assist points in last night’s 3-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets, and thus touched his personal record.
But it’s not just tributes that pour in for Erik Karlsson after the night’s new performance. A sequence of the Swede from the match has been widely spread on social media, and there are not many positive words about him for what is happening. It was during a power play for the Sharks in the middle of the second period that the puck went out of the offensive zone. Erik Karlsson went to get it back in his own zone, but hardly went at all.
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“It’s downright embarrassing”
Erik Karlsson didn’t move his skates at all, and his slow skating — or lackadaisical attitude — led to a clean sweep for the Jets. Erik Karlsson never had time to stop his opponent, and had it not been for a completely magical goalkeeper save, where James Reimer saved with a classic scorpion, the Jets would have gone up to a 2-1 lead. But Erik Karlsson was thus saved by his goalkeeper against further sawing and taunts.
On social media, Erik Karlsson is heavily criticized – and everyone agrees that it is not good enough from a player who is supposed to be the world’s best defender.
“It’s downright embarrassing,” writes one supporter.
“How can he run out of gas? It’s 50 seconds into a power play, halfway into the second period. Dude looks like he played for three straight minutes in the seventh overtime,” writes another.
“It’s unbelievable that you can win an award as the best defender without ever playing a defensive game,” writes the third.
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