Pittsburgh Penguins

Mac Williamson is greeted by manager Bruce Bochy after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jonathon Niese in the sixth inning of Thursday's game in Pittsburgh. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Giants clinch a winning June record

PITTSBURGH — A makeshift lineup was more than enough for the San…

 

The Warriors must hope their best chance to win a championship hasn’t passed. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

It’s Warriors’ series to lose, but hoops gods shouldn’t be tempted

The Warriors have been here before. In Cleveland for Game 6 of…

 

San Jose Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer, center, watches during the third period of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, June 12, 2016. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Sharks deal with sudden end to season after Cup final loss

ALAMEDA, Calif. — After a two-month playoff run that changed the perception…

 

The Sharks could only watch as the Penguins celebrated with the Stanley Cup. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Sharks’ dream run ends by watching Penguins celebrate

There’s only one winner. As we know so well. And so painfully,…

The Sharks could only watch as the Penguins celebrated with the Stanley Cup. (Eric Risberg/AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins players celebrate after beating the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday. The Penguins won 3-1 to win the series 4-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)

Sharks’ Stanley Cup hopes eliminated

SAP CENTER —  The Stanley Cup Final ended with thousands disappointed in…

Pittsburgh Penguins players celebrate after beating the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Sunday. The Penguins won 3-1 to win the series 4-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)
A man cheers after walking through an inflatable shark outside SAP Center before the start of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, Monday, June 6, 2016. (Eric Risberg/AP)

San Who-Dey Is Big Loser in Stanley Cup Final

CLEVELAND - There are a number of real hockey markets that deserve…

A man cheers after walking through an inflatable shark outside SAP Center before the start of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, Monday, June 6, 2016. (Eric Risberg/AP)
San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was a key player in Game 5 on Thursday. He will need to have a repeat performance in Game 6 on Sunday. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

Sharks know getting ahead early a key to survival

Throughout the Stanley Cup finals, San Jose Sharks players have made it…

San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones was a key player in Game 5 on Thursday. He will need to have a repeat performance in Game 6 on Sunday. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Sidney Crosby (87) can’t get the puck past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Sharks aren’t done yet

PITTSBURGH — Martin Jones stopped everything. The seemingly endless barrage of shots…

Sidney Crosby (87) can’t get the puck past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Eric Fehr, left, scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images via AP, Pool)

Sharks in danger of being on wrong end of gentleman’s sweep

SAN JOSE — The task facing the San Jose Sharks is daunting:…

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Eric Fehr, left, scores a goal past San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Monday. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images via AP, Pool)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cullen, left, moves the puck past San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns (88) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, June 6, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Ben Margot/AP)

Sharks in too deep

SAP CENTER — The San Jose Sharks fell apart Monday night at…

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cullen, left, moves the puck past San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns (88) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Monday, June 6, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. Pittsburgh won, 3-1. (Ben Margot/AP)
San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27), from Finland, scores the winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during overtime of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, June 4, 2016. The Sharks won 3-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)

With stars neutralized, unsung players step up in Cup final

SAN JOSE — This is a Stanley Cup Final filled with stars…

San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27), from Finland, scores the winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during overtime of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, June 4, 2016. The Sharks won 3-2. (Eric Risberg/AP)
San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of the leading scorers in the playoffs, but he hasn’t registered a goal or assist in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Point-less Pavelski must lead Sharks in Game 3

After losing the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals to…

San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski is one of the leading scorers in the playoffs, but he hasn’t registered a goal or assist in the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Goalie Matt Murray, right, rushes to join his teammates as they mob Conor Sheary after his game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday. The Penguins won 2-1 to take a 2-0 game lead in the series. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

Sharks fall into 2-0 hole in Stanley Cup finals

PITTSBURGH — Conor Sheary started the season in the minor leagues. Safe…

Goalie Matt Murray, right, rushes to join his teammates as they mob Conor Sheary after his game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first overtime period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday. The Penguins won 2-1 to take a 2-0 game lead in the series. (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Joe Pavelski skates past Pittsburgh Penguins’ Justin Schultz during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Sharks look to rebound from poor start

PITTSBURGH — The nerves are gone. Spending your franchise’s first 20 minutes…

Joe Pavelski skates past Pittsburgh Penguins’ Justin Schultz during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust, center, celebrates his goal against San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the first period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final series Monday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Penguins edge Sharks 3-2 in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

PITTSBURGH — Nick Bonino looks the part. Thatchy beard that juts out…

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust, center, celebrates his goal against San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) during the first period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final series Monday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton talks to reporters during Stanley Cup Finals media day in Pittsburgh, Sunday May 29, 2016. The Sharks face off in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 30, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Long road to Cup Final ends for rebuilt Sharks and Penguins

PITTSBURGH — It wasn't supposed to take the San Jose Sharks this…

San Jose Sharks' Joe Thornton talks to reporters during Stanley Cup Finals media day in Pittsburgh, Sunday May 29, 2016. The Sharks face off in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, May 30, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
San Jose Sharks fans love their team in the postseason. In Pittsburgh, hockey is religion. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

’Guins, Fins make odd Stanley Cup-ple

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the…

San Jose Sharks fans love their team in the postseason. In Pittsburgh, hockey is religion. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, center, celebrates his goal with teammates Patrick Marleau, right, and Joe Thornton (19) during the first period of Game 7 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinal series against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, May 12, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Longtime Sharks savor first trip to Stanley Cup finals

SAN JOSE — Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have been linked ever…

San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski, center, celebrates his goal with teammates Patrick Marleau, right, and Joe Thornton (19) during the first period of Game 7 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinal series against the Nashville Predators on Thursday, May 12, 2016, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Marc-Edouard Vlasic defends Predators center Paul Gaustad (28) during Game 4. Vlasic is no stranger to putting his body on the line against a speeding slapshot. (Mark Zaleski/AP)

NHL defenders put team above human nature

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The only good thing about taking a puck to…

Marc-Edouard Vlasic defends Predators center Paul Gaustad (28) during Game 4. Vlasic is no stranger to putting his body on the line against a speeding slapshot. (Mark Zaleski/AP)
Jeff Chiu/AP File PhotoIn this Oct. 2

York family ties to hockey run deep

SANTA CLARA — Long before he took over the San Francisco 49ers…

Jeff Chiu/AP File PhotoIn this Oct. 2