2007 Stanley Cup Final

Paths to the Finals

The Anaheim Ducks entered the season as a popular media pick to reach the Final and lived up to those expectations. As the Western Conference's second seed, they dispatched the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks each in five games before defeating the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in six games to win the conference. The Ducks played a physically punishing style, leading the postseason in penalties, but complemented that with a top-tier penalty kill. Their success was built on a foundation of elite defence from Norris Trophy candidates Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, scoring from forwards like Andy McDonald and Teemu Selanne, and steady goaltending from Jean-Sebastien Giguere. A key checking line of Rob Niedermayer, Samuel Pahlsson, and Travis Moen was tasked with neutralizing Ottawa's potent offensive weapons.

The Ottawa Senators, the Eastern Conference's fourth seed, had an impressive playoff run to reach their first Final. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games, then upset the second-seeded New Jersey Devils and the Presidents' Trophy-winning Buffalo Sabres, also in five games each. This march made them the first team from Ontario to play for the Stanley Cup since the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967. Ottawa's attack was spearheaded by the high-scoring top line of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, and Jason Spezza, who combined for 23 goals through the first three rounds. Goaltender Ray Emery provided reliable netminding, while players like Mike Fisher, Dean McAmmond, and defencemen Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov played crucial supporting roles. The Senators aimed to use their speed and offensive firepower to break through Anaheim's formidable defensive structure.

Series Context and Historical Significance

The Ducks held home-ice advantage by virtue of their 110-point regular season, five points more than Ottawa's 105. A dominant narrative leading into the series was Ottawa's status as Canada's team, attempting to end a Stanley Cup drought for Canadian franchises that stretched back to the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Ironically, the Anaheim roster featured five more Canadian skaters than the Senators. It was also the first final since 1999 where neither participant had previously won a Stanley Cup, a distinction that holds as the NHL does not recognize the original Ottawa Senators' championships as part of the current franchise's history.

Several other historic milestones were attached to the series. Anaheim's victory made them the first NHL team from the West Coast of North America to win the Stanley Cup, and the first from California. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, from Sweden, became the first European-born-and-trained captain to lead a team to the championship final. As of the end of the 2021 playoffs, the 2007 Senators remain the only Canadian team to represent the Eastern Conference in the Final since 1993.

The Series in Ottawa and Sens Mile

The series shifted to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4, marking the first Stanley Cup Final game in the city in 80 years and the first in the province of Ontario in four decades. The occasion was highlighted by the attendance of 91-year-old Russell Williams at Game 3 as a guest of the Senators. Williams had attended the last Final game in Ottawa on April 13, 1927, and his presence proved a good luck charm as Ottawa won that contest. The Senators' playoff run ignited fan celebrations in the capital, leading to the creation of the Sens Mile. This was a grassroots fan initiative organized on Facebook that designated Elgin Street as a gathering place for celebrations, similar to the Red Mile in Calgary and Blue Mile in Edmonton during previous Canadian Cup runs.

Since the Senators' arena was located in the suburbs, spontaneous downtown celebrations had been limited until the Eastern Conference Final. After Ottawa defeated Buffalo to advance, fans flocked to Elgin Street. For the Stanley Cup Final, the city installed large video screens at Ottawa City Hall for public viewing. Following the Senators' victory in Game 3, fans celebrated on Elgin Street once more, prompting police to close the street to traffic. This fan-driven phenomenon underscored the deep connection between the team and the community during its historic postseason.

Game Summaries

Game 1 in Anaheim saw the Senators strike first with a Mike Fisher power-play goal just 1:38 into the game. The Ducks responded later in the period through Andy McDonald. After a Wade Redden goal gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead in the second, Anaheim dominated the third period. Ryan Getzlaf tied the game and Travis Moen scored the winner with just over three minutes remaining for a 3-2 Ducks victory. Shots favoured Anaheim 32-20. It was later revealed that Senators star Dany Heatley suffered an injury from a Chris Pronger cross-check in this game, which hampered his performance for the remainder of the series.

Game 2 was a tight defensive struggle with no scoring until late in the third period. Samuel Pahlsson broke the deadlock at 14:16, giving Anaheim a 1-0 win. The Ducks' checking line again excelled at shutting down Ottawa's top scorers. Game 3 in Ottawa featured a back-and-forth offensive contest. The Ducks took leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, but the Senators answered each time. A controversial goal by Daniel Alfredsson, which went in off his skate but was ruled a legal redirection, tied the game 3-3. Dean McAmmond then gave Ottawa a lead, but was later injured by an elbow from Chris Pronger, an act for which Pronger would be suspended for Game 4. Anton Volchenkov added an insurance marker for a 5-3 Senators win, cutting the series deficit to 2-1.

Game 4, played without the suspended Pronger, saw Ottawa take a 1-0 lead on a last-second power-play goal by Alfredsson in the first period. Anaheim replied with two goals from Andy McDonald in the second before Heatley tied it. The game's flashpoint came in the final seconds of the second period when Alfredsson shot the puck from centre ice, hitting Scott Niedermayer and sparking a scrum. The Ducks used the incident as motivation, as Dustin Penner scored the third-period winner for a 3-2 victory, giving Anaheim a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Game 5 back in Anaheim was decisive. The Ducks built a 2-0 first-period lead on goals from McDonald and Rob Niedermayer. Alfredsson scored twice for Ottawa to keep the game close, but a critical own goal by Senators defenceman Chris Phillips, credited to Travis Moen, gave Anaheim a 3-1 advantage. After Alfredsson's second goal made it 3-2, Francois Beauchemin responded moments later on the power play to restore the two-goal cushion. Moen and Corey Perry added third-period goals to seal a 6-2 win and the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.

Championship Aftermath and Engraving

Following the Game 5 victory, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup to Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. The Cup engraving for the 2007 Anaheim Ducks included 47 names, below the maximum of 52. The team successfully requested an exemption to include forward George Parros, who did not automatically qualify based on games played. Owners Henry and Susan Samueli were listed together, and the engraving included four non-playing staff positions CEO, general manager, COO, and head coach, a practice not seen since the 1994 New York Rangers.

Several players who were on the roster but did not dress for the Final were left off the Cup. The NHL denied requests to include Mark Hartigan and Aaron Rome, who had spent major portions of the season elsewhere. Goaltender Sebastien Caron and forward Tim Brent, who did not play in any playoff games, were also omitted. The victory cemented the Ducks' place in history as trailblazers for West Coast hockey and marked the culmination of a season where they were considered the team to beat from the outset.

Legacy of the 2007 Final

The 2007 Stanley Cup Final holds a significant place in NHL history for multiple reasons. For the Anaheim Ducks, it represented the fulfilment of their potential and established them as a powerhouse, leveraging a combination of skill, size, and defensive structure that became a model for other teams. The victory was a landmark moment for hockey in California and the southern United States, expanding the league's footprint. For the Ottawa Senators and their fans, the series was a bittersweet pinnacle, a long-awaited return to championship contention that fell just short, beginning a playoff drought that would last for several years afterwards.

The series also contributed to ongoing narratives about Canadian teams in the modern NHL. The Senators' loss marked the third consecutive Final where a Canadian franchise was defeated by a team from the southern United States, following Calgary in 2004 and Edmonton in 2006. As of 2026, the Senators' appearance remains their only trip to the Final, and their Game 3 victory is their sole win in Stanley Cup Final history. The 2007 championship round is remembered for its compelling storylines, from the brotherly connection of the Niedermayers to the intense defensive battles and the passionate outpouring of support in Ottawa's Sens Mile.

Questions about 2007 Stanley Cup Final

Who won the 2007 Stanley Cup Final?

The Anaheim Ducks won the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Ottawa Senators four games to one. The Ducks clinched the championship with a 6-2 victory in Game 5 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. This was the first Stanley Cup in the history of the Ducks franchise. Captain Scott Niedermayer was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

Why was the 2007 Final significant for Canadian hockey fans?

The 2007 Final was significant because the Ottawa Senators were the first team from Ontario to reach the Stanley Cup Final since the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967. As the only Canadian team in the series, they carried the hopes of ending a Stanley Cup drought for Canadian-based clubs that had lasted since the Montreal Canadiens won in 1993. Their appearance generated massive national interest, though their loss extended the drought. The fan celebrations on Ottawa's Sens Mile also created a memorable moment for Canadian hockey culture.

What was controversial about Chris Pronger's play in the series?

Chris Pronger was involved in two controversial incidents. In Game 3, he delivered an elbow to the head of Senators forward Dean McAmmond, who did not return to the series. Pronger was not penalized during the game but received a one-game suspension from the league, causing him to miss Game 4. Earlier in the series, a cross-check from Pronger in Game 1 caused an injury to Dany Heatley that was kept secret at the time. These physical plays were part of the Ducks' aggressive defensive strategy throughout the playoffs.

What is the Sens Mile and how did it start?

Sens Mile was a fan-created celebration zone on Elgin Street in downtown Ottawa during the Senators' 2007 playoff run. It began as a grassroots campaign organized by fans on Facebook before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, inspired by similar fan gatherings in Calgary and Edmonton. The idea was to provide a central location for fans to celebrate, as the team's arena was in the suburbs. After the Senators won the conference championship and during the Final, large crowds gathered on Elgin Street, leading police to close the street. The city also set up large video screens at City Hall for public viewing parties.

Which players were brothers on the winning team?

The winning Anaheim Ducks featured brothers Scott and Rob Niedermayer. Scott was the team captain and a star defenceman, while Rob played as a forward on the team's key checking line. Their victory made them the first set of brothers to win the Stanley Cup together since Duane and Brent Sutter accomplished the feat with the New York Islanders in 1982 and 1983. Both played crucial roles, with Scott winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and Rob's line being instrumental in shutting down Ottawa's top scorers.

How many games did the 2007 Stanley Cup Final last?

The 2007 Stanley Cup Final lasted five games. The Anaheim Ducks won the series four games to one. The series opened in Anaheim, where the Ducks won Games 1 and 2. The action shifted to Ottawa, where the Senators won Game 3 to avoid a sweep. Anaheim then won Game 4 in Ottawa before returning home to clinch the championship with a victory in Game 5. This ended a streak of three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals that had required a full seven games to decide.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.