Are the San Jose Sharks ready for the Stanley Cup Finals?

The San Jose Sharks have asserted themselves as the top team in the Western conference after years of choking early on in the playoffs. To top that they have finally reached their first Stanley cup final in team history. All while standing on the backs of aging veterans like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and on unbelievable goaltending by first time starter Martin Jones. But the Sharks have unfortunately run into the hot goaltending of Pittsburgh's Matt Murray. Who has been outstanding for the Penguins since taking over the starting job from Marc Andre Fleury at the end of the season. Murray has been Ken Dryden esc leading the Penguins past Stanley Cup favorite's Washington and the Tampa Bay lightning. Who were on fire heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. 

After just two games The Sharks have had to ask themselves a few very difficult question about their team's identity. They have battled very hard in games one and two, which were both decided by just one goal. But it's the Shark's lack of offense that has worried most fan throughout the early parts of the final. At the center of that question is the aging vet with on of the best beards of the playoffs Joe Thornton. Thornton has been the model o consistency for most of his career in the regular season, basically staying a point per game player of his entire career. Plus, a passing ability that isn't matched by many other people in the history of the NHL. 

But Jumbo Joe has struggled so far to get his offense going, this has been attributed to Penguins physical style in both games in the series so far. They are sticking big bodied defense man on him like Ben Lovejoy who aren't afraid to scrap with Thornton. His line mates have also struggled since he hasn't been producing, causing coach Daboer to switch up that line and try a few different combinations during game 2. The Sharks are getting some production from players like Joel Ward, who always seems to raise his game when it come to the crunch time of playoffs. Or even ex-Penguin Paul Martin who has been one of best defenseman for the Sharks so far in the finals. Martin has been a model of consistency on the defense side of the puck. He along with Brent Burns have really held that blue line together since the start of the playoffs. 

Finals there's Martin Jones the former Kings goalie who has lived up to his potential in the big show. Jones has been sold through the playoffs and has been pretty good so far in the finals. But he will have to get better and steal some games here in the rest of the series if the Sharks are going to win. The Sharks are ready for the Stanley Cup finals, and just need some bounces to go their way to show all the doubters that they are the real deal this year. That all starts Saturday in San Jose for game three, the Sharks will need both at home to climb back into the series. Don't forget a 2-0 lead isn't safe just ask the Canucks of 2011 when they squared off against the Bruins.