How Sharks Got to Stanley Cup Final

The San Jose Sharks have reached uncharted territory: the Stanley Cup Final.

Their first appearance in the championship round keeps the dream alive for the perfect conclusion to their 25th anniversary season. One of the most successful teams of the past decade, previously defined by its Stanley Cup Playoff shortcomings, has finally exceeded expectations.

Since 2005-06, the Sharks have more regular-season wins (501) than any team in the NHL. They have qualified for the postseason in 11 of 12 seasons dating to 2003-04. They made the Western Conference Final three times prior to this year (2004, 2010, 2011) but could never get over the hump — until now.

The previous two seasons were the most excruciating in their history. In 2014, the Sharks became the fourth team in NHL history to lose a playoff series after winning the first three games, and it came at the hands of the eventual champion Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks underachieved and missed the playoffs in 2014-15, leading to the firing of coach Todd McLellan.

But that’s history. The 2015-16 Sharks have evolved into the complete package, with consistent contributions throughout the lineup, whether from veteran leaders Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski or relative newcomers Brent Burns and Logan Couture. Each Sharks player has bought into coach Peter DeBoer’s system of strong defensive values and possession prowess. He, in turn, has incorporated offensive freedom given the wealth of talent at his disposal.

In the regular season, the Sharks had three players among the top 11 in the NHL in scoring. Thornton, 36, turned back the clock with 82 points in 82 games, tied for fourth-most in the League. Pavelski was fifth in goals and tied for sixth in points. Burns, whose 75 points were 11th, scored 27 goals, the most by a defenseman since 2008-09. Burns also became one of three expansion-era defensemen with 350 or more shots on goal in a single season. The other two are Bobby Orr (five times) and Ray Bourque (twice).

San Jose finished third in the Pacific Division but had the depth and firepower all along to make a lengthy playoff run. Having Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic healthy in the postseason has taken the Sharks to new heights. They defeated the Kings in five games to avenge their disaster in the 2014 playoffs, won all four home games (including Game 7) against the Nashville Predators, and outscored the St. Louis Blues 18-8 at even strength, leading to a series-clinching win in Game 6 at SAP Center on Wednesday.

As he did with the New Jersey Devils in 2012, DeBoer got the Sharks to the Cup Final in his first season as coach, one year after they missed the postseason. He was left off the list of Jack Adams Award finalists in his first season with the Sharks but ultimately helped them navigate the difficult Western Conference and maximize a core group that never before reached its collective potential.

So, with the Stanley Cup Final set to begin Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA Sports), here are the moments, moves and players that have gotten the Sharks this far:

BEST MOMENT: Game 6 against St. Louis

The Sharks made history on home ice in Game 6 against the Blues, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and holding on for a 5-2 win. Goalie Martin Jones made big saves when he needed to, and San Jose’s first, second and third line each scored. After the handshake line, the Sharks …

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