East Rutherford, May 28: Goalie Martin Brodeur came up with a 16 save shutout to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 3-0 win over the visiting Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the first game of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup final. Playing for the first time in 11 days, Anaheim looked lethargic as Jeff Friesen scored twice for the Devils. Anaheim managed just eight shots through two periods although goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere kept the Ducks even in the first period. But Friesen put New Jersey in front 1:45 into the second. Sergei Brylin moved the puck to Friesen at the left faceoff dot and he wristed a shot inside the left post for his sixth playoff goal and fourth game-winner. Grant Marshall made it 2-0 when he scored 5:34 into the third period. Giguere made a chest save on Patrik Elias' point-blank shot from the slot, but the rebound came back to Elias, who drew defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski before sliding to Marshall who scored into a half-empty net for his fifth goal in the last 12 games. Friesen added an empty-net goal with 22 seconds remaining. Game Two is on Thursday (May 28) at New Jersey.


Bureau Report