Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Picks up power-play helper
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Karlsson posted a power-play assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.
Karlsson has a helper in each of the last two games, and a total of seven assists across his last seven outings. The defenseman helped out on Michael Bunting's game-winning goal in the third period. Karlsson is up to 18 points (seven on the power play) with 69 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and a minus-10 rating over 29 outings. The offense is good enough for a blueliner, so fantasy managers can overlook the less impressive parts of his game.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Gathers assist in loss
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Karlsson recorded an assist, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rangers.
Karlsson had gone two games without a point prior to Friday. He has seven assists over his last nine outings for a solid run of production. For the season, the defenseman has 17 points (six on the power play), 66 shots on net, 36 blocked shots and a minus-9 rating over 28 appearances.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Registers helper in win
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Karlsson provided an assist, fired three shots on goal and went plus-2 in Friday's 2-1 win over the Bruins.
Karlsson has five helpers over his last three games. This was also the first time he finished with a positive plus-minus rating since Nov. 5, though he was even in five of 10 games in that span. The defenseman has provided decent offense with 16 points and 62 shots on net over 25 appearances, but a minus-11 rating is a concern. He's also added six power-play points and 29 blocked shots in a top-four role.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Three apples Wednesday
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Karlsson accounted for three assists, two shots on goal and three blocked shots in 19:46 of ice time Wednesday in a 5-4 win over Vancouver.
All three of Karlsson's helpers were of the secondary variety, and one came on the man advantage. After registering just one point between Nov. 11-22 over six appearances, Karlsson has collected four total assists in back-to-back games. The Swedish blueliner is third on the team in points, and he's up to two goals, 13 assists and a minus-13 rating through 24 contests.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Sets up Crosby's milestone marker
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Karlsson produced an assist, three shots on goal and two hits in Saturday's 6-1 loss to Utah.
Karlsson set up Sidney Crosby's 600th NHL goal. It's been a shaky month on offense for Karlsson, who has five points and a minus-7 rating across 11 contests in November amid the Penguins' well-documented struggles. The 34-year-old blueliner is at 12 points, 57 shots on net, 25 blocked shots and a minus-13 rating through 23 outings overall. He remains in a top-four role, and the offense alone is decent, but Karlsson's fantasy value depends on which categories you play.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: One of each in win
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Karlsson scored a goal on five shots, dished an assist, added two PIM and logged two hits in Friday's 4-2 win over the Capitals.
Karlsson picked up his second multi-point effort of the season. He did it in the first period, scoring the opening goal 3:11 into the game before setting up a Michael Bunting tally a few minutes later. Karlsson was indirectly called out by head coach Mike Sullivan after Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes, and it appears the message was received. The 34-year-old defenseman has 10 points through 16 contests, but he's also sporting a minus-7 rating with 42 shots on net, 17 blocked shots and six hits.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Slides helper on power play
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Karlsson had a power-play assist, four shots on net and three blocks in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Canadiens.
Karlsson dished the secondary helper on Sidney Crosby's tally in the second period. It was the second consecutive game with an assist for Karlsson, who has one goal, seven assists and 15 blocks through 13 appearances.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Picks up helper
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Karlsson registered an assist in a 2-1 win over Anaheim on Thursday.
Karlsson was able to bring a three-game pointless streak to an end with his sixth helper of the season. While the 34-year-old blueliner has been fairly productive offensively with seven points in 12 games, he has struggled on the defensive side of the puck and currently sits at minus-6 while also registering the second most giveaways (24) in the league behind only Dougie Hamilton (26).
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Helps out on power play
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Karlsson logged a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Flames.
Karlsson has earned a helper in four of the last five games, and two of those assists have come on the power play. The 34-year-old defenseman has produced strong offense so far with six points over eight contests, though he also has a minus-4 rating. Karlsson's also notched 15 shots on net and 10 blocked shots, though fantasy managers will primarily count on him for offense.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Dishes helper in loss
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Karlsson distributed an assist in Sunday's 6-3 loss against the Jets.
Karlsson picked up a primary helper on Lars Eller's second-period marker. Karlsson has garnered one goal, four assists, 13 shots, nine blocks, five takeaways and a minus-3 rating over seven games. The 34-year-old's five points lead Pittsburgh's blueliners, and his 22:26 of ice time per game trails only Kris Letang (22:51). Karlsson will look to net his first even-strength goal of the season against Calgary on Tuesday.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Slides assist in win
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Karlsson had an assist and three shots on net in Monday's 6-3 win over the Canadiens.
Karlsson picked up a secondary assist on Kevin Hayes' game-winning tally. The assist was the second of the season for Karlsson, who also has a goal through the first four games.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Two-point effort Thursday
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Karlsson scored a power-play goal on two shots, added an assist, blocked two shots and went plus-2 in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Red Wings.
Karlsson and the rest of the Penguins were held off the scoresheet versus the Rangers on Wednesday, but the star defenseman was able to bounce back in the second game of the year. The 34-year-old was limited to 56 points in 82 appearances last season, and his 99 blocked shots were his most in six years. Karlsson's spot on the top power-play unit will give him a safe floor on offense as long as he can stay healthy.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Good to go for Opening Night
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Karlsson (upper body) said that he's good to go for Wednesday's Opening Night matchup against the Rangers, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Karlsson dealt with an upper-body injury throughout training camp, but the team had sustained optimism that he'd be available for Opening Night. The 34-year-old confirmed after the Penguins' morning skate that he'll be able to suit up against the Rangers. During his first season in Pittsburgh last year, Karlsson logged 11 goals and 56 points, including 17 on the power play, while averaging 24:16 of ice time.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Joining teammates at practice
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Karlsson (upper body) took the ice in a regular sweater with the main group Friday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Karlsson is unlikely to jump right back into action against the Jackets on Friday in the Penguins' preseason finale. Instead, the blueliner looks on track to be ready to suit up for Opening Night versus the Rangers. Still, it's good news for the Swede, who has thus far missed the entirety of training camp due to his upper-body issue. Once given the all-clear, Karlsson figures to eat a ton of minutes on Pittsburgh's blue line and should step into a spot on the No. 1 power-play unit -- though Kris Letang will likely also be in contention for that role.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Cleared for non-contact practice
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Karlsson (upper body) will join the Penguins' non-game group in a non-contact jersey Thursday, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
At this point, Karlsson shouldn't be expected to play versus Columbus on Friday either, which means he will have missed the entirety of the preseason. In fact, the veteran blueliner could be in danger of missing regular-season action with the Penguins kicking off the 2024-25 campaign versus the Rangers on Wednesday. If Karlsson misses any time, Kris Letang will likely rejoin the top power-play unit.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Back skating Tuesday
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Karlsson (upper body) took a solo twirl on the ice Tuesday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Karlsson had been held off the ice since Thursday but seems to be making strides in his recovery. The Pens have just three more preseason opportunities for the 34-year-old blueliner to get back into the lineup, though he is expected back for Opening Night versus the Rangers on Oct. 9 either way. If Karlsson does miss any time, Kris Letang will move into the No. 1 power-play unit while Sebastian Aho could make the 23-man roster.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Expected back for Opening Night
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Karlsson (upper body) continues to be classified as day-to-day but should be available for Opening Night against the Rangers on Oct. 9 after coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Thursday, "I'm confident that he is going to make progress here. Right now, his status is day-to-day... Our team is working with him here, and I am confident that they will have success."
Karlsson has yet to get onto the ice during training camp due to his lingering upper-body issue. The fact that Sullivan used the term confident multiple times actually could be more concerning for fantasy players, as it still leaves things up in the air. If Karlsson were to miss any game action, it would likely fall to Kris Letang to suit up with the No. 1 power-play unit while Sebastian Aho could make the Opening Night roster.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Skates on his own Saturday
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Karlsson (upper body) skated on his own before practice Saturday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Karlsson didn't skate when the Penguins opened training camp Wednesday, so he is trending in the right direction. He could be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 9 versus the Rangers. Karlsson had 56 points in 82 games during his first season with the Penguins in 2023-24. The 34-year-old defender had a career-high 101 points in 2022-23 for San Jose and will likely be around the 70-point mark this campaign if he can remain healthy.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Day-to-day to open camp
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Karlsson was labeled day-to-day with an upper-body injury on the first day of Penguins' training camp Wednesday, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Karlsson was no doubt hoping for a bounce-back year after managing just 56 points last season, well off his Norris Trophy pace the year prior in which he racked up 101 points. The addition of coach David Quinn is expected to unlock Karlsson's potential, though that's far from guaranteed. In regard to his injury, the fact that the team classified it as day-to-day should be an indication that Karlsson will be ready for Opening Night against the Rangers on Oct. 9 even if he does miss some preseason action.
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Penguins' Erik Karlsson: Snags helper against Isles
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Karlsson registered an assist in the season finale versus the Islanders on Wednesday.
Karlsson ended the 2023-24 season on a high note with points in seven of his last eight outings for a combined three goals and seven assists over that stretch. Overall, it was a down season for the blueliner after he posted a career-high 101 points last season en route to being awarded the Norris Trophy. Still, Karlsson got over the 50-point threshold for just the second time in his last six seasons this campaign.
