SAINT PAUL, MINN. \u2014 The San Jose Sharks are desperate to improve both offensively and defensively.<\/p>\n
Losers of five out of their last six, they\u2019ve scored the least amount of 5-on-5 goals and given up the seventh-most in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s head coach Ryan Warsofsky\u2019s latest attempt to get the Sharks out of their tailspin: Michael Misa<\/a>, normally a center, has been placed on wing with Macklin Celebrini<\/a> and Will Smith<\/a>. Collin Graf<\/a>, normally a winger, and Ty Dellandrea<\/a> are taking over at center in the top-nine, ahead of Misa and Filip Bystedt. Bystedt will be scratched.<\/p>\n Sharks tools<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about creating some offense for our team and finding ways to score,\u201d Misa said. The 2025 No. 2 pick has been surging offensively, with three goals and seven points in his last eight games.<\/p>\n Misa said the last time that he had played on the wing extensively was in juniors.<\/p>\n \u201cBrings some pace to run with Mack there a little bit,\u201d Warsofsky said.<\/p>\n Taking 19-year-old Misa and rookie Bystedt away from center, and replacing them with Graf and Dellandrea, looks like a clear attempt to shore up the middle defensively.<\/p>\n \u201cFil\u2019s had moments, you see the potential,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201c[But] there\u2019s moments where the game picks up, the speed picks up, the urgency picks up, and the way to defend and get into people. So just some things defensively that he has continue to improve on, and offensively as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Warsofsky added, about Bystedt but this could also refer to Misa at center, \u201cIt\u2019s a young player that\u2019s trying to find his way.\u201d<\/p>\n Warsofsky is hoping that veteran checker Dellandrea can add some pace to his line and find his past form.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look back at last year, before he got injured there. He was playing some really good hockey in that 3C spot,\u201d Warsofsky said. \u201cSo trying to find that again.\u201d<\/p>\n Safe to say, the San Jose Sharks miss glue center Alex Wennberg. Today, Warsofsky upgraded Wennberg\u2019s upper-body injury to day-to-day. Could he play on Saturday at the Dallas Stars?<\/p>\n San Jose Sharks (7-9-1)<\/p>\n Yaroslav Askarov starts.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the San Jose Sharks will line up tonight:<\/p>\n Misa-Celebrini-Smith Nurse-Kesselring Askarov<\/p>\n And here\u2019s how they looked on the power play.<\/p>\n PP1: Smith-Stenberg-Celebrini-Toffoli-Marchment<\/p>\n PP2: Orlov-Pohlkamp-Sherwood-Graf-Misa<\/p>\n I’m told Brainerd native Eric Pohlkamp should have about 30 family & friends coming to his first NHL game in Minnesota<\/p>\n \u2014 Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) November 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Minnesota Wild (11-3-3)<\/p>\n Askarov starts tonight against Wild.<\/p>\n Fun match-up! 2020 No. 11 pick Askarov vs. 2021 No. 20 Wallstedt<\/p>\n
Marchment-Graf-Sherwood
Stenberg-Dellandrea-Toffoli
Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Gaudette<\/p>\n
Dickinson-Trouba
Orlov-Pohlkamp<\/p>\n