Despite the fact that I legitimately love ESPN+, I seem to have a weirdly specific issue with San Jose’s broadcast continually buffering and timing out, while other broadcasts load and play just fine. We’re barely into the season, and like I said, it’s only on the Sharks’ broadcast, so I haven’t really looked into what could be causing the issue.
But I’m a little grateful for it right now, because after sputtering through the first period in last night’s Sharks game, I switched to the Ottawa Senators broadcast, giving me a double dose of Erik Karlsson intermission interviews. After the first period, he spoke with Bret Hedican on San Jose’s broadcast, but following the second, he graced his long-time home broadcast with an interview, as well.
Later in the game, Ottawa’s broadcast panel were discussing Erik Karlsson as being the most elite player the franchise has ever seen, so it’s not like he isn’t deeply beloved in Ottawa. In fact, it’s likely because he is so beloved and because the fanbase still feels betrayed by the team forcing out their former captain that Ottawa media can’t help but talk about him.
This week, it came in the form of Josh Norris playing against the Sharks for the first time since being traded to the Senators in exchange for Karlsson. That shined a light on the defender, who had 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in two games prior to last night’s match against the Senators.
With that in mind, he brought a little bit of spice along to his interview with Gord Miller.
“Yea, that don’t mean shit, though” – Erik Karlsson on Gord Miller congratulating him about his first point against the Senators.
He wants the win. #Sens #GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/EwuG2tkr5C
— Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) October 22, 2021
Karlsson earned an assist on Kevin Labanc’s second period power play goal, that would eventually be the game-winner — but there was still 20 minutes of hockey left to play and when congratulated on his first career point against the Senators, Karlsson was frank in his response.
“We haven’t got the points yet, Gord, so it’s not congratulations yet.”
“Well, you got a point, though,” Miller interjected.
“Yeah, that don’t mean shit, though,” the defender replied. “You know that.”
While I was still recovering physically from laughing at that response (which Gord Miller tackled like an absolute professional), Karlsson wasn’t done ribbing Ottawa’s crew just yet.
As you wish!
The full Erik Karlsson intermission interview:
(It froze for me a few times here. Sorry about that.) pic.twitter.com/jArVlrUYCQ
— Pesky Sickos (@PeskySickos) October 22, 2021
Miller asked about Karlsson’s comments earlier this week that he still believes he’s still one of the best men’s hockey players in the world, and if he ever wavered in that belief, and Karlsson took one more surgically precise jab.
“I should ask you guys. You guys are the experts,” he said in a single breath. “It doesn’t matter what I think to you guys. To me, it matters the most and that’s always been my belief system since 2009. It’s gonna stay that way until the day I hang ‘em up.”
He smiles at the end of the interview, with both he and Miller saying it’s “always a pleasure,” a sentiment Miller expressed on Twitter, as well:
For the record, @ErikKarlsson65 is my favourite between periods interview.
But that doesn’t mean s***.
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) October 22, 2021
I honestly don’t think there’s a single NHL player more confident in exactly who they are and who they have always been than Erik Karlsson.
And hey, they got the win, so that must mean shit somewhere, right?
News & Notes
- Notes #3: Sharks Edge Sens 2-1, 3-0 for 1st time since ’15-16 [SJ Hockey Now]
- Sharks’ Dahlen is proving his time is now: ‘You could just tell … that he was ready’ [The Mercury News]
- Sharks win ‘sloppy’ game against Senators, remain undefeated [NBC Sports Bay Area]
- Sharks’ Karlsson trade package now blossoming with Senators [NBC Sports Bay Area]
- Maple Leafs’ Hutchinson to Start Friday vs. Sharks, Kase Returns to Practice [The Hockey News]/
Blood in the Water
- What is a sports equinox? Explaining the history of NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL games being played on the same day [CBS Sports]
- The NHL has a historically good set of Jewish hockey players right now [Jewish Telegraphic Agency]
- NHL Buzz: Scheifele in COVID-19 protocol, out for Jets against Ducks [NHL.com]
- Kraken say first home game will be ‘special moment’ [NHL.com]
- Jack Hughes’ Injury and How it Could Expose the Devils’ Weakness [All About The Jersey]
- When did the Penguins last start without their superstars? [Pensburgh]
- Brandon Saad to miss Saturday’s game against Kings due to COVID protocols [St. Louis Game Time]
- The state of the captain’s ‘C’ in the NHL [ESPN+]
- The Chicago Blackhawks are in a world of hurt [Yahoo! Sports]
- NHL Power Rankings: Ridiculously small sample size edition [Sportsnet]/
Scores & Recaps
- Carolina Hurricanes 4, Montreal Canadiens 1
- San Jose Sharks 2, Ottawa Senators 1
- Colorado Avalanche 1, Florida Panthers 4
- Washington Capitals 4, New Jersey Devils 1
- New York Islanders 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
- Calgary Flames 3, Detroit Red Wings 0
- New York Rangers 3, Nashville Predators 1
- Anaheim Ducks 1, Winnipeg Jets 5
- Vancouver Canucks 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
- Edmonton Oilers 5, Arizona Coyotes 1/
Click on a team name to find a recap on their SB Nation site!
On the Schedule
- San Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs, 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET on TSN4, NBCSCA, ESPN+
- Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu
- Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, Hulu
- Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on SN360, SN1, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+/
As many of you know, Fear the Fin is an independent site run by Sharks fans for Sharks fans. Help keep Fear the Fin independent by contributing to our