Preview/Lines #13: Karlsson Could Stand Alone in Hockey History Tonight

If anything, we’re not making a big enough deal about Erik Karlsson’s scorching start.

To put it more in perspective, here are some facts and figures, all post-World War II, courtesy of Stathead and other sources:

• If Karlsson rings up his 10th goal of the season tonight, that will be the most goals for a defenseman in his first 13 team games in a season.
• Karlsson’s nine in his team’s first 12 games is already tied for the best goal-scoring start of the season with Phil Housley (1987-88) and Paul Reinhart (1984-85). Both Housley and Reinhart failed to score in their 13th games though, so Karlsson could stand alone after tonight. Denis Potvin also kicked off 1975-76 with nine in 13.
• So Karlsson’s 2022-23 is the best goalscoring start of the season for a defenseman in 35 years and tied for the best-ever in modern hockey.
• Bobby Orr’s best-ever goal-scoring start was eight goals in his first 12 1972-73 games. Paul Coffey’s was seven in 12 in 1981-82.

Let’s see if the San Jose Sharks star can keep making history tonight!

Quinn, on how hot Karlsson has been: "I don't even want to talk to him."

Emphasizes that over the last three games, Karlsson has been really good both offensively and defensively.

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 3, 2022

San Jose Sharks (3-8-1)

Meier-Hertl-Labanc
Nieto-Couture-Barabanov
Bonino-Sturm-Kunin
Lindblom-Lorentz-Gregor

Megna-Karlsson
Vlasic-Benning
Ferraro-Simek

Reimer

Florida Panthers (5-4-1)

#FlaPanthers lineup notes for tonight:

White is out tonight, Cousins comes in.

White is "minorly nicked up," per Maurice.

Kiersted coming in for Carlsson.

Bobrovsky in net.

— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) November 3, 2022

Where to Watch

The San Jose Sharks will take on the Florida Panthers at 7:30 PM PST at SAP Center. Watch it live on ESPN+. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.