Don't write a eulogy for the 2015-16 San Jose Sharks quite yet.
That was the message espoused by head coach Pete DeBoer following a Game 2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, despite the fact his team faces a 2-0 Stanley Cup Final hole that only five of 49 teams have been able to climb out of in NHL history.
"Game 1 was decided in the last two minutes. Tonight is an overtime game. I think we'll hold off on the funeral," DeBoer said at the postgame press conference.
"We have a lot of hockey left to play."
DeBoer credited Martin Jones for his outstanding play in net through the first two games of the series, and challenged his skaters to create more offense, particularly at even strength.
"You know what, I thought we were better tonight than in Game 1. Got to find a way to score some five-on-five goals. We only got one in each game. It's close to the best hockey out there ... There's not a lot of room out there. We've got to find a way to battle through and create a little bit more space."
The Sharks are now set to host Games 3 and 4, and DeBoer hopes the friendly environs of the home rink will help tilt things their way.
"This was a game that went back and forth. They're at home. They carried the play for parts. We carried it for parts. We've got to go back home now and get back in the series."
The last team to come back to win the Cup after losing the first two games of the Final was the Boston Bruins in 2011, who also dropped consecutive one-goal decisions on the road, including in overtime in Game 2.
