Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, despite being the reigning Norris Trophy winner, has long been known more for his offensive prowess than his defensive skills.
Unfortunately, this was evident during tonight's game at PPG Paints Arena against the New York Islanders. Karlsson's errant pass to defensive partner Marcus Pettersson led to a scoring opportunity for the Islanders, resulting in a goal by Simon Holmstrom.
Unsurprisingly, frustrated Penguins fans took to social media to voice their displeasure with Karlsson's performance.
Karlsson has also faced criticism from head coach Mike Sullivan for not meeting expectations.
«Obviously, he's an elite player and a really talented guy, and a guy that drives a lot of offense whether 5-on-5 or the power play,» Sullivan said of Karlsson. «That's what he's done in his body of work in the league. That's what he's done for us. You know, I still think there's another level of Karl that we're trying to unlock here; I think it's an important element of us having success moving forward.»
Karlsson's defensive lapse was certainly not his finest moment. Despite the Penguins rallying to tie the game 4-4, the Islanders ultimately secured the win with an overtime goal from Adam Pelech.
