DeBoer downplays pressure before another elimination game

Peter DeBoer insists the San Jose Sharks aren't feeling any more pressure than they have at any other point this spring.

After winning Game 5 on the road to force Game 6 at home, the Sharks head coach isn't bothered by the fact that the Stanley Cup will be in the arena Sunday night.

"No more pressure. It was in the building last game," DeBoer told reporters at a press conference Sunday afternoon. "We can't win it tonight. It doesn't put any more pressure on us than we've had throughout the playoffs."

Making their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the Sharks dropped the first two games to the Penguins, then lost Game 4 on home ice Monday to hand Pittsburgh a 3-1 series lead.

The Sharks' 4-2 victory in Game 5 on Thursday night prevented the Penguins from winning their second championship in seven years, and San Jose can send the series to a winner-take-all contest with another victory in Game 6 on Sunday night.

"We just (have) to come in and take care of business," DeBoer said. "We (have) a confident group. We feel we can push this to a Game 7."

If it does reach that point, both teams have had Game 7 success in these playoffs. San Jose eliminated the Nashville Predators in the decisive game of their second-round series, and Pittsburgh defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven to advance to the Cup Final.