The rosters of the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks are loaded with talent. Here are four players - two from each team - to keep an eye on in what will be a memorable Stanley Cup Final:
Sidney Crosby
The Kid's 28, a man now. While Sidney Crosby remains arguably the NHL's best player and the face of professional hockey, it's been seven long years since he played in the Stanley Cup Final. After his concussion issues, the thought crossed his mind, and certainly yours: Would he ever make it back to the top?
Crosby's back, and he's taking nothing for granted. He understands what the journey means. He appreciates how difficult it is to not only win a Stanley Cup, but how tough it is to be one of two teams left standing in June.
Nobody works harder than Crosby. And while it's almost crazy to say, "Watch Crosby, the generational talent, during the Stanley Cup Final," it must be said. Because if the past seven years taught us anything, it's that nothing is guaranteed. The game promises zero. This could be Crosby's last chance at a Stanley Cup, which would only be his second. Cherish the moment. You know Sid will.
"I'll do everything I can to try to do it," Crosby said of winning his second Cup, writes NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I probably enjoy (being in the Cup Final again) more now having realized how tough it is to get here."
Tomas Hertl
Tomas Hertl is having the time of his life.
"I like to be smiling all the time," Hertl said Sunday during media day. "Some guys back home (say), 'You smiling all the time, just give me a break! I don't have time for smiling.' (I say), 'OK, I just like it, guys, I can't. I can't stop it."
You'd be smiling non-stop, too, if you were 22 years old and playing for the Stanley Cup.
Hertl's been productive this spring, with five goals and five assists in 18 games. And if he can produce during the final, he'll go a long way in helping San Jose win its first Stanley Cup. The Penguins have their hands full in Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns, Joe Thornton, and Patrick Marleau. It's going to be up to Hertl and teammates Joel Ward and Joonas Donskoi to provide secondary scoring.
The Prague native is the most talented of the Sharks' depth forwards. He's averaging almost 18 minutes a night, more ice than Marleau, and is fourth on the club in the playoffs with 45 shots. Hertl's got flair, he's immensely talented, and should he leave his mark on this series, he'll find his name on the Cup for the rest of time.
Nick Bonino
After three rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nick Bonino is second on the Penguins in scoring and has as many points as Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Yeah.
Bonino has been a beast for the Penguins through 18 games, centering the "HBK" line with Carl Hagelin and leading scorer Phil Kessel. And Pittsburgh's going to need that line to continue to do work if it wants to win the Cup.
After taking a shot off his foot in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bonino didn't practice Sunday, but "will be fine" for Game 1 on Monday, according to head coach Mike Sullivan. His fitness will be worth monitoring, at least early in the series.
Bonino had 29 points during the regular season, and played 15:50 a game. He's up to 17:03 in the playoffs, and, as mentioned, has 15 points, more than 50 percent of his production during the 82-game schedule. One of his three goals was an overtime winner.
It's as simple as this: Pittsburgh needs Bonino - and Brian Dumoulin, playing more than 20 minutes on the blue line - to continue his miraculous spring.
Martin Jones
Believe it or not, based on save percentage only, the Penguins have the advantage in goal.
| Matt Murray | Statistic | Martin Jones |
|---|---|---|
| .924 | SV% | .919 |
| 2.22 | GAA | 2.12 |
| 437 | Shots Against | 479 |
| 404 | Saves | 440 |
| 33 | Goals Against | 39 |
| 1 | Shutouts | 3 |
| 11 | Wins | 12 |
| 15 | Starts | 18 |
Now, Martin Jones has played three more games than his rookie counterpart Matt Murray, but both goalies are freshmen when it comes to the Stanley Cup Final.
Murray turned 22 last week. He's playing pressure-free hockey in a way, simply enjoying the ride. Jones is 26. This was the season he finally got his shot. He ran with it. But facing a formidable Penguins offense, he's going to have to be better than Murray in order for the Sharks to come away with the Cup.
Both goalies are interesting players to watch, simply because they're so green, and play such an integral position. Jones, though, seems to have a bit more on the line than Murray.
