Erik Karlsson's goal-scoring drought is over.
For the first time in 2019, the Sharks defenseman found the back of the net. Karlsson scored for the first time since Dec. 29, 2018 with 6:23 remaining in the first period of Game 3 of the Western Conference final, giving San Jose a 1-0 lead over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
The goal was Karlsson's first in his last 32 regular-season and playoff games, as well as his first in 138 days. In between his goal on Dec. 29 and his tally at Enterprise Center on Wednesday, Karlsson took 81 shots on goal and did not score.
Joe Thornton did not have to wait nearly as long to bust his own slump, scoring his first goal since April 26 to double the Sharks' first-period lead just over three minutes after Karlsson scored.
Thanks to both goals, the Sharks skated into the first intermission with a lead for the first time since Saturday's Game 1 win.
