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Erik Karlsson takes being called out by coach Sullivan personally in win over Capitals.

Erik Karlsson was indirectly called out by coach Sullivan after the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, for his poor play, and followed it up with a great game against Washington.

ByTyler Miller|
Nov 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) chases in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime (22) chases in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Erik Karlsson has been that up and down player this year for the Penguins. There are moments where he plays like garbage and does not know how to defend, and there are other moments where he scores a beautiful goal or makes an insane pass. There is no in between.

But in the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, Coach Sullivan indirectly called out players that he thought could have been better. And the word on the street was that Karlsson was one of them.

As evidenced by this chart, Karlsson had an awful game against the Hurricanes and needed to turn it around the very next night against the Capitals.

Karlsson's performance against the Capitals

Karlsson really turned it around against the Capitals. Karlsson finished the game with a goal, an assist, 5 shots on goal, an even +/- rating, and 25 shifts with 21:21TOI.

Karlsson's goal was a beauty of a shot and it whistled past Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren.

This goal from Karlsson put the Penguins up 1-0 real early in the game. But Karlsson was not finished yet. Mere minutes later, Karlsson was taking the puck into the offensive zone and found winger Michael Bunting going to the net.

He decided to try to make a pass that only a select few NHLers can make. But he did it anyway, got the pass through, and Bunting deflected the puck in the net past Lindgren, with only one hand on his stick.

It was an absolutely beautiful pass and quickly the Penguins were up 2-0 in the game.

As mentioned, only a few NHLers make that pass and get it through, and Erik Karlsson is one of those players.

Karlsson on this chart is very up and down, but he had a way better game on Friday versus the Capitals than on Thursday versus the Hurricanes.

It seems like Karlsson took what his head coach said to heart, and really fixed it the very next night and had a beautiful goal and a beautiful pass to set up another goal.

Now you never know what Karlsson you're going to get every game, but the Penguins hope they get the one that they saw on Friday night versus Thursday night.

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