Moen's late goal wins first game of Stanley Cup Finals

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a puck before the start of Game One of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals between the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators in Anaheim, California, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Travis Moen scored the winning goal with 2:51 remaining in the third period to give the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 victory over Ottawa in Anaheim, California, on Monday in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Ducks, who lost their only prior National Hockey League championship appearance to New Jersey in 2003, took a 1-0 lead over Ottawa, trying to become the first Canadian Cup winners since 1993, in the best-of-seven title series.

With overtime looming, the Ducks grabbed their first lead on what left wing Moen described as the biggest goal of his career. Moen took a pass from Rob Niedermayer and scored his fifth goal of the playoffs.

"That's a pretty big goal," Moen said. "I don't think I've ever scored one bigger than this. It was a pretty big win. We played hard."

Ottawa's Mike Fisher opened the scoring just 98 seconds into the game with a power play goal but Andy McDonald equalized for the Ducks 10:55 into the first period off a pass from Finnish star Teemu Selanne.

"We did some good things. We were physical," McDonald said. "As the game went on we wore their defense down and I think that was a factor."

Wade Redden's power play goal 4:36 into the second period put the Senators ahead 2-1.

"We had a so-so first period but the second period wasn't bad. We came on strong and got some chances, got a couple of big power-play goals," Fisher said.

A loose puck in the middle of the ice and a lost stick by Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere contributed to the Ottawa tally, which was also aided by the Ducks being whistled for a penalty.

"It was a tough game. We took too many penalties. We have to tighten up there and come game two we will be ready," Moen said. "We played the way we wanted to, physical. We just took a few penalties we can't take.

"We shore that up and we will be all right."

The Ducks pressed the attack in the third period and leveled the score once more 5:44 into the session on a backhander by Ryan Getzlaf, who credit the hard hitting of teammates Shawn Thornton, Brad May and Todd Marchant for sparking Anaheim.

"I don't think we came out with an excellent effort," Getzlaf said. "Thornton and Mayday and Marchant went out with that one shift and they hit everything in sight and kept the puck in [Ottawa's] zone for about two-and-a-half minutes."