Melker Karlsson, usually on the fourth line, moved up to the third line with Joe Thornton and Kevin Labanc at the morning skate. Micheal Haley, who was a healthy scratch the past three games, was on the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Joonas Donskoi. Marcus Sorensen, who had been playing on the third line, skated Wednesday but not as part of a line.
Coach Peter DeBoer said there would be game-time decisions and that the morning-skate combinations might not be what San Jose uses to start the game. But he said the Sharks do need more from their third and fourth lines.
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"Bottom line is, the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs are all about depth," he said. "On the runs we've had and when we've had success, it's about contributions throughout the lineup. So, we're looking at that from all four lines."
Thornton (assist) and Labanc (goal) each has one point in the past eight games. Donskoi has two points (goal, assist) in eight playoff games, and Goodrow has two goals in 16 postseason games and none in his past nine. Karlsson has two assists in 16 games. Sorensen has no points in his past seven games.
Haley missed five games with a lower-body injury earlier in the playoffs, four against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round and one against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. He has no points in eight games.
"Obviously as a hockey player, you never want to be the guy on the outside looking in," Haley said. "But it's part of my job. You just stay ready, try to do the best you can when it's your turn. They play a pretty fast-paced, physical game, so I'm excited to get in tonight."
