The Anaheim Ducks captured their first National Hockey League title in their 14-year history with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, ending the series in five games in front of the home folks yet again.
For the first time, the Stanley Cup resides in California and at the expense of Canada, which hasn't boasted a winner since Montreal in 1993.
"Canada loves their hockey, and from what I heard out there, we have quite a few fans who love their hockey out here, too," said captain Scott Niedermayer, a four-time champion from British Columbia and this year's Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
PHOTO: AP
Calgary, Edmonton and now Ottawa -- in its first trip since the Senators were reborn in 1992 -- each had a chance the past three seasons only to be done in by a US club from the sun belt.
Wayne Gretzky made the game a happening in Southern California when he came to Los Angeles in 1988, the Ducks made it legit two decades later with their second trip to the finals. No longer Disney's darlings, the Mighty Ducks' movie days are gone. A victory rally awaits the new Ducks on Saturday night.
Scott Niedermayer brought his brother Rob and teammates Teemu Selanne and Chris Pronger along for the ride for their first Stanley Cup. Rob Niedermayer is one of three Ducks left from the losing side in 2003 when Scott and the New Jersey Devils captured their third title in Game 7.
Only goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere had something to smile about that year when he was given the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoffs Most Valuable Player (MVP). This was so much sweeter as he stopped 11 shots in the clincher. The biggest roar for him came when Antoine Vermette had the puck slide wide of the post during a third-period penalty shot, the 10th in finals history. Pronger had the only successful attempt last year.
Scott Niedermayer finally earned the MVP award many thought he deserved four years ago. His biggest thrill came when he handed the Cup off to Rob, a big reason he left New Jersey for Anaheim before last season.
Pronger absorbed a hard shot behind the Anaheim net from Antoine Vermette in the first period, leaving him with a separated shoulder. He played the rest of the game, following a brief absence, before returning.
Sticks and gloves flew in front of Giguere when it ended. Fireworks went off and streamers fell as the Ducks rushed off the bench to celebrate.
Selanne bounced on his skates and shook the Cup after Pronger handed it to him on the opposite side of the ice from where a banner dropped signifying the Ducks' championship. Heavy showers of confetti fell to the ice.
Anaheim is the first West Coast city to lay claim to the silver chalice since Victoria of the Western Canada Hockey League defeated Montreal in 1925, two years before NHL clubs began exclusively playing for the Cup.
"Their perseverance and determination in defeating the Ottawa Senators is a testament to the greatness of California's world-class sports teams," California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
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