Stanley Cup Final 2016: Dates, Times and TV Info for Sharks vs. Penguins

The San Jose Sharks have surmounted every obstacle they have seen in the NHL playoffs. Can anything the Pittsburgh Penguins do keep the Sharks from winning the Stanley Cup?

The Sharks have conquered the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their history. They have also overcome their own history of falling short when it has mattered the most.

They have an immediate problem right off the bat in their championship series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They will have to overcome Pittsburgh's home-ice advantage in the series that begins Monday night in the Consol Energy Center.

The victories over the Kings and Blues came despite their opponents having the extra home game. The Sharks went 3-0 in their playoff games at Los Angeles and 2-1 in St. Louis.

The only time they did not win a road game came in the second round against the Predators, although the Sharks managed to survive and advance by going 4-0 at the SAP Center and 0-3 at the Bridgestone Arena. Even though they lost all three games in Nashville, they did not play badly away from home. Two of their three losses went into overtime, including one that ended in triple overtime.

Prior to this year, San Jose fell short in the playoffs because it simply did not have enough players who produced in the most important games.

Now, head coach Peter DeBoer has three stars in Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns who have passed the baton among them when it comes to making decisive plays throughout the postseason.

Game	Date	Location	Time (ET)	TV
Game 1	May 30	at Pittsburgh	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS
Game 2	June 1	at Pittsburgh	8 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
Game 3	June 4	at San Jose	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS
Game 4	June 6	at San Jose	8 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
Game 5*	June 9	at Pittsburgh	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS
Game 6*	June 12	at San Jose	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS
Game 7*	June 15	at Pittsburgh	8 p.m.	NBC, CBC, TVAS

Couture is the leading scorer in the postseason with 24 points, as he has tallied eight goals and 16 assists. He seemingly needs just a half-step of daylight to make the pass or shot that leads to a goal. Pavelski has scored an eye-opening 13 goals and added nine assists for 22 points. Four of his goals have been game-winners.

Burns is a nonstop shooting machine from the blue line and excels at getting his powerful shot through traffic and on goal. He has scored six goals and 14 assists and is adept at carrying the puck up the ice to create scoring opportunities.

All three of the stars have thrived on the power play, as they have combined for 13 goals and 16 assists with the man advantage.

The Big Three have gotten plenty of support from Joe Thornton (18 points), Joel Ward (11 points), Patrick Marleau (12 points), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (11 points) and Tomas Hertl (10 points). 

When the supporting cast is so productive, it takes pressure off the top three players and makes it easier for them to do their jobs.

Burns gave credit to his defensive partner Paul Martin as a big reason he has been able to play well on the offensive end. Not only for Martin's solid defensive play, but his personality as well.

Burns told Brian Compton of NHL.com: 

"

He's an unbelievable partner. He's fun to be around off the ice. I think that's huge. Can't say enough, he's been great. I don't know if it's experience, I just think his personality is very—he's very calm. I think the good thing is he reads plays really well and we've developed chemistry that I can read off him and he reads off me, and it's been working.

"

The Penguins have also developed chemistry this season as they pursue their first Stanley Cup since 2009. While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been the headliners on this team for years, the entire squad has come together under head coach Mike Sullivan in the second half of the season and the playoffs.

Phil Kessel, who has been criticized in the past for not being in shape or for shying away from the big moments, has had a brilliant first playoff run with the Penguins. He has scored nine goals and nine assists and leads the team with 18 points. Malkin, Crosby and Nick Bonino are tied for second with 15 points.

Despite playing in the league since the 2006-07 season, Kessel had played just 22 postseason games in his career, and 15 of them had been with the Boston Bruins during the first three seasons. He had played in just one playoff series with the Maple Leafs during his six seasons in Toronto.

He is thrilled to have a chance to play in the Stanley Cup Final. 

Kessel told Compton:

"

You cherish it, because let me tell you, they don't come very often. It's tough to get here. I'm really excited to be here. … You never think this is going to happen. You dream it. But to get a chance to play for the Stanley Cup is something you dreamt of as a kid, and it's right here. You realize how tough it is. It is really tough to get here. And we're here, so hopefully we can make the best of it.

"