Karlsson regaining form for Senators heading into NHL100 Classic

OTTAWA -- Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson and his teammates were trying out different pieces of apparel in the frosty air Friday as they prepared for the 2017 Scotiabank NHL100 Classic against the Montreal Canadiens at Lansdowne Park on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV).

There wasn't a thermal red cape to be seen.
Though Karlsson has won the Norris Trophy twice, he's not Superman, Senators coach Guy Boucher said Friday, especially when it involves coming back from surgery to repair torn tendons in his left ankle June 14.
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"This guy, I think he's the best defenseman in the world, but he doesn't have a red cape on his back," Boucher said. "He's a human being and needs some time."
After missing the first five games of the season, Karlsson scored 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in his first 11 games. He has two assists in his past 14 games, including a stretch in which he failed to score a point in 10 games, the longest pointless streak of his nine-year NHL career.
But Karlsson said he has felt progress in his game lately.
"Every day, it's moving in the right direction," he said. "I'm feeling better and better as we get along here. We knew it wasn't going to be easy to begin the season and again, if I would have taken more time off, maybe it would have been different."
Boucher said what Karlsson has gone through isn't unexpected, saying the Senators knew it would take some time for the defenseman to get his game back.

"To be honest with you, I didn't think he would be himself until Christmas. We're right on pace for that," Boucher said. "He's getting better every game. I really like his last games. He's getting his mobility back. He's getting his stamina back. He's getting his timing back."
The Senators are 2-10-2 in their past 14 games but are coming off
a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers
at Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday.
Karlsson said as the season progresses, talk about his injury recovery will die down.
"At the end of the day, as we get deeper into the season, it's not going to be an issue for me at all. I think the big thing is going to be for me to be able to work on it next summer and the offseason and get my strength back and everything," Karlsson, 27, said. "By then, we won't be able to talk about his anymore."
Boucher said it was understood the physical rehabilitation would take a certain amount of time. He's encouraged lately by Karlsson's attitude.
"Probably what's been the toughest for him has been mentally," Boucher said. "Knowing what he is, what he can do, but not being able to have that fraction of a second that makes him himself, it is frustrating," he said. "When you know you can help your team win, and you see your team wasn't winning, that's more frustrating.
"What I like is his mind now. There's been a few games now where he's been a lot calmer, accepts the process. It's been a lot better and it's going to keep on getting better. It's a normal process. He's probably going to do it faster than anybody I know in those type of circumstances, but it's taken the time it's taken. That's where we're going."

Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf said he marvels at what Karlsson has done after having major surgery and not being able to train during the summer.
"I remember talking to him in the summer and he wasn't even walking much," Phaneuf said. "For me, I look at that and that's a lot of time off. He's just showing a lot of character in the way he's come back and come back to our team as quick as he did.
"Look at him. You can see him getting stronger and stronger and stronger."
Karlsson said he's looking forward to playing on Saturday, even with the game time temperature expected to be 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
"It's going to be fun and hopefully get our minds off the regular life for a little bit," Karlsson said. "I think this is going to be a really cool experience. There are going to be times when you're not going to enjoy it as much as you want to since it's going to be a little different and very cold, but at the same time when you look back at this you're going to be happy you were able to get the chance."