STOCKHOLM -- Erik Karlsson had experienced it before, but that didn’t make it any less special.

After hearing his name announced in the starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Nashville Predators for the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal at Avicii Arena on Friday, Karlsson soaked in the cheers of the fans in his home country and waved to thank them.

Then, Karlsson stood on the blue line next to his teammates and listened in awe to the fans singing the Swedish national anthem in unison. Those are the best memories the 35-year-old defenseman will take from this night, though it ended in disappointment for the Penguins with a 2-1 overtime loss.

“It’s, obviously, very cool,” Karlsson said. “I’ve been fortunate to play a few games in this arena and it’s a

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