(Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

SAN JOSE– San Jose Sharks’ Coach Peter DeBoer spoke to the media Saturday morning after an optional skate.

When asked about the significance of the first Stanley Cup Final in San Jose in 25 years, DeBoer replied, “That’s probably something that we’ll reflect on when everything’s done. I think in the moment right now, we need to win a game,” and again emphasized, “the time to reflect on how important the Stanley Cup is I think, after the season’s over…right now, we’re trying to win a game. We’re trying to win the Stanley Cup.”

However, the hurdles for the San Jose Sharks became a little more challenging to overcome, as the injury bug bit the team harder.

One man out

In response to the first question asked, DeBoer confirmed what many feared after forward Tomas Hertl did not practice in skate Friday morning. “He’s out tonight. Next man up for us. He’s arguably been maybe our best player through the first two games.”

Hertl was seen on Friday but did not take the ice. At the time, DeBoer called it a “maintenance day.”

On who would replace him, DeBoer was non committal and said, “We’ve got a couple of guys that have played in that hole before. Melker has before and so has Zubie. I think the one thing with those two guys, you’ve got a guy that will hound the puck and work for it. [Thornton and Pavelski] pretty much take care of the rest. I think we’ve got a lot of options because of who we’re sticking them in with.”

Karlsson said after practice on Friday, “If they want to throw me in there, I’m ready for it. I’m ready to go.”

Fans will have to wait to see who will be the “next man up” for sure.

Muhammad Ali

Another gift of Muhammad Ali was stories he had people telling after he passed away at the age of 74 last night, including one from DeBoer. The media were treated as DeBoer said, “I wouldn’t normally wouldn’t share this with you but considering the circumstances….and how this transcended the sport and how many people he touched, it was an appropriate story to tell.”

“We lost a great person. I’m not a collector of sports memorabilia, but I have four things in my basement….and I’ve got a Koran signed by Muhammad Ali, personalized.” Ali and his entourage had showed up at DeBoer’s prom. Later, upon request, Ali allowed Deboer and his friends into his room. Re the Koran, Deboer said, “He wasn’t preaching or trying to convert us, he just personalized each one for us, asked us some questions about what we were doing. It was an unbelievable life experience for me.” DeBoer left the media laughing with his final sentence regarding his story. “I know you guys have the time too, to listen.”

Game 3

When a reporter commented on it being a must game and how DeBoer keeps the team from feeling enormous pressure, he said they do it themselves. “If you’ve seen our group, they tend to keep each other pretty loose. They know when to dial in and be ready to play and when to relax. You wouldn’t know that we’re in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup, and the situation we’re in, and that’s a good sign for us.” It will have to be, as the game may likely reach heights comparable to the team’s first ever Stanley Cup game in Pittsburgh, based on how long the fans in San Jose have been waiting for this moment.

On feeding off the fans’ emotion and energy, Deboer replied, “It has to be an advantage. It’s been an advantage the entire playoffs for us, and we’ve got to make sure…the fans are going to do their part and we’ve got to do our part tonight.”

The team knows what is at stake. When asked about members of the team speaking out, DeBoer said, “you sit outside our dressing room at tough times this year, and you hear multiple voices of guys, not just the guys wearing letters and I think that’s the strength of our group.”

Ali + Game 3

“Rainbows are born of thunderstorms…,” one of the quotes about Ali.

Remember that game when the Sharks went into the third period trailing 2-0 and came back to win?

If the Sharks can treat Game 3 like that period, that would be a good start. The Stanley Cup might just be waiting at the other end of the rainbow.

 

Our PK’s been a slow build all year..it’s been really good at the right times this year, especially in the playoffs…you know, It’s important you win the special teams battle. There hasn’t really been a special teams battle yet in this series, but you never say never, and you anticipate at some point it’ll be really important…”