Karlsson has 3 points in Sharks win against Capitals

WASHINGTON -- Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists, and the San Jose Sharks defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 at Capital One Arena on Sunday.

Karlsson has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past four games. He also has 55 assists this season, tying him with Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers for second in the NHL, behind Nikita Kucherov (57) of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"This is a legit Norris Trophy winner. There's not a better defenseman in the League right now," Sharks coach David Quinn said. "I know the points get a lot attention as they should, but all these other things you need a defenseman to do for the most part he's done throughout the season."
Alexander Barabanov and Tomas Hertl each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (17-26-11), who completed a stretch of eight straight road games (3-3-2).
"We're obviously happy with the way that we're ending this road trip," Karlsson said. "This is usually the hardest game to play for any road team when you've been gone for a long time. Ready to go back home."

Kaapo Kahkonen allowed one goal on 13 shots before leaving the game at 16:56 of the second period following a collision with Evgeny Kuznetsov. Aaron Dell, who was called up from the San Jose of the American Hockey League on Saturday due to James Reimer's illness, made eight saves in relief in his first NHL game since Dec. 4.
"Jumped on a plane and got here kind of late last night," Dell said. "Early game, kind of right back to the rink right away. Haven't really had time to think about it a whole lot, actually. Just been kind of go, go go. Kind of a crazy turn of events."
Kuznetsov scored for the Capitals (28-21-6), who were coming off a 2-1 win at the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves.
"They were better than us in a lot of different areas," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "We were reaching. We weren't working and turned the puck over too many times. We just weren't good enough to win a game."

Evgeny Svechnikov gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 2:54 of the first period, scoring short side from the left face-off circle on a rush after Washington forward Lars Eller turned the puck over in the neutral zone.
"I think the way the game started for myself, that first goal, I think you know, that didn't set the team up, didn't put them in a good spot," Lindgren said. "Obviously, that's one [save] I want to have, and once you're down 1-0, you're trying to battle back."
Barabanov made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 9:04 of the second period. Karlsson's deflection of Hertl's shot from the point was blocked in front by Washington's Trevor van Riemsdyk, but Barabanov knocked the loose puck past Lindgren for his third goal in four games.
Kuznetsov pulled Washington to within 2-1 at 16:56. He lost the puck, regained it at the bottom of the right circle, and scored as he skated across the crease.
It was after the shot that Kuznetsov collided with Kahkonen.
"I thought that goal was gonna give us momentum, but unfortunately it wasn't so," Kuznetsov said. "Tough loss, and I believe that this game, this result, will make us better for sure."

Karlsson made it 3-1 at 12:55 of the third period when his shot from along the right boards went in over Lindgren's right shoulder.
"I hit [Washington forward Marcus] Johansson's stick and it took a little bit of a rainbow route," Karlsson said. "You just try and hit the net and good things happen, right?"
Hertl scored into an empty net at 17:49 for the 4-1 final.
NOTES: Quinn said Kahkonen had an upper-body issue and "looks fine right now." … Karlsson became the third active defenseman to have eight three-point games in a single season, joining Roman Josi (12 games in 2021-22 for the Nashville Predators) and Mark Giordano (eight games in 2018-19 for the Calgary Flames). … Washington is 1-5-1 in the second of back to backs. … The Capitals are 18-13-2 on Super Bowl Sunday and have lost six straight since a 5-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings in 2017.