Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer earns MVP honors
Thu, Jun 7, 2007
By Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer skated off with a hefty silver trophy of his own after Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. Then he and the rest of the Ducks took turns hoisting the biggest prize in hockey.
Niedermayer earned his first Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the NHL playoffs with teammate and younger brother, Rob, looking on.
As captain, Scott Niedermayer got first crack at picking up the Stanley Cup, the huge silver chalice that signifies the NHL championship. He lifted it overhead as 17,372 fans shouted their approval after the Ducks defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-2 to close out the best-of-seven series in five games Wednesday night as -160 favorites.
His teammates applauded the 33-year-old defenseman after he skated a half-lap around the ice before handing off the Cup to Sean O'Donnell while Tina Turner's ''Simply the Best'' blared and orange-and-silver confetti littered the air.
Niedermayer earned the fourth Stanley Cup championship of his 16-season NHL career, having signed with Anaheim nearly two years ago to play with Rob. Scott was the only member of the Ducks who had already won the Cup, doing so with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, 2000 and 2003, beating Anaheim in seven games in the most recent one.
The Niedermayers are the first brothers to win the Cup together since Brent and Duane Sutter won with the New York Islanders in 1983.