SAN JOSE — Pete DeBoer might just be an optimist after all.
After his team fumbled a chance to lock down home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Saturday, the Sharks coach walked out of SAP Center with a glass half-full outlook.
Six weeks ago, the Sharks season was on the ropes after the team fell to 7-7-2 without Joe Thornton following an overtime loss in Minnesota. On Saturday, they finished the season in third place in the Pacific Division with 100 points, setting up an opening round matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.