Sharks must play with desperation in Game 6 against Oilers

EDMONTON -- Coach Peter DeBoer expects a strong response from the San Jose Sharks when they play the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at SAP Center on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports, NBCS CA)
after a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 5
.
The Oilers lead the best-of-7 series 3-2.

\[RELATED: Complete Oilers-Sharks series coverage\]
"I think desperation first; we know if we lose we're done. I think that always brings out your best game, especially with our group," DeBoer said Friday. "I also think being at home will help. Obviously, in both arenas there is a home-ice advantage with the crowds. I think we've been a team that's been able to bounce back after tough losses all year and get wins. I'm confident that we'll be ready to play."
San Jose led 3-1 in Game 5 on Thursday but couldn't hold it. Mark Letestu scored a power-play goal for Edmonton at 18:33 of the second period to make it 3-2, and defenseman Oscar Klefbom scored with 2:46 left in the third to tie it 3-3.
David Desharnais scored at 18:15 of overtime to complete Edmonton's comeback. The Oilers outshot the Sharks 14-2 in overtime.

"I think it's just a mindset. I think the last 10 minutes of the third, you're on the road and playing a real good road game and really not giving them much, and they find a way to score that goal with 2 ½ minutes left," DeBoer said. "It's human nature, you're defending, you're defending and you're not thinking about offense or being on your toes or scoring a goal and they score, and to flick that switch and get that attack mindset back is hard to do.
"And on the other side, the other team is in that attack mindset for the entire time they're trailing. You look around the League, it happens all the time; we did it in Game 1 [a 3-2 overtime win] when we were down 2-0 to them. It's hard to get that momentum back."
Sharks goaltender Martin Jones made 44 saves in Game 5.

"He's been excellent. I think both goalies have been excellent; their guy [Cam Talbot] has been excellent too," DeBoer said. "But there is no doubt what I really liked about [Jones] last night was how well he played in overtime. He knew that we were on our heels a little bit and he made some huge saves in order to keep us alive and give us a chance to try and get one."
Despite giving up a two-goal lead in Game 5, DeBoer is happy with the Sharks' defensive play throughout the series. Thursday was the first time Edmonton scored more than two goals in a game.
"When you look at our defensive structure and our goaltending, it's given us a chance every single game here, even the games we've lost," DeBoer said. "Game 2 in [Edmonton] is a 1-0 game well into the third period, we just don't find a way to score and generate enough offense. And then the game in San Jose is a 1-0 game and we don't find enough on the offensive end. I think last night, same thing. I think in a tough road game, with tough circumstances, we weathered the storm and I think again give ourselves a chance to win a game."