(Frisco) Pete DeBoer is used to long drives in the NHL playoffs, although he never takes them for granted.
The only thing that would be even better for him would be to win everything this time.
With Dallas in the Western Final for the second straight year since he took the helm, DeBoer finds himself beyond two rounds for the seventh time in his career.
This is his fifth time this far in six seasons, with three teams.
“What matters to me is the journey,” DeBoer said. You galvanize a group of men throughout this journey, because it is very difficult and it requires a lot of sacrifices, on and off the ice. »
Joe Pavelski, 39-year-old Stars forward, is also aiming for his first Stanley Cup.
In a Sharks uniform, he went to the West final twice with DeBoer.
“He delivers a good message and we felt it throughout the season when discussing our goals,” Pavelski said. Especially at the end of the season, it was about playing the right way and getting into good habits. »
The top-ranked team in the West, the Stars will host the first game of the West final on Thursday evening.
Only five other coaches have reached the third round more than once in the last six seasons.
Jon Cooper did it three years in a row with Tampa Bay, starting in 2020.
The only other to have done it with more than one team is Bruce Cassidy – in 2019 with Boston and last year with the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights.
Cassidy took charge of Vegas after succeeding DeBoer.
DeBoer has reached the Cup Final twice: in his first season with the New Jersey Devils, in 2012, and in his debut with the Sharks, in 2016.
The current edition of the Stars set a club record with eight scorers of 20 or more goals in the regular season, but DeBoer also places emphasis on defense.
“What I like about him and his message since the start of the playoffs is to stay focused on defense,” said goalie Jake Oettinger.
“We have big advantages in attack, but he often reminded us that if we can stop the opposing threats, we will have our chances of scoring. »