Top stats to know: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks in Stanley Cup finals

11:37 AM ET

The Sharks are in their first Stanley Cup finals in franchise history while the Penguins are looking for their fourth Stanley Cup and first since 2009. Below are the top stats to know about the Stanley Cup finals, which begin Monday night.

Numbers of note

Over the last 10 seasons (since 2006-07), the Penguins and Sharks own the NHL’s two best points percentages. The Sharks are playing for the Stanley Cup for the first time in team history after entering the NHL during the 1991-92 season.

The last team to make its Stanley Cup Final debut was the 2007 Senators, which lost to the Ducks in 5 games. Meanwhile, the Penguins are in the Stanley Cup finals for a fifth time since their first appearance in 1991. Only the Red Wings have made more Cup Final appearances (6) in that span.

This will be the third Stanley Cup Final appearance for Sidney Crosby, who was drafted No. 1 overall in 2005. Elias Sports Bureau research shows that Crosby joins Mike Modano and Patrick Kane as No. 1 overall picks drafted since 1979 (the first Draft after the NHL/WHA merger) to make at least three Stanley Cup Final appearances. Marc-Andre Fleury (drafted No. 1 overall in 2003) could make this list as well if he plays in any game in this series.

The Sharks have players who went 1-2 in the 1997 NHL Draft in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Per Elias, Marleau and Thornton will have the second and third-most career regular-season games played at the time of their 1st Stanley Cup Final appearance. Dave Andreychuk ranks first (1,597 games before first Cup appearance).

The Sharks’ appearance in the Stanley Cup Final is the fourth by a California team over the last 10 seasons. By contrast, teams from Canada have two appearances in that span.

The Sharks have …

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