Karlsson gladly letting puck find him in streak
Center’s scoring run comes at right time
In hockey, they talk about the puck finding you when you’re going good.
In William Karlsson’s case, the puck is finding him like a magnet finds metal.
The Golden Knights center continues to be the team’s hottest player as he scored his 13th goal and had an assist in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Arizona.
He has scored in five straight games, coinciding with the team’s current fivegame win streak, and has already surpassed his NHL career-high of nine goals in 2016 with Columbus.
“My teammates are doing a great job getting me the puck,” Karlsson said. “I’m just trying to shoot whenever I can. Right now, things are going good.”
Evidence of that was his goal Saturday. Jonathan Marchessault won an offensive zone faceoff, drawing it back to Karlsson in the slot. Reilly Smith walled off a Coyotes defender, giving Karlsson a clean look. His slap shot beat Scott Wedgewood cleanly for a 2-0 lead.
“Not much to talk about,” he said “I mean Marchy won it pretty clean and (Smith) held a screen and I just shot it.”
Karlsson is on pace for 48 goals. That may be a bit ambitious, given his past. But right now he’s leading the team in goals, and his line is making things happen.
“He’s not the fastest guy or has the hardest shot, but he’s a smart player and he’s always in the right place and he’s been a great addition for me and Smitty,” Marchessault said of Karlsson.
Draftees update
The Golden Knights’ draft picks are playing well for the most part with their junior teams.
Cody Glass, the Portland Winterhawks center who was the team’s top selection and No. 6 overall pick, leads Portland in scoring with 16 goals and 48 points in 23 games. Portland has won 10 straight and leads the
U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League with 38 points.
Nick Suzuki, taken in the first round at No. 13 overall, leads the Owen Sound Attack with 41 points (16 goals, 25 assists) in 23 games.
The Attack is second in the Ontario Hockey League’s Central Division.
Erik Brannstrom, the other first-rounder, No. 15 overall, has five points in 22 games for HV71 Jonkoping of the Swedish League.
Second-round picks Nic Hague and Jake Leschyshyn also are producing offensively for their junior teams. Hague has 13 goals and 25 points in 24 games for the OHL Mississauga Steelheads. Leschyshyn has five goals and 11 points in 22 games for the Regina Pats of the WHL.
Back to work
The Knights had Sunday off and will practice at 11:30 a.m. Monday at City National Arena. They play Tuesday against the Dallas Stars at T-mobile Arena. Monday’s practice is closed to the public.
Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.