Never a huge goal-scorer, Granlund is on pace to hit 20 for the third time in his 13-year career and the first since 2017-18 with Minnesota. But the 32-year-old has been a point producer with the Sharks. He’s leading the team with 44 points in 51 contests after a scoring a team-high 60 points in 69 games last season.

Former Wild forward Mikael Granlund will represent Team Finland along with Erik Haula, another former Wild forward. Granlund was named an assistant captain for the upcoming tournament.

When two of the three worst defensive teams in the NHL collide, one might expect sparks. Yet when the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-24-8) faced the San Jose Sharks (15-32-6) Tuesday, it was more like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Mikael Granlund swinging behind the Russia goal, heading for its right side. In the process, the center, then only 19 years old on May 13, 2011, put the puck on his blade and flung it behind Russia’s goalie, Konstantin Barulin. He scored.

SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier has not had any serious contract negotiations with his large group of pending unrestricted free agents and said it’s unlikely he’ll sign any of those players to extensions before the NHL trade deadline on March 7.

It’s no secret how important Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin is to his team. The future Hall of Famer is one of the best players of his generation. And he continues to play at a high level even in the latter stages of his career.

The San Jose Sharks were smarter with the puck on Monday. That helped them snap a six-game losing streak, as they pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Saving some of their best hockey for down the stretch, the Pittsburgh Penguins battled to the bitter end Monday night at SAP Center, before ultimately falling, 2-1, to the San Jose Sharks. Desperate to erase a two-game losing streak,

Macklin Celebrini scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as the San Jose Sharks ended a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.

BOTTOM LINE: The San Jose Sharks will try to stop their six-game skid when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. San Jose is 14-32-6 overall and 8-16-1 in home games. The Sharks have allowed 191 goals while scoring 137 for a -54 scoring differential.

Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

Macklin Celebrini scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Yaroslav Askarov stopped a penalty shot and the San Jose Sharks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak.