from Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News,

Entering Saturday’s game against Arizona, the Sharks have 48 points, two behind the second wild card spot and four back of the Calgary Flames for third place in the Pacific Division. They have games in hand over every team in the west, but those only matter if you win.

“I’m not looking at the day-to-day whether we’re in, we’re out, above the line. With the games in hand, it’s not a real number,” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “But what is real is we’re in the middle of things and it’s going to take a big second half from us to get in the playoffs.”

The Sharks play 42 times over the next 85 days. including eight times over the next 13 before the start of the NHL All-Star break starts Jan. 26.

“We’re going to pay the bill for the schedule we had in the first half,” DeBoer said.

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