San Jose Sharks’ Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates after his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Jacob Peterson (24) and Logan Couture (39) during third-period in Winnipeg on Mon Apr 10, 2023 (AP news photo)

by Matthew Harrington

The San Jose Sharks fell to the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 Monday night in Manitoba, but the game will still go down in history. Erik Karlsson scored twice, eclipsing 100 points, the first 100 point season by a defenseman since Brian Leetch during the 1991-92 season.

When Karlsson’s point shot on the power play beat Connor Hellebuyck 3:42 into the 3rd period (as he has many other goalies this year) the Swede became the first European defenseman to pass the century mark. He has 25 goals and 75 assists, both career highs.

It goes without saying he’s the first Shark to have a 100 point season. His first goal also set a bit of Franchise history. Point 99 on a backdoor goal just 20 seconds into play was also the 2,000 franchise goal by a d-man. Logan Couture assisted for his 700th career point, all with San Jose, and Jacob Peterson had his seventh point in as many games.

While Karlsson has the 15th 100-point season by a defenseman, he’s the sixth defenseman to accomplish the feat. Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey combined to complete the feat 11 times while Al MacInnis, Dennis Potvin and Leetch accomplished the feat just once. All are hall of gamers, though MacInnis and Coffey did not win the Norris Trophy for best defenseman in at least one of their 100 point seasons.

The question will be whether Karlsson takes home his third Norris this year or if results like Monday’s push him down the line for a player like Adam Fox, Josh Morrissey or Charlie McAvoy (read: playoff bound and not 29th overall). Karlsson gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead but Pierre-Luc Dubois, Adam Lowry, Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton all scored to put San Jose down 4-1.

Karlsson scored again for the 100 milestone the aforementioned Morrissey scored his 16th of the year and Mark Schieffle scored his 44th on the power play. The Jets desperately needed the win to hold on to the last Wild Card spot with Calgary (90 points) and Nashville (88 points with games in hand) on their trail. Hellebuyck made 19 saves while the Jets fired 33 shots on James Reimer.

Two games remain on the Sharks schedule, one against playoff hopeful Calgary Wednesday night and the other against the lock Edmonton Oilers Thursday night. Should Karlsson score at a two-point-per-game clip he’d move into sole possession of the tenth best season by a defenseman, though Paul Coffey at nine (113 points) is out of reach. But perhaps a piece of hardware is in reach for EK65.