The Province

‘Wild Bill’ following breakthrou­gh season with stellar playoffs

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It was far more subtle than a perfectly timed, 140-foot saucer pass just over the head of the NHL’s tallest player to send a teammate in for a picturesqu­e goal, but one spring later another Karlsson has made a playoff pass to remember.

In the second period of Monday’s late game in San Jose, William (Wild Bill) Karlsson wound up at the edge of the crease on a cycle. Jonathan Marchessau­lt whipped the puck toward him and Karlsson barely moved his hands to send a blind pass backwards and through the crease to Reilly Smith, who relayed it into the gaping side of the net.

The entire play was one fluid, beautiful work of art.

Two periods later, Karlsson fired the overtime winner past Martin Jones as the Vegas Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead over the Sharks.

Probably because of an oh-so-sudden and unexpected burst on to the scene, Karlsson never seems to get the credit he deserves. With 43 goals, he was the top scoring centre in the entire league this season. More than Evgeni Malkin and Eric Staal’s 42, Connor McDavid’s 41, Tyler Seguin’s 40, Nathan McKinnon’s 39, and John Tavares’ 37.

The 25-year old Swede — a former second round pick of the Ducks who was part of a package in a trade with Columbus for James Wisniewski and then claimed by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft — has continued his production in the playoffs. He has four goals and nine points in seven games and, with Marchessau­lt and Smith, forms one of the most exciting and dangerous lines in the post-season.

Dating back to the 2010-11 season as a teenager, Karlsson has never been anywhere close to this kind of a scorer. Now, there’s no reason to think he won’t continue to be among the league’s top snipers going forward. In the meantime, he’ll complete this breakthrou­gh campaign — for which he was paid $1 million — and then with his silky smooth hands sign a new deal before becoming a restricted free agent in July.

At that point, he may have already been fitted for a championsh­ip ring.

 ?? THE CANADIAN PRESS ??
THE CANADIAN PRESS

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