Karlsson family has good news

SAN JOSE » Erik Karlsson had a good reason for missing the Sharks’ season opener against the Vegas Golden Knights. Perhaps the best reason.

Karlsson announced via his Instagram account early Thursday evening that his wife, Melinda, has given birth to a baby girl.

Karlsson posted a photo of himself next to his wife, who was cradling the girl in her arms and wrote, “To my beautiful wife for doing everything in her power to bring our beautiful little baby girl in to this world, never have I met a more determined or stronger person than you. It hasn’t been easy but after the rain finally our little rainbow arrived. Love you both more than I could ever imagine.”

Karlsson left Las Vegas shortly before the Sharks played the Golden Knights on Wednesday. Coach Pete DeBoer said he didn’t know Karlsson would be unavail

able until about an hour before the start of the game. The Sharks lost 4-1.

Karlsson did not practice with the Sharks earlier Thursday. At the time, DeBoer said he did not know whether Karlsson would be available to play the following night against the Golden Knights in the Sharks’ home opener.

Messages of congratulations quickly poured in for the Karlssons, who went though unimaginable heartbreak less than two years ago. In March 2018, the couple revealed on Erik Karlsson’s Twitter account that they had lost their son, Axel, a month before he was due to be born.

The couple shared a message that read, “At this extremely difficult time it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we know one day we’ll get there. We would like to thank everyone for the love and support we have received and also for respecting our privacy and the process that we need to go through.

“We feel very lucky to be Axel’s parents. Even though he was stillborn, we know we will hold him again one day under different circumstances and the joy he gave us will be with us forever.”