For the 18th time in their 24 years of existence, the Sharks will play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After missing the postseason last year, San Jose finished in third place in the Pacific Division and will take on the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, which starts on Thursday.
In 17 previous trips to the playoffs, the Sharks have never made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, and Las Vegas is giving them long odds to make it out of the Western Conference this time around.
According to Bovada, the Sharks are 8/1 odds to be crowned Western Conference champs. The Kings, on the other hand, are the favorite to win the West at 4/1 odds.
2016 Western Conference Champion:
Los Angeles Kings -- 4/1
Anaheim Ducks -- 9/2
Chicago Blackhawks -- 9/2
Dallas Stars -- 9/2
St. Louis Blues -- 5/1
San Jose Sharks -- 8/1
Nashville Predators -- 12/1
Minnesota Wild -- 14/1
As for hoisting the Cup, the Sharks have 16/1 odds to win the whole thing. The Kings are the second favorite team to win the Cup at 7/1 odds. The Washington Capitals are 3/2 favorites to win the Eastern Conference and 4/1 favorites to win the Cup.
2016 Eastern Conference Champion:
Washington Capitals -- 3/2
Pittsburgh Penguins -- 9/2
New York Rangers -- 7/1
Florida Panthers -- 8/1
Tampa Bay Lightning -- 9/1
New York Islanders -- 10/1
Detroit Red Wings -- 14/1
Philadelphia Flyers -- 14/1
2016 Stanley Cup Winner:
Washington Capitals -- 4/1
Los Angeles Kings -- 7/1
Chicago Blackhawks -- 15/2
Anaheim Ducks -- 8/1
Dallas Stars -- 8/1
Pittsburgh Penguins -- 9/1
St. Louis Blues -- 10/1
New York Rangers -- 16/1
San Jose Sharks -- 16/1
Florida Panthers -- 20/1
Tampa Bay Lightning -- 20/1
Nashville Predators -- 25/1
New York Islanders -- 25/1
Minnesota Wild -- 28/1
Philadelphia Flyers -- 25/1
Detroit Red Wings -- 33/1
