2003 Stanley Cup Finals

Infobox Stanley Cup Final
year=2003


team2=Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
team2_1=0
team2_2=0
team2_3=3
team2_4=1
team2_5=3
team2_6=5
team2_7=0
team2_tot=3
team1=New Jersey Devils
team1_1=3
team1_2=3
team1_3=2
team1_4=0
team1_5=6
team1_6=2
team1_7=3
team1_tot=4
coaches=New Jersey: Pat Burns
Anaheim: Mike Babcock
captains=New Jersey: Scott Stevens
Anaheim: Paul Kariya
referees=Paul Devorski, Dan Marouelli, Bill McCreary, and Brad Watson [http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy/2003/serieso/game1_recap.shtml]
dates=May 27-June 9, 2003
mvp=Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim
networks=ABC, CBC, ESPN, RDS, NASN
net_announcers=(CBC) Bob Cole, Harry Neale(ESPN/ABC) Gary Thorne, Bill Clement, John Davidson
location1=East Rutherford, NJ (Continental Airlines Arena) (1,2,5,7)
location2=Anaheim, CA (Honda Centre) (3,4,6)
series_winner=Michael Rupp (2:22, 2nd, G7)The 2003 Stanley Cup Finals featured the Eastern Conference finalist, the second-seeded New Jersey Devils, against the Western Conference finalist, the seventh-seeded Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Devils defeated the Mighty Ducks in seven games to win their third Stanley Cup in less than a decade.

Paths to the final

The New Jersey Devils were in the finals for their fourth time after defeating the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, and beating the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Strong goaltending from Martin Brodeur, and strong defense from captain Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer led the way.

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim entered their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history after upsetting two heavily favored teams: sweeping the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings, defeating the Dallas Stars in six games, plus sweeping the upstart Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference Finals thanks to the stellar goaltending of Jean-Sebastien Giguere, only allowing one goal during the entire series. Backing up Giguere were players such as Paul Kariya, Petr Sykora, Adam Oates, plus Rob Niedermayer, brother of then-Devils star defenceman Scott Niedermayer. This series was memorable for two brothers on different teams competing for the same prize.

The series

Games one and two

The series opened with two games in New Jersey. In both games, Martin Brodeur kept the Ducks off the score board while the Devils players continually dominated the Ducks. Both games one and two ended with New Jersey shutting out Anaheim, 3–0.

Games three and four

When the series moved to Anaheim, games three and four were must-win situations for the Ducks. Game three was remembered for the clumsy mistake from Martin Brodeur when he accidentally dropped his stick when the puck came to him, the puck deflected off his fallen stick and into the net to give the Ducks a lucky break and a 2–1 lead. The Devils would later tie the game, but lose in overtime. Over the mistake with his stick, Brodeur later claimed, "It was just one of those once in a lifetime things." Game four had no scoring throughout regulation and was a battle between goaltenders Brodeur and Giguere. But Anaheim again came out on top in overtime, winning 1–0 and tying the series.

Game five

Game five, at the Meadowlands saw a continual battle for the first half the game. With the game tied 3–3 in the second period, the Devils took the lead with a deflection goal by Jay Pandolfo that was initially waved off by referees due to a kicking motion dispute with the skates, but replays showed there was no distinct kicking motion from the skates, thus the goal counted. This would prove to deflate the Ducks for the rest of the game, as Jamie Langenbrunner scored two more goals for the Devils to give New Jersey a 6–3 win and a 3–2 series lead.

Game six

With New Jersey overconfident and looking to clinch the series, game six at Anaheim saw the Mighty Ducks return the favor of game five to the Devils with complete dominance throughout the game. Quite possibly the most remembered moment of the entire series came when the Ducks were winning 3–1 in the second period. Ducks captain Paul Kariya didn't see Scott Stevens coming after he passed the puck and was leveled by the Devils captain in a hit similar to the check that knocked out Eric Lindros during the 2000 playoffs and caused Lindros to miss the next season. The opinions on the hit were mixed as some considered it late and dirty, but the referees ruled it a legal hit. Kariya was lying motionless for a few minutes, then was escorted to the locker room. Kariya unexpectedly returned to the bench minutes later, and about eleven minutes after the hit, fired a slap shot that found the back of the net. The crowd at the Arrowhead Pond erupted as ABC broadcaster Gary Thorne said, "Off the floor, on the board!" This helped the Ducks win the game 5–2 and now put the Ducks within one game of clinching.

Game seven

Game seven on New Jersey home ice saw the Devils once more completely dominate the Ducks. The game winning goal was scored by Michael Rupp. Rupp become the first player in Stanley Cup history to have his first playoff goal be the Stanley Cup winning goal. Jeff Friesen dominated his former teammates with two goals. The 3–0 win gave the Devils their third Stanley Cup victory as Anaheim could not complete their Cinderella run. However, the Mighty Ducks wouldn't leave empty handed; for his stellar play throughout the playoffs and finals, Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the Ducks was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. He became only the fifth player, and fourth goaltender, in NHL history to have won the trophy as a member of the losing team.

Quotes

New Jersey Devils 2003 Stanley Cup champions

Stanley Cup champion
defence=*4 Scott Stevens (Captain)
*2 Richard Smehlik
*3 Ken Daneyko
*5 Colin White
*6 Tommy Albelin
*10 Oleg Tverdovsky
*27 Scott Niedermayer (Alt. Capt)
*28 Brian Rafalski
goaltenders=*30 Martin Brodeur
*35 Corey Schwab
centers=*11 John Madden
*18 Sergei Brylin
*21 Pascal Rheaume
*25 Joe Nieuwendyk
*26 Patrik Elias (Alt. Capt)
wingers=*9 Jiri Bicek
*12 Jeff Friesen
*14 Brian Gionta
*15 Jamie Langenbrunner
*16 Michael Rupp
*17 Christian Berglund†
*19 Jim McKenzie
*20 Jay Pandolfo
*23 Scott Gomez
*24 Turner Stevenson
*29 Grant Marshall
non-players=
*Ray Chambers (Owner/Governor), Lewis Katz (Owner), Peter Simon (Chairman),
*Lou Lamoriello (Chief Executive Officer/President/General Manager)
*Pat Burns (Head Coach), Bobby Carpenter Jr., John MacLean (Ass’t Coach), Jacques Caron (Goaltending Coach),
*Larry Robinson (Special Assignment Coach)
*David Conte (Director-Scouting), Claude Carrier (Ass’t Director-Scouting), Chris Lamoirello (Scout/AHL GM), Milt Fisher, Dan Labraaten(Scouts)
*Marcel Pronovost, Bob Heffmeyer, Jan Ludvig (Scouts), Dr. Barry Fisher (Head Team Physician),
*Chris Modrzynski, Terry Farmer (Vice Presidents), Vladimir Bure (Fitness Consultant), *Taran Singleton (Director-Hockey Operations/Video Coordinator),
*Bill Murray (Medical Trainer), Michael Vasalani (Strength-Conditioning Coordinator),
*Rich Matthews (Equipment Manager), Juergen Merz (Massage Therapists), Alex Abasto (Ass’t Equipment)

Stanley Cup engravings

*Marcel Pronovost won his 8 Stanley Cups - 5 as Player 1950–52–54–55(Detroit), 1967(Toronto), and 3 as a Scout 1995–2000–03(New Jersey). He set the record for years between first and last Stanley Cup wins with 53 years.
* Christian Berglund† played 38 games for New Jersey. His name was left off the cup, because he was sent to the minors, before the trading deadline.
* Jeff Friesen was first player engaved on the Stanley Cup with full middle name JEFF DARYL FRIESEN. Some players in the past had their middle initial included along with their first name on the Stanley cup. 2003 New Jersey included 9 other players who were listed with a middle initial.

Won all three Stanley Cups with New Jersey

Martin Brodeur, Sergei Brylin, Ken Daneyko, Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens (5 players), Bobby Carpenter Jr. (1 player-non player), Lou Lamoriello, Larry Robinson, Jacques Caron, Claude Carrie, David Conte, Milt Fisher, Dan Labraaten, Marcel Provonost, Mike Vasalani, Peter McMullen (left cup in 2003) (10 Non-players).

References

* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1–55168–261–3.

ee also

* 2002–03 NHL season
* 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs