NHL: Ducks win first Stanley Cup title

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The Anaheim Ducks were born on the silver screen and came of age by capturing the shiniest of silver cups.
They dropped the mighty from their name, but not their game and skated off with the first Stanley Cup championship in California history.
The 14-year-old Ducks captured the NHL title with a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, ending the series in five games in front of the home folks again.
For the first time, the Stanley Cup can enjoy an NHL western home, and the Ducks' victory came at the expense of Canada. The cherished trophy was born in Ottawa, but no team north of the border has won it 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.
Calgary, Edmonton and now Ottawa -- in its first trip since the Senators were reborn in 1992 -- had three straight chances only to be done in by U.S. clubs from the sun belt. Tampa Bay, Carolina and Anaheim aren't traditional hockey hotbeds but they have been the Cup's warm weather homes since 2004.
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. No longer Disney's darlings, the Mighty Ducks' movie days are gone. A victory rally awaits the new Ducks on Saturday...Full Story