The New Jersey Devils begin their quest for a third National ice Hockey League title when they take on the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in Game One of the Stanley Cup finals Tuesday night in New Jersey.
The Devils are coming off a dramatic, seven-game series win over the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference finals. The Ducks have had 11 days off since knocking out the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference finals.
This is the third time in four years the Devils have been in the Stanley Cup finals; they won the Cup in 2000 and lost in the finals in 2001 to the Colorado Avalanche. Anaheim has never been this far in the playoffs before.
The series promises to be a battle of two outstanding goalkeepers: Jean Sebastien Giguere of Anaheim and Martin Broduer of New Jeresey. Giguere has allowed just over 1.2 goals per game in the playoffs and has a 96 percent save average. Broduer has a 1.62 goals-against average and a 12-5 playoff mark. The Devils have eight wins and one loss at home while the Ducks have six wins and one loss on the road.