NHL Brodeur blanks Ducks for Cup

Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere was named MVP.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Martin Brodeur was the No. 2 goalie again.
Seven shutouts in the playoffs, including three in the finals, weren't enough for Brodeur to win the Conn Smythe Award. It was just enough to lift the New Jersey Devils to their third Stanley Cup title in nine years.
Brodeur made 24 saves Monday night as the Devils outlasted the Anaheim Mighty Ducks with a 3-0 victory in Game 7. Rookie Mike Rupp of Cleveland had a goal and two assists in his fourth career playoff game to spark New Jersey's offense.
The home team went 7-0 in the series, marking just the third time a road team went winless since the finals went to a best-of-7 format in 1939.
Brodeur's three blankings in the finals tied one mark, and the seven in the postseason topped Dominik Hasek for the most in one playoff year.
It still wasn't MVP worthy.
Smythe winner
That honor went to Anaheim counterpart, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, whose stellar play in the first three rounds made it possible for the Mighty Ducks to knock off Detroit, Dallas and Minnesota.
Giguere is just the fifth player from a losing team and first since Ron Hextall in 1987 to win the Conn Smythe.
Giguere accepted the trophy from Gary Bettman as he fought off tears from the disappointing loss.
"It's well deserved for him," Brodeur said. "He's the only reason ... well, I mean there are some good players over there, too, but he's the big reason why the Mighty Ducks made it so far."
Brodeur's latest trip to the finals worked out better than the previous one.
The Devils held a 3 games to 2 lead this year and in 2001. Two years ago, Colorado goalie Patrick Roy stood in the spotlight as the Conn Smythe winner after helping the Avalanche rally to the title.
"It's kind of easy when you win the Cup to be satisfied with it," Brodeur said. "I'm sure if I lost, it would have been a little harder on me. But knowing that I have the Stanley Cup, I'm not worried about the Conn Smythe."
Good-luck charm
Brodeur seemed to not have a care in the world as he strutted in the hallway near the Devils' locker room. He was still wearing his pads as he smoked a cigar and carried a rubber duck with his name and number on the back. Brodeur proudly showed it off and called it his good luck charm.
Jiggy threatened to steal the Cup from Brodeur, too. But he only skated off with the individual prize and not the one with all the champions' names on it.
"It's unbelievable for a guy to break the playoff record for shutouts and not receive the Conn Smythe," Devils forward John Madden said.
Roy started as Brodeur's childhood idol. Now he's the only player with more postseason shutouts, 23-20. Roy chose this series that featured two Montreal goalies to announce his retirement from the NHL.
"Since Patrick retired, I think [Brodeur's] probably the one taking over right now at being the best," Giguere said.
Rupp was itching to get back into games since he was recalled from the minors during the playoffs. He didn't crack the lineup until Game 4 of this series, but finished with four points.
"I don't know what to say. I'm caught up in everything going on," Rupp said. "Two weeks ago, I never would have thought this could happen."
By scoring 2:22 into the second period, Rupp notched the Cup-winning goal. He assisted on Jeff Friesen's scores in the second and third.