from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

Joe Thornton leaned back in his chair and considered the question: Is this the closest he has ever been to the Stanley Cup Final in his 18-season NHL career?

He went through the past two times he had made the Western Conference Final with the San Jose Sharks. In 2010, they were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2011, they lost in five games to the Vancouver Canucks.

Then he broke out in a big smile, his white teeth shining amid his bushy, brown-and-gray beard.

"Yeah," Thornton said. "It's the closest, I guess."

The Sharks have been through so much over the years -- high expectations, bitter disappointments, captaincy changes, coaching changes -- and now they are in the conference final again, dominating the St. Louis Blues, two wins from making the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since the franchise began playing in the NHL in 1991-92.

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Below, watch highlights of the Sharks 3-0 win over the Blues....