San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer is contemplating a significant line shuffle in advance of Game 2 of the Western Conference Final.
Patrick Marleau started Game 1 on the left wing of the second line with Logan Couture and Joonas Donskoi, but could be bumped to a third-line center role in an attempt to match the forward depth of the St. Louis Blues.
"It's game to game," DeBoer said of Marleau's line assignment, according to Lou Korac of NHL.com. "Two Patrick Marleaus, one plays center, one on the third line ... I think we've been effective with three centers down the middle, Couture, Marleau, and (Joe) Thornton. We've also been very effective with him on the wing.
"I think two things come into play. Are you better as a team and is the individual better? That's the balance. I'm not here to make Patrick Marleau feel good. We're here to win games and we're going to put him wherever we feel we have to win games."
DeBoer deployed a third line of Melker Karlsson, Chris Tierney, and Joel Ward in the series opener. The Blues countered with Alex Steen at center, and David Backes and Patrik Berglund on the wings.
Marleau won just over 50 percent of his faceoff attempts during the regular season, and has contributed four goals and five assists in 13 playoff games.
