The Sharks and Penguins are set to clash in the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Final with Game 1 set for Monday in Pittsburgh.
The Sharks overcame the Kings in five games, the Predators in seven and the Blues in six to get this far, while the Penguins ousted the Rangers in five games, the Capitals in six and the Lightning in seven to advance.
There is no shortage of storylines in the Stanley Cup Final and here are five key angles to the upcoming best-of-seven series to crown the new NHL champion.
1) Chasing History
The Sharks are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history and will try to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in the club's 25-year history. After falling in its previous three Western Conference Final appearances, San Jose overcame St. Louis to advance.
Pittsburgh is 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final all-time. The Penguins hoisted the Cup in 1991 and '92 and after falling to the Red Wings in 2008, they defeated Detroit in 2009 in their last Cup appearance.
2) Veteran Presence
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are chasing their second Stanley Cup together after last lifting the greatest trophy in sports in 2009. Both players enter with 15 points and "Sid the Kid" had three game-winning goals in the series against the Lightning -- including an overtime winner in Game 2.
The Sharks have some veterans of their own and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have finally reached the Cup Final. With 2,778 regular seasons between them, Thornton and Marleau are finally in the championship round.
3) Swimming Sharks
Two San Jose players to look out for this series are Conn Smythe favorite Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture. Pavelski leads the entire NHL with 13 goals in 18 games this spring, and ranks second with 22 points, Couture, meanwhile, is first in the league with 24 points in the playoffs.
4) Sweet Chin Music
The Penguins' "HBK Line" nicknamed after WWE Hall of Famer "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, has been flourishing all postsesaon long. Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel have shown great chemistry and been a nightmare for opposing clubs.
Kessel (9-9--18), Bonino (3-12--15) and Hagelin (5-7--12) have combined for 17 of the Penguins' 58 goals this playoff run and have 45 points between them.
5) Crease Battle
This series will conclude a tremendous story for one of the goaltenders. Sharks netminder Martin Jones is looking to cap off his first season as a No. 1 goalie with a championsihp, while Penguins rookie goalie Matt Murray will try and maintain his poise and win a Stanley Cup in his first playoff action.
Jones, 26, is 12-6 with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Murray, 21, is 11-4 with a 2.21 GAA and a .924 save percentage.
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