The Anaheim Ducks won their first Stanley Cup after beating the Ottawa Senators 6-2 and extending the Canadians title drought.
The cherished trophy was born in Ottawa, but no team north of the border has won it since Montreal in 1993.
After the 2003 disappointment of losing the Cup in seven games to the New Jersey Devils, the Ducks didn’t let the second opportunity slip away and took the best-of-seven series 4-1.
They became the first California-based team to hoist the treasured trophy.
”It's the highest accomplishment,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “Obviously I played for a number of years. I've been in the game professionally for 30 years and this is my first Stanley Cup. And I'm going to savor this for a few days anyways. We'll allow more than the 10-minute rule that we have.”
The Ducks took a 2-0 lead in the first period, then 4-2 after the second offsetting Daniel Alfredsson’s two goals and scored another 2 goals in the third to clinch the Cup.
After the two goals from Alfredsson, the Senators were back in the game but disaster struck after a gaffe by Chris Phillips, who picked up the puck behind his net and as he was coming from behind the net he lost the handle on the puck and it got caught in Emery’s skates and the unsuspecting goalie ended up putting the puck into his own net at 15:44.
Although no Duck touched the puck Travis Moen, the closest to the play, was credited with the goal.
This victory was especially appreciated by veteran Teemu Selanne, who had appeared in 1,041 regular-season games without winning a Cup.
”Obviously, we had to wait a long time for something unbelievable,” an emotional Selanne said. “And it really makes it even more special. To get the win in our own home building … I'm so proud of my teammates. We've been like brothers. And we have had one dream together, and that's why it's so special.”
J.S. Giguere, Chris Pronger, Sean O’Donnell and Todd Marchant also won their first Cups too, as did the Ducks’ young players like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Dustin Perry and Andy McDonald.
