mark sayre is live at the center. game 1 is in pittsburgh. we know local fans will be glued to the tv screens tomorrow. >> indeed, brian. you can see and feel the enthusiasm here. both the sharks and the city are planning big celebrations tomorrow. >> reporter: just minutes after the sharks store opened with special sunday hours, it was already jammed. fans pouring in to snatch up merchandise and show their support for the team. >> how exciting is this? >> breathtaking. i don't know what to say. breathtaking. excited. >> reporter: it took the sharks six games to defeat the st. louis blues and earn the first spot in the finals since the team was founded 25 years ago. the fans don't get anymore serious than matt winstead. >> i was at their very first practice back september 6th, 1991 at the cow palace. >> reporter: and winstead says for fans, this long journey to the stanley cup finals is about so much more than just hockey. >> it's been 25 years, not just the sharks. it's about memories you have with people, life, family, and people that were

kpix 5's mark sayre caught up with fans who have been waiting 25 years for this moment. >> reporter: the sharks took to the ice in pittsburgh today running practice drills but back here at home, fans jammed in to the sharks' store, snapping up merchandise and showing their support for the team. >> how exciting is this? >> breathtaking. i don't know what to say. breathtaking. excited. >> reporter: it took the sharks six games to defeat the st. louis blues and earn the first spot in the finals since the team was founded 25 years ago. the fans don't get anymore serious than matt winstead. >> i was at their very first practice back september 6th, 1999 at the cow palace. >> reporter: and winstead says for fans this long journey to the stanley cup finals is about so much more than just hockey. >> and it's been 25 years. not just the sharks. it's about memories you have with people. your life and your family and people you've lost that were sharks fans. >> reporter: winstead never imagined the sharks would get this far this season. so me and his fianci melissa scheduled their wedding for ne