MONTREAL \u2014 Igor Chernyshov will play tonight.<\/p>\n
The San Jose Sharks recalled the star prospect on Thursday, adding to the glut of NHL-caliber forwards up front.<\/p>\n
Chernyshov did not look out of place in his first recall to the NHL with three goals and 11 points in 15 games.<\/p>\n
At morning skate, Chernyshov skated with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, which has the looks of a line of the future for Team Teal. Between Smith\u2019s finesse and Chernyshov\u2019s power and Celebrini\u2019s, well, everything, it\u2019s a truly enviable blend of skills.<\/p>\n
And none of them are older than 20 right now, though Smith will turn 21 on St. Patrick\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky confirmed that Chernyshov will play, though he cautioned that morning skate lines might not hold tonight.<\/p>\n
So Chernyshov-Celebrini-Smith might have to wait.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s no doubt, the future is now for the Sharks.<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t need to recall Chernyshov. At the moment, they\u2019ve got 15 NHL-caliber forwards, all who participated in morning skate, not an easy problem for Warsofsky to handle. But Chernyshov was likely just too good to leave in the AHL.<\/p>\n
San Jose Sharks (31-26-6)<\/p>\n
Alex Nedeljkovic will start.<\/p>\n
Yaroslav Askarov\u2019s lower-body injury is considered day-to-day, and he\u2019s still with the team on this road trip.<\/p>\n
Notably, Warsofsky did say that Askarov would not be available to play at the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, suggesting that recently-recalled Laurent Brossoit should start in the back-to-back.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how the Sharks skated in morning skate:<\/p>\n
Cherynshov-Celebrini-Smith
Graf-Wennberg-Sherwood
Eklund-Misa-Toffoli
Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Gaudette<\/p>\n
Orlov-Klingberg
Ferraro-Mukhamadullin
Dickinson-Desharnais<\/p>\n
Nedeljkovic<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how they lined up on the power play.<\/p>\n
PP1: Orlov-Celebrini-Smith-Toffoli-Wennberg
PP2: Klingberg-Chernyshov-Eklund-Sherwood-Misa<\/p>\n
Also, Warsofsky had recently expressed hope that Ty Dellandrea would join the Sharks on this road trip, but he won\u2019t. The center-winger, recently re-signed to a two-year contract, has a week-to-week lower-body injury.<\/p>\n
Montreal Canadiens (36-18-10)<\/p>\n
If this were just about performance, it wouldn\u2019t be a difficult decision. \u2014 Eric Engels (@EricEngels) March 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
But it\u2019s about much more than just performance.
On Brendan Gallagher: https:\/\/t.co\/iuWwh0kruq<\/a><\/p>\n