NEW YORK - Sidney Crosby opens his bid to match Canadian countryman Mario Lemieux as a two-time Stanley Cup winner when the Pittsburgh Penguins begin the National Hockey League Finals on Monday against visiting San Jose.
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final
Crosby scored the gold medal-winning over-time goal for Canada in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic final after leading Pittsburgh to the 2009 NHL crown, but the Penguins have not been back to the best-of-seven championship series until now.
"We know the biggest challenge is ahead of us, but we've got a great opportunity," Crosby said. "It wasn't easy getting to this point. It would be great to finish it off the right way."
Pittsburgh ousted Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference final while the Sharks eliminated St. Louis in the West to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their quarter-century history.
"It's a great test for us," Sharks center Joe Thornton said. "They are a great team with some great players. We've got to be ready come Monday night."
Crosby, the 28-year-old Penguins captain and 2005 NHL Draft top pick, played briefly as a rookie with Lemieux, the Hall of Fame center known as "Super Mario" who led the Penguins to Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Lemieux later became the team owner and had "Sid the Kid" living in his home during his rookie season.
Crosby led the Penguins with 36 goals this season while Russian center Evgeni Malkin added 27 and Phil Kessel had 26.
The Penguins struggled early but after Mike Johnston was fired and Mike Sullivan replaced him as coach last December, Pittsburgh produced the best record in the NHL after January 1.
"They definitely changed some things when they brought the new coach in and got that ball rolling in the right direction," said Sharks coach Peter DeBoer. "They were the best team in the league in the second half of the year.
"We know how tough an opponent this is. They have two of the best players in the world (in Crosby and Malkin). They are a deep team. It's a great challenge. Our guys are excited."
Kessel, with playoff team highs of nine goals and nine assists, has sparked the Penguins in the post-season alongside linemates Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino.
Backstopping the Penguins' playoff run has been goaltender Matt Murray, who turned 22 earlier this month. Injured veteran Marc-Andre Fleury has stayed benched since getting healthy by Murray, whose 11 wins in 15 playoff games are more than his 9 wins in 13 regular-season contests.
"I know there are a lot of stories that surround this group, but the greatest story of all is the group itself," Sullivan said. "When you're part of something that's bigger than yourself it's a special feeling and I know these guys have it right now."
The Sharks' breakthrough has given Patrick Marleau, whose entire 18-season career has been spent in San Jose, and Thornton, who like Marleau has more than 1,500 NHL games, their first trip to the Cup finals.
"You don't make it this far all the time obviously," Marleau said. "Just trying to seize the moment."