SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – It’s a new adventure for the San Jose Sharks and their fans, and the same old story for the St. Louis Blues. The Sharks are in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in team history following a 5-2 win over the Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. Joel Ward scored twice, including the game-winner early in the third period. It was a 4-0 lead for San Jose once Joonas Donskoi beat Brian Elliott 8:11 into the third period. Joe Pavelski put San Jose ahead to stay 3:57 into the contest. Patrick Marleau contributed an empty-netter and two assists for the Sharks, who didn’t allow a goal until Vladimir Tarasenko tallied twice in the final 8:21. Martin Jones stopped 23 shots for the Sharks, who had been to the Western Conference finals three previous times without advancing. The Blues still haven’t reached the finals since 1970, when they were ousted by Bobby Orr’s overtime goal in a four-game sweep by the Boston Bruins. St. Louis will spend yet another season as the lone existing team from the NHL’s 1967 expansion without a Stanley Cup.
