San Jose Sharks Advance to Stanley Cup Finals as Western Conference Champions

Photo Credit: Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group

The San Jose Sharks have won the Western Conference Final and are advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history; the team was formed 25 years ago in 1991. For winning their conference, they were awarded the Clarence S. Campbell bowl. In superstition, none of the players touch the trophy since they believe it will hurt their chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

The game that sent the #SJSharks to their first ever #StanleyCup Final appearance.

Recap: https://t.co/xhEAFbuqUlhttps://t.co/HVoOv1Ic45

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) May 26, 2016

In Game 6 of the Sharks-Blues series, San Jose walked away as the victors with a 4-2 series lead. Not only did they best their competitors in the series, but they also did so with a steady lead in their last game of the series. The scoring looked one-sided for two periods of Game 6. The Sharks’ Joe Pavelski was the lone scorer in the first period less than four minutes in. His teammate Joel Ward was the lone goal scorer in the second.

After two single goal periods by the Sharks, the third period was lit up in scoring. Joel Ward scored his second of the night early in the third.  Forward Joonas Donskoi’s wrist shot goal put the team up 4-0. With four unanswered goals, it was time for the Blues to finally answer back. St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko put his team on the board with a wrist shot, then a second time five minutes later with a snap shot. With the score 4-2, San Jose’s Logan Couture solidified the Sharks’ victory with 20 seconds left in the game. The goal put the Sharks up 5-2 over the Blues, gaining them the victory that pushed them into the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Stanley Cup Finals are new, uncharted territory for most of the the Sharks roster. Only two players, Dainius Zubrus and goalie Martin Jones who won the cup, have played in the final series. Coach Peter DeBeor has been to the Finals with the New Jersey Devil in 2012, but lost to the Los Angeles Kings. With so few personnel with experience of winning the Stanley Cup, many players will be driven to do so.

The San Jose Sharks will play either the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning – Pittsburgh Penguins series in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Lightning and Pens play in Game 7 of their series on May 26th on NBCSN at 8pm EST.