“I never thought that we were going to lose even when we drew from the back 2-0 and nothing worked,” said Deboer. Everyone in the locker room knew that something was going to happen, and Rantanen put the team on his shoulders in the last ten minutes.
“This group is special. We have known a lot of adversity this season and the players never abandoned and made our denigers lie. I knew something was going to happen, but I could not predict such a turnaround.
“I only lived another match like this. »»
There were only three other meetings like this in the history of the NHL, where a team has filled a delay of more than one goal in the third period to win a match no 7. Before Saturday, the last time it happened dates back to the first round of the western association in 2019, when the Sharks of San Jose had defeated the Golden Knights of Vegas 5-4 in overtime.
Who was the San Jose coach?
You guessed it: Deboer.
The Sharks drew from the back 3-0 to the third commitment when the Golden Knights Cody Eakin striker received a major five-minute penalty for a double failure against striker Joe Pavelski. The Sharks had exploded with four goals in digital advantage, taking the lead 4-3. After granting the equalizing goal at the end of the third commitment, they had gained extension.
“The fact that I was on the right side in two games no 7 as these is …”, started Deboer, his voice getting lost in a dream. “It’s crazy. »»
You need a little luck and good teams to have a 9-0 file in matches No 7, but you also need to be a good coach.
It is far from only luck. Deboer won 92 series games at first level with active coaches and in the eighth step in the history of the NHL. Only the late Pat Quinn won more series games (94) without winning the Stanley Cup.
Deboer won 18 series in 10 participations in the spring tournament and he will have the chance to improve this statistics in the second round against the Blues of St. Louis or the Jets of Winnipeg, who play match no 7 of their series first round in Canada Life Center on Sunday (7 p.m. HE; VVAS, CBC, SN, TBS, MAX, FDSNMW).
Twice, Deboer reached the Stanley Cup final: with the Devils of New Jersey in 2012 and the Sharks in 2016. In each of these courses, he had to win a match No. 7.
The last five times that his teams qualified for the series, they reached the final of the western association: the Sharks in 2019, the Golden Knights in 2020 and 2021, and the stars in 2023 and 2024. Deboer won two games No 7 in 2019. Each of the other routes was made up of a victory in a match No. 7.
“When I was little, I don’t think I dreamed of being a coach in a match No. 7,” said Deboer. It was not my dream. But we do this work to live a match No. 7.
“They are all so different. There are so many different situations – abroad, at home, in overtime, in the second extension. Obviously, it gives beautiful memories. In fact, I don’t have any bad and I don’t want it either. »»
Deboer was tied with Darryl Sutter (8-3) for the most earnings in a match No. 7 among the coaches.
He got to know Sutter by working as assistant coach with Brent Sutter, Darryl’s brother, with Canada for the 2005 FIHG World Junior Championship. In the summer camp in Calgary, Brent called Darryl as guest coach.
“When he entered the locker room, you might have thought it was a 7 game in the Stanley Cup final,” said Deboer. Young people would have melted into the wall if they had been able. »»
Deboer laughed.
“I think Darryl and I have different approaches,” he added. I am not sure that I could have the same effect. »»
It is neither the strength to Deboer nor his style. He repeated on different occasions how much he likes the unique challenge of directing in series, to face the same team evening after evening and to adapt during the standard. His players talk about his attention to details and his preparation.
How is a 7 -day game on the day of a match No.?
“It’s a part like any other,” replied Center Wyatt Johnston. “Of course, it’s a big match, but it doesn’t do anything too crazy. »»
How was Deboer after another match No 7 completely crazy on Saturday?
“As Coach Pete said in his post-match speech, he never doubted,” said Johnston.
