NHLPA.com Player of the Week Erik Karlsson paced all defencemen in assists and points, as the Ottawa Senators’ captain helped guide his club to a sweep of their three-game road trip.
The Swedish defenceman started his week by earning second star of the game honours with two assists in a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins at Canadian Tire Centre Monday. Tuesday's action was the first of three on the road. Senators teammate Craig Anderson made 35 saves, while Karlsson played over 24 minutes, to defeat the Dallas Stars 5-2.
Karlsson picked up a pair of goals in Thursday's 3-2 victory in Arizona, first sending the game into overtime before netting the game-winner just forty seconds into the extra frame for a 3-2 win against the Coyotes. His two goals were also moved him into a tie for first in overall scoring for the week among league blue liners.
Karlsson picked up his final point of the week with an assist on new teammate Alex Burrows' second period power-play goal in a 4-2 win in Colorado against the Avalanche, which also saw goalie Craig Anderson set a new Senators' franchise record with his 147th win.
While leading the Senators in ice time by averaging more than 25 minutes over the week's four games, Karlsson also tallied four assists to bring his season total to 49, leading all NHL defencemen in the category.
The 2012 and 2015 Norris Trophy winner’s six points over the week brought his season total to 62 - just eight points behind Brent Burns as the league’s top point-getter at the position.
He also registered 11 blocked shots - a testament to Karlsson’s defensive prowess as he continues to lead the league in blocked shots with 181.
While Karlsson appears to be completely fearless on the ice, he does have one, totally understandable, fear - which was discovered recently by friends Jesper Parnevik and Daniel Alfredsson during a round of golf at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound.
🐊 Out for a relaxing round at Medalist Golf Club, @ErikKarlsson65 got quite the scare from one of it's residents: https://t.co/gDpIO1QKdH pic.twitter.com/2n6IiIPXsS
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) February 27, 2017
All jokes aside, Karlsson may just have a little extra pep in his step from having a great season off the ice as well. Back in November, he proposed to his girlfriend Melinda Currey in a way that would win over any pizza lover.
Well, @ErikKarlsson65 sure knows the way to a woman’s heart🍕– Congratulations on your engagement! | @Senators pic.twitter.com/VBznmRD0ZA
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) November 20, 2016
For a complete listing of the 2016-17 NHLPA.com Players of the Week, click here.
