Sharks Fans Set for First Cup Final Home Game

SAN JOSE — The sweaters will represent the generations of fans as well as the generations of players. You’ll see Tomas Hertl sweaters, celebrating the newest star of the San Jose Sharks. You’ll see Brent Burns, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski sweaters, nodding to the younger core, and Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau sweaters, standing by the older veterans.

But you’ll see Mike Ricci and Owen Nolan sweaters too, worn by fans who want to show everyone they have been supporting the Sharks before this bandwagon began rolling. Bonus points if you find a Pat Falloon sweater: the original. Grand prize if you find an Oakland Seals or a California Golden Seals sweater: old school.

Northern California hockey fans have been waiting for this moment since the Sharks entered the NHL in 1991 and the Seals played in the League from 1967-76. Finally, the Final, the Stanley Cup Final, will be played here for the first time when the Sharks host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 at SAP Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

“You can feel the energy going around the city right now,” Pavelski said. “Everyone’s excited for this game here.”

The Sharks need to harness that energy the way they have throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, during which they have gone 7-2 at home. Trailing 2-0 in this best-of-7 series, having been outplayed handily despite two one-goal margins, they risk draining what they have generated on this run. Falling behind 3-0 would put the battery on red.

Let’s face it: The Sharks …

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