SAN JOSE — After Joe Thornton returned to the Sharks’ lineup for Game 3 of their playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, coach Pete DeBoer had a handful of players he could have used to play left wing on the top line.
DeBoer kept Melker Karlsson there for most of the game until the Oilers took a one-goal lead midway through the third period. Needing a goal, Tomas Hertl was moved to the first line with Thornton and Joe Pavelski to try to jumpstart an offense that was struggling to generate chances at even strength or otherwise.
Still, it showed that Karlsson, with his style of play, is trusted by the coaching staff to play just about anywhere, and it appears Karlsson will be back in that top line position for Game 4 against the Oilers on Tuesday at SAP Center.