2007: Brother Act Brings Cup To Anaheim

The year is 2007. This year, Mrs. Niedermayer does not have to choose between her sons.

Back in 2003, Scott Niedermayer's New Jersey Devils defeated Rob Niedermayer's Anaheim Ducks to win the Stanley Cup. In the brother vs. brother showdown, Mom publicly declared she was cheering for Rob, only because he had never won the Stanley Cup before. Scott had won it three times previously.

Fast forward to 2007. Now Scott has joined Rob in Anaheim, and the Ducks are back in the finals. This time they are facing the Ottawa Senators.

The Sens are led by the high scoring line of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley. The trio would finish 1-2-3 in post-season scoring, all tallying 22 points each.

But that would not be enough, as the Ducks dust off the Sens in 5 games.

The Ducks had a great arsenal of talent and depth. J.S. Giguere was solid in net throughout the playoffs. The Ducks' blue line was dominating with fearsome Chris Pronger, hard hitting Francois Beauchemin, cagey veteran Sean O'Donnell and the offensive rover Scott Niedermayer eating up most of the minutes. Up front youngsters Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Dustin Penner, and Chris Kunitz playing big roles along side veterans like Andy McDonald and, winning his first Stanley Cup, Teemu Selanne.

Scott Niedermayer was a popular choice to win the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP, though it was no clear-cut choice with goaltender Giguere playing so well. Sami Pahlsson also played incredibly well. Pahlsson, who as a prospect was once traded for Raymond Bourque, established himself as the NHL's new sensational shutdown center.

By winning the Cup Anaheim became the first west coast city to win the Stanley Cup since the Victoria Cougars (who later became the Detroit Red Wings) won in 1925.

A special moment occurred for the third game in Ottawa. 91 year old Sens fan Russell Williams attended the game as a special guest of owner Eugene Melnyk. Williams was in attendance during the finals game ever played in Ottawa, way back in 1927 when the original Senators played against the Boston Bruins in the old Ottawa Auditorium.

Anaheim countered by winning over Snoop Dogg as a hockey fan.