SAN JOSE -- At the end of his first practice with the Sharks in September, Erik Karlsson set up fellow defenseman Brent Burns for a goal in a 3-on-3 scrimmage. On Wednesday, he did it again in a Stanley Cup playoff game.
Nearly seven minutes into the second period of the Sharks' 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1 of the first round, Karlsson laid off a pass for Burns on a zone entry. Karlsson simultaneously boxed out Vegas forward Max Pacioretty, allowing Burns just enough time and space to take a few strides and wrist a shot past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead.