Veteran Donskoi replaces rookie Meier.
Coach goes with experience over rookie in Game 5
SAN JOSE — The Sharks went with the most experienced lineup they could ice for their biggest game of the season Saturday at SAP Center.
Joonas Donskoi drew back into the lineup for Game 6, replacing rookie Timo Meier, as the Sharks looked to stave off elimination against the Edmonton Oilers. The Sharks lost Game 5 in overtime to trail the series 3-2 and move to the brink of elimination.
Donskoi, 25, was one of the Sharks’ best forwards throughout their run to the Stanley Cup Final last season with 12 points in 24 games, including the overtime winner in Game 3 of the Cup final series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“We know (Donskoi),” DeBoer said Saturday morning. “We went with our most experienced lineup here, elimination game. He’s been here before. He’s delivered for us before.”
Donskoi this season never totally recaptured the offensive touch he showed last season as a rookie when he finished with 36 points in 76 games, and struggled through the first four games of the series with one assist and a plus/minus rating of minus-3.
“There’s a lot of potential,” Donskoi said when asked what the message was to him from the coaching staff. “I think I can be a lot better than what I’ve been so far.
“Be stronger on the puck in the offensive zone. Create chances for myself and my linemates. Be creative.”
Donskoi began the game on the same line as Logan Couture and Melker Karlsson. Mikkel Boedker, who returned to the lineup for Game 5 after he was scratched from games 3 and 4, was on the Sharks’ third line with Tomas Hertl and Jannik Hansen.
Meier played 12:53 in Game 4 and 14:43 in Game 5. He did not have a point in the first five games but made his presence known with team-leading 17 hits. Only Oilers defensemen Adam Larsson and Matt Benning had more with 18 hits each.
The Sharks went 2-1 in elimination games in last season’s playoff run, beating Nashville in Game 7 of the second round and Pittsburgh in Game 5 of the Cup final before losing to the Penguins on home ice in Game 6.
“We have a lot of guys who have a lot of experience being in the playoffs and being in this spot,” Donskoi said. “For sure, we know what to do.”
Donskoi, who was a healthy scratch for Game 5, was also kept out of the lineup via coaches’ decision, twice in the regular season. He sat for the Sharks’ Dec. 14 game in Ottawa and came back two days later against Montreal and had two assists.
He was also a scratch March 31 in Calgary after 13 straight games without a point and came back and had 15:00 of ice time against Vancouver on April 2. That was the game, though, that Joe Thornton was injured in the first period.
“He’s typically always bounced back after being sat down or demoted,” DeBoer said, “and I expect a big game out of him.”
Defenseman MarcEdouard n Vlasic dismissed concerns about the workload shouldered by he and partner Justin Braun in Game 5, insisting that their 33-plus minutes of ice time Thursday wasn’t going to have an impact in Game 6.
“I took a nap yesterday, so I’ll be fine,” Vlasic said, acknowledging that he caught some rest alongside one of his three dogs. “One of them likes to snuggle.”
Vlasic and Braun have been major reasons why Oilers captain Connor McDavid had been held without an even strength point in the first five games. Goalie Martin Jones has played a big role too, entering Saturday with a .939 save percentage.
“I love to play. The more I play, the better I feel, and I’m playing against one of the best players in the world, so what’s not to like,” Vlasic said.
“We don’t mind the amount we play when we play heavy minutes against good players. Brauner can handle that. I know we’re not averaging that this year, but we’ve played big minutes in past playoffs.”