Erik Karlsson and extensions have gone well together lately. A week ago, the Swedish defender was responsible for the overtime decision against the New York Rangers.
Last night, against Toronto, history repeated itself.
Toronto’s goal king Auston Matthews had scored the equalizer on the power play in the third period when it was Karlsson who was sent off. But the Swede would get his revenge in beautiful fashion.
Karlsson was close to Toronto’s Swedish forward William Nylander, whose pass was intercepted by Timo Meier. Karlsson saw what was going on, stepped up in attack immediately and was served a free position by Meier. Once in front of the goalkeeper Erik Källgren, he was responsible for a quick fine and then lifted the winning goal, 4–3, into the roof of the net.
Karlsson also had two assists in the match and in ten games, the 32-year-old has nine points, four goals and five assists.
Another Swede who decided an NHL event was Axel Jonsson Fjällby. With a little more than five minutes left to play against Los Angeles, he led 5–4.
The goal was Jonsson Fjällby’s first since he came to Winnipeg last fall. Winnipeg won 6–4.