Erik Karlsson has two points in Sharks’ loss to Colorado Avalanche

SAN JOSE – Erik Karlsson has moved further up the NHL’s all-time single-season scoring list for a defenseman and will be within striking distance of 100 points for the year in two days when the San Jose Sharks play their final home game of the season.

Karlsson had a goal and a highlight assist in the Sharks’ 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center on Thursday, giving him 98 points, a mark reached only 15 other times by a defenseman in the 105- year history of the NHL.

Karlsson can become just the sixth different defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 points in a season on Saturday when the Sharks host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

Karlsson scored an equalizing goal at 3:43 p.m. of the first period, jabbing a loose puck located near the crease through the legs of Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to give the Sharks a 1–0 lead. to give. After defending Stanley Cup champion Avalanche scored four straight to take a three-goal lead, Karlsson then assisted on Steven Lorentz’s equally strong goal at 8:41.

During the game, after Lorentz won a faceoff in the Colorado zone, Karlsson took control of the puck, avoided a check as he shot to the goal line, then doubled back to the blue line and skated to the center of the field. ice. He then found Lorentz on the side of the avalanche net with a tape-to-tape pass that shot the Sharks’ centerman into a nearly empty net with Georgiev out of position.

Lorentz scores on a pass from Karlsson 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VgzUrERiCX

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 7, 2023

The goal was Lorentz’s ninth of the season, marking a new single-season career high after scoring eight for the Carolina Hurricanes the previous season.

The assist marked Karlsson’s 53rd point at home this season, the second-highest total in Sharks history. Joe Thornton had 65 points in 41 home games in 2006-07.