CHARGERS VS. COLTS: WHO HAS THE EDGE?
CHARGERS (8-6) at COLTS (4-9-1)
When: Today, 5:15 p.m.
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
TV/radio: Ch. 7, ESPN; 98.7 FM; 105.5 FM/94.3 FM (Spanish)
Line: Chargers by 4 1/2
Notable injury designations: Chargers: CB Kemon Hall out, hamstring. Colts: TE Kylen Granson out, ankle, CB Kenny Moore II out, ankle.
What's at stake: The Chargers need a victory to clinch a playoff spot. They won two in a row over teams that were seemingly destined for the playoffs, defeating the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans in their final two games against teams with winning records. Those happen to be the Chargers' only victories this season over teams with winning records. The Chargers complete the regular season with games against the Rams (4-10 going into Week 16) and the Denver Broncos (4-10 going into Week 16). A victory over the Colts would seem to be a mortal lock given Indianapolis' four-game losing streak and losses in seven of the past eight.
Who's better: On paper, this game would appear to be a mismatch, and maybe on the field, too. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown for 300yards or more in three consecutive games, leading the Chargers on a game-preserving late drive against the Dolphins two weeks ago and a game-winning drive in the final 48 seconds last week against the Titans. The Colts will be starting their third quarterback of the season. Veteran Nick Foles has taken a grand total of two snaps this season and has made only one start in the past two years. Matchup to watch: Has the Chargers' defense actually turned a corner? Or did it simply run into two teams slogging through the final weeks of the regular season? The Chargers limited Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to 10for 28passing in a 23-17victory. They also slowed Tennessee running back Derrick Henry, the NFL's second-leading rusher, holding him to 104 yards in a 1714 win. The challenge this week for the Chargers will be to contend with Foles and the Colts, a man and a team with a great deal to play for after Indianapolis squandered a 33-point halftime lead en route to a 39-36 loss last week to the Minnesota Vikings.
Chargers win if: A victory for the Chargers isn't mandatory if they hope to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2018season, but it certainly will be thought of that way. The Chargers talked a good game in the days leading up to the game, vowing not to underestimate the reeling Colts. This could be a mental game as much as
(or more than) a physical one. Herbert has been superb now that he has both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams healthy and back on the field as his top targets. The defense has improved greatly in the past two games, and momentum should not be overlooked. If the Chargers put it all together for a third consecutive game, then they should have a three-game winning streak going into their Jan. 1 game against the Rams.
Fantasy sleeper: Chargers running back Austin Ekeler wasn't selected for the Pro Bowl despite the fact that he was tied for the NFL lead with Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams with 14 touchdowns going into Week 16, including nine rushing scores. He also has caught a career-high 95 passes, topping his previous best of 92 set in 2019. LaDainian Tomlinson holds the Chargers' record with 100 catches by a running back in 2003. Christian McCaffrey, then of the Carolina Panthers, set the league record of 116 receptions by a running back in 2019.
Prediction: The Chargers' back-to-back victories over Miami and Tennessee eased their burden, but they're still in must-win mode for the remainder of the regular season. It would be difficult to imagine them turning in a clunker against the Colts. But the Colts might have something to prove to themselves and to the league after blowing last week's game against the Vikings in spectacular fashion. Chargers 28, Colts 17.
— Elliott Teaford
Erik Karlsson is on pace to obliterate the San Jose Sharks team record for most points in a season by a defenseman.
There's also a chance that Karlsson can become the first blueliner in over 30 years to finish a year with over 100 points, and become only the ninth player to win the Norris Trophy three times as the NHL's best defenseman.
Just one question.
Can he, at 32 years old, keep this going?
To Sharks coach David Quinn, the answer is obvious, with one caveat.
“Absolutely. Zero question whether he can keep it up,” Quinn said. “If he stays healthy, he's going to keep it up.
“He's a special player. He's the best defenseman in the league, and one of the top players in the league, not just defensemen. This guy, he changes games. He changes games. It's unbelievable to watch.”
Karlsson had a goal and three assists Thursday for his third four-point night of the season as he led the Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center.
Karlsson scored 44 seconds into the first period, one-timing a nifty crossice saucer pass from Jaycob Megna past Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson for his 13th goal of the season.
Karlsson, though, saved his best for later.
In the second period, after assisting on goals by Noah Gregor and Timo Meier, Karlsson took a pass from Meier and immediately zipped the puck over to Oskar Lindblom, who tapped it past Gustavsson to give the Sharks a 4-1 lead.
The goals by Meier and Lindblom were huge moments for the Sharks (1118-6), who snapped a threegame losing streak.
With the Sharks leading by one, Wild forward Mason Shaw was given a fiveminute major and a game misconduct at the 12:14 mark of the second period for kneeing San Jose's Evgeny Svechnikov. The two ensuing Sharks goals helped provide a safe cushion against a Minnesota team that came into Thursday on a six-game win streak.
Can anyone be surprised by the plays Karlsson is making right now?
“You'd say no,” Megna said, “but then there are nights where he does something and you're like, `Where did that come from?' I'd like to think at this point he doesn't have any more tricks up his sleeve, but you never know on any given night.
“He's so talented and always seems to make the play that a lot of guys can't even see.”
Karlsson, prior to Friday's games, now leads all NHL defensemen in goals and points (46). He also has a nine-game point streak, matching his career-high from the 2015-16 season.
Brent Burns owns the Sharks' record for most points in a season when he had 76 in 2016-17 when he won his Norris. The last
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Boston Toronto Tampa Bay Detroit Buffalo Florida Montreal Ottawa
Carolina
New Jersey Pittsburgh N.Y. Rangers Washington N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia Columbus
GP W
33 34 32 32 32 35 34 33 34 34 33 35 36 35 35 33
Sunday's results
Today's games
Tuesday's games
27 21 20 14 16 15 15 14
GP W
22 22 19 19 19 19 11 10
No games scheduled
No games scheduled
L OT Pts GF GA
4 7 11 11 14 16 16 16
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
6 10 9 11 13 14 17 21 2 6 1 7 2 4 3 3 6 2 5 5 4 2 7 2 56 130 74 48 111 82 41 115 97 35 98 105 34 127 109 34 114 120 33 95 118 31 100 106
L OT Pts GF GA
50 106 90 46 115 87 43 114 95 43 116 96 42 111 102 40 112 98 29 90 119 22 89 135
Boston at Ottawa, 4 p.m.
Chicago at Carolina, 4 p.m. Washington at N.Y. Rangers, 4 p.m. Buffalo at Columbus, 4:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders, 4:30 p.m. Dallas at Nashville, 5 p.m.
Minnesota at Winnipeg, 5 p.m.
San Jose's Erik Karlsson could become the first defenseman to score 100 points in more than 30years.
blueliner to have more than 100 points in a season was Brian Leetch in 1991-1992, when he had 102, including 80 assists, in 80 games.
Karlsson's personal best for points in a season is 82, set in 2015-16.
Asked if feels he can keep up this breakneck pace, Karlsson said, “You've got to (play the games) first. I've been feeling good for quite some time now and, hopefully, that continues after the Christmas break. We're playing (Vancouver) on Tuesday and that's all I'll be really thinking about, and whatever happens, happens.
“Go day by day and I'm excited to enjoy a little bit of a Christmas break with my family.”
A third Norris Trophy for Karlsson certainly isn't out of the question, even though it appears the Sharks will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Some members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association, the group that votes on the Norris Trophy, might be skittish about casting a ballot for a player that's on a non-playoff team. But that potential obstacle didn't come into play in 2021 when the New York Rangers' Adam Fox won the Norris even though his team, coached by Quinn, didn't make the playoffs.
Fox had 47 points in 55 games in the COVID19-shortened season of 2020-2021 and averaged close to 25 minutes of ice time per game. He was also the Rangers' leading penalty killer, ranked third in the NHL in takeaways (38), and was tied for 16th in plus/minus rating (+19).
Karlsson hasn't been used much on the penalty kill this season, as he's sixth among Sharks defensemen in average shorthanded time on ice (:17 per game). His plus/minus, too, won't be anywhere near the league lead by the time the season ends.
Nevertheless, his offensive wizardry might be enough to give him the Norris for the first time since 2015, or at least make him a finalist for the fifth time.
If you ask Quinn, there's no question.
“He's unbelievable. You watch that guy out there, he's playing a video game,” Quinn said. “It's really amazing to watch him when he's on his game.
“He's had a hell of a year for us and I've mentioned this plenty of times, not only on the ice but off the ice. He's really been everything you could want from a coaching standpoint. He's special. It's not a mystery why he's won two Norris trophies and I could see more Norris trophies coming his way.”
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL DIVISION
Dallas Winnipeg Colorado Minnesota St. Louis Nashville Arizona Chicago
PACIFIC DIVISION
Vegas Kings Seattle Calgary Edmonton Vancouver San Jose Ducks
GP W
35 20 34 21 32 19 33 19 34 16 32 14 32 11 32 8
GP W
36 24 37 19 32 18 35 16 35 18 33 15 35 11 35 9
Toronto at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, 6 p.m. Edmonton at Calgary, 6 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Vegas at Kings, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday's games
L OT Pts GF GA
9 12 11 12 16 13 16 20 6 46 125 99 1 43 111 88 2 40 96 84 2 40 106 95 2 34 105 124 5 33 82 98 5 27 87 117 4 20 75 122
L OT Pts GF GA
11 12 10 12 15 15 18 22 1 49 122 100 6 44 121 128 4 40 113 104 7 39 110 109 2 38 126 122 3 33 114 129 6 28 108 129 4 22 83 146
Montreal at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. Boston at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Detroit at Pittsburgh, 4:30 p.m. Calgary at Seattle, 7 p.m. Vegas at Ducks, 7 p.m.