PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s been the Pens best player for much of the season, but highlighted by an incredible March. Erik Karlsson named the NHL’s second star of the month.
The 35-year-old topped all defensemen and second in the NHL with 24 points in 17 games (nine goals) in March, not only keeping the Pens in the playoff race, but increasing their chances of the postseason. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov was the number one star with 26 points (nine goals).
No Pens defenseman ever had a nine-goal month, Paul Coffey had eight in December 1990. Coffey did have a 28-point month in February 1990. Only Sergei Gonchar, then with Washington, ever scored more goals in a month. He had 10 in January 2000.
Karlsson is the oldest defenseman with 24 points in a month. The three-time Norris Trophy winner is ninth among defensemen this season in scoring with 60, his Pens career-high.
Currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division, the Pens are at Tampa Bay Thursday night.
Record-setting numbers for the Pens defenseman
