PITTSBURGH -- Friends become foes when the puck drops on the Stanley Cup finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks, Monday at 8 p.m. ET at the Consol Energy Center.
Sunday was the annual media day on the eve of the finals. Management, coaches and players spewed comments about respecting their opponents and how much they value their contributions to the game of hockey.
Blah, blah blah.
When Game 1 gets under way, all those flowery comments go out the window because hockey's ultimate goal is at stake. Over the next two-plus weeks, the Penguins and Sharks will battle, claw and chew their way for the opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup in victory.