NOTEBOOK From Stanley Cup finals

Hot goalie: Jean-Sebastien Giguere didn't like his team's approach in the opener. "There is no excuse not to show up," Giguere said after the Anaheim Mighty Ducks were held to just 16 shots. Giguere, who fell to 12-3 in his first playoff run, played OK but just not nearly as well as he did in series wins over Detroit, Dallas and Minnesota. The play in front of him was even worse. "This is the biggest series of our life," Giguere said. "No one knows when is the next time we're going to be in the finals." The Mighty Ducks have been rewriting their playoff record book in a positive sense. But they've now topped their previous playoff-worst shot total of 20 twice. Anaheim was shut out for the first time in these playoffs. "They blocked the puck very well and took time and space away," said forward Paul Kariya, who had just one shot. "I just have to get it off quicker and get it on net." The Mighty Ducks have been held to two goals or fewer in nine of 15 postseason games and are behind in a series for the first time. Anaheim had a record-low 15 shots in a 4-1 loss to Dallas in Game 5 of the second round.
Dan-O sits: Ken Daneyko has become quite familiar with the disappointment of not playing. Each time he gets scratched from the lineup, however, is more and more difficult for him to take. "It's tough in every situation, but it's real difficult now," Daneyko said Tuesday after he got the news he was scratched from Game 1. "It's the Stanley Cup finals and you want to be in. But you always want to be in." Daneyko played the first 165 playoff games in Devils history, but that streak ended when coach Pat Burns removed him from the lineup in Game 4 of the first round against Boston. The 39-year-old defenseman was back for the next seven contests. But after the first game of the conference finals against Ottawa, Burns again sat Daneyko. This time the benching lasted until Game 6. His replacement Tuesday, Oleg Tverdovsky, recorded one shot in 19 shifts that covered 13 minutes, 11 seconds.
Speaking his mind: Dan Bylsma caught the attention of the Devils hours before the game began. Bylsma was asked during a radio interview last week if he'd rather play the Ottawa Senators or the New Jersey Devils in the finals. "I would really like to see Ottawa win because it would be great for their market," said an article bearing the quote. "But playing New Jersey would be great, too, because I'd really like to shake Scott Stevens' hand when he's congratulating me on winning the Stanley Cup." His words landed on the message board in the Devils' dressing room, hours before the teams met in Game 1. "You never want to put anything on their board that gives them motivation," Bylsma said. Stevens chose not to address the issue. The rugged defenseman gave a smile, and didn't seem outwardly bothered. "The gist of the quote is being misconstrued," Bylsma said. "The New Jersey Devils aren't going to win the series because Dan Bylsma said a quote that's interpreted like taunting."
Ducks inspiration: On the wall of the visiting locker room in New Jersey, the Mighty Ducks mounted items to provide inspiration. A large, framed picture of the Stanley Cup adorns the wall closest to the doorway. Under it is a signed goalie stick that commemorates Anaheim's surprising playoff run. The white stick has three pucks attached to the shaft -- one with the logo of the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim's first playoff victim; next is one with the crest of the Dallas Stars, victim No. 2; and the third bearing the logo of the Minnesota Wild -- the loser in the Western Conference finals.
Nieuwendyk out: The Devils were without center Joe Nieuwendyk, who missed Game 1 because of a "lower body injury" that limited him to three shifts in Game 7 of the conference finals. Nieuwendyk received treatment Tuesday morning and is day-to-day. Sergei Brylin replaced him on a line with Brian Gionta and Jeff Friesen. For the fourth time in these playoffs, all in the past seven games, Friesen notched the game-winning goal. He sealed the victory with an empty-netter.
-- Associated Press