'Best player in the world right now': Penguins' Erik Karlsson isn't slowing down

'Best player in the world right now': Penguins' Erik Karlsson isn't slowing down originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Erik Karlsson can't be stopped.

And right now, the Pittsburgh Penguins are depending on him to keep this up, because as injuries mount to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Karlsson is the one who can still power them into the playoffs. "He's the best player in the world right now," one Penguins player told The Athletic's Josh Yohe . Yohe added his own commentary: "This is an extraordinary stretch of hockey we are witnessing from him.

" MORE: Alex Ovechkin snaps an unfathomable streak In the Penguins' shootout win over the Senators on Thursday night, Karlsson scored a goal and dished out two assists, having a part in all three Pittsburgh goals. He fired eight shots on goal for good measure. In March, Karlsson has scored eight goals and dished out 13 assists for 21 points across 14 games.

It's an incredible turn back the clock stretch for the 35-year old defenseman. This is a guy who once was considered the best blue-liner on the planet, but that was a long time ago when he played for the Ottawa Senators . It's not that Karlsson has been bad in ensuing stints with the San Jose Sharks and now the Penguins.