SAN JOSE -- The roar started in the third period. The sold out home crowd, which had waited a generation for this moment, rose up in unison to begin the countdown on the biggest win in Sharks franchise history.
Finally, after 25 years, it had arrived. Just one season after missing the playoffs, the Sharks on Wednesday took their most momentous step to date, beating the St. Louis Blues 5-2 to win the Western Conference finals in six games and punch their ticket to their first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup final. The Cup final will open Monday against Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay at a site to be determined Thursday night when the Penguins host the Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals.