DeBoer: Depth forwards need to step up with stars struggling

Through four games of the Stanley Cup Final, the stars who carried the San Jose Sharks through the Western Conference are no longer having their way with opposing defenses.

Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer suggested the solution may be getting more production from their depth forwards.

"There is no magic answer. They get a ton of attention," DeBoer said referring to forwards Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton, according to NBC's Pro Hockey Talk's Cam Tucker. "I think our support group has to take a little bit of pressure off them."

After recording 22 points in the opening three rounds of the playoffs, the Sharks captain has been held off the scoresheet in the Final, while sporting a minus-3 rating. Thornton meanwhile, is also struggling to find the back of the net and sits a minus-3 with just two assists, both recorded in his team's Game 3 victory.

"You have to give Pittsburgh some credit for the job they've done on them," DeBoer continued. "The stars on both sides would tell you there's not a lot of room out there."

The Sharks have received contributions from the bottom-six in their last two games with Joel Ward and Melker Karlsson both lighting the lamp, but more production is needed if San Jose hopes to counter the high-powered offense of the Penguins.