Dan Boyle inspired confidence.
On April 20, 2010, I wore my Dan Boyle jersey to school. I was a sophomore in high school at the time, and had worn that white Sharks jersey to school many game days before. This day was different.
Two days before, the Sharks fell behind 2-1 in their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche in heartbreaking fashion. Boyle attempted to backhand the puck off of the end boards, but instead found Evgeni Nabokov’s near post, as the puck trickled in helplessly and gave Colorado the win.
Ryan O’Reilly may have redirected it, but Boyle bore the brunt of the blame.