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San Jose Sharks: Top 3 takeaways from Game 1 of the first round

ByJustin Fried|
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates with control of the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - APRIL 10: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks skates with control of the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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San Jose Sharks
SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 10: Erik Karlsson #65 of the San Jose Sharks passes the puck to assist on a goal to Evander Kane #9 against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019 in San Jose, California. The Sharks won the game 5-2. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

1. The Erik Karlsson effect is real

Erik Karlssonis back and in full force.

After missing 27 of the team’s final 33 regular season games due to a nagging groin injury, the team’s star defenseman returned with a vengeance on Wednesday night. Karlsson showed no signs of rust finishing the game with two beautiful assists and making a difference every time he stepped foot on the ice.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign of all was that Karlsson played a healthy 26:25 and looked like his old self showing no indication that the groin injury that bothered him for so long was still affecting him. He absorbed a big hit from Golden Knights defensemanBrayden McNabbin the first period and played a physical game throughout.

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Karlsson’s transition game has always been one of his strongest suits as he has speed on the ice that very few skaters could match, defenseman or not. That was on full display during a rare scenario in the second period that saw the two squads square-off in some thrilling regulation 3-on-3 hockey.

Karlsson and fellow stud defensemanBrent Burnswere on the ice together with centerTomas Hertlwhen Karlsson took the puck up ice and laid a beautiful drop pass for Burns who then sniped it past goalieMarc-Andre Fleuryfor the goal. It’s a rare sight to see 3-on-3 hockey in regulation already, let alone to see it with two defensemen on the ice.

But that’s just the effect that Karlsson, along with Burns, brings to the team.

When he’s at his best, he’s often the best player on the ice and teams need to plan around him. If he could continue to play at this level, the Golden Knights will have a tough time advancing past the first round.

With a healthy Karlsson, there’s no telling how far the Sharks could advance in the postseason. The sky — or rather the Stanley Cup Finals — is the limit.

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