Erik Karlsson didn't want too many pats on the back for his overtime-winner against the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
If you ask him, all he did was hop over the boards and take the only option in front of him.
"I just jumped on the ice," he said. "I had an opportunity and didn't have many other options. I think usually I look for pass first, but couldn't see anything out there, so decided to shoot."
He hit his target. But he made sure to give Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin props, too.
"Tanger made a great change," Karlsson said. "Geno drove down, and two guys followed him."
Those guys were Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev, with Alex Pietrangelo on defense already defending Malkin. With all three Golden Knights focused on Malkin, he had ample space for a drop-pass back to Karlsson as he got off the bench:
And talk about players performing in their element:
• Karlsson's overtime goal was the 12th of his career. It also brought his 40th such point, most by a defenseman in NHL history and seventh-most among all players.
• Malkin's 45 overtime points are second-most in NHL history, behind only Sidney Crosby’s 47.
• Letang’s 36 overtime points are second-most by a defenseman in NHL history and 10th-most among all players.
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THE ASYLUM
Drive to the Net: Karlsson's OT rip
Erik Karlsson didn't want too many pats on the back for his overtime-winner against the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
If you ask him, all he did was hop over the boards and take the only option in front of him.
"I just jumped on the ice," he said. "I had an opportunity and didn't have many other options. I think usually I look for pass first, but couldn't see anything out there, so decided to shoot."
He hit his target. But he made sure to give Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin props, too.
"Tanger made a great change," Karlsson said. "Geno drove down, and two guys followed him."
Those guys were Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev, with Alex Pietrangelo on defense already defending Malkin. With all three Golden Knights focused on Malkin, he had ample space for a drop-pass back to Karlsson as he got off the bench:
And talk about players performing in their element:
• Karlsson's overtime goal was the 12th of his career. It also brought his 40th such point, most by a defenseman in NHL history and seventh-most among all players.
• Malkin's 45 overtime points are second-most in NHL history, behind only Sidney Crosby’s 47.
• Letang’s 36 overtime points are second-most by a defenseman in NHL history and 10th-most among all players.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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