GAME 6 REPORT

FIRST PERIOD

MIGHTY DUCKS 3, DEVILS 0

*--* Shots Penalty minutes Faceoffs won Power Play DEVILS 9 6 9 0-1 DUCKS 9 4 10 1-2

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Highlight reel: Paul Kariya hasn’t had too many things go right for him in the Stanley Cup finals, but one of his deflected shots led to the Mighty Ducks’ first score of the game. Kariya’s shot bounced off the skate of a New Jersey defender directly to Steve Rucchin, who launched a blast from inside the blue line. It bounced off the Devils’ Scott Stevens past goaltender Martin Brodeur to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead 4:26 into the period.

Key moment: After Rucchin’s goal, the Devils responded with their own great scoring chance only to have Rucchin help goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere keep the puck out of the net. New Jersey forward Turner Stevenson thought he had an easy goal when he found himself open outside the crease, but his initial shot squeezed through Giguere’s legs and hit the left post and then Rucchin stepped up to clear the puck away.

Not in summary: The excitement in the Pond after Giguere made a short-handed save on the Devils’ Scott Niedermayer midway into the period. With the Ducks already ahead by a goal, their fans had to be nervous when Jay Pandolfo picked up a loose puck and led a two-on-one New Jersey break against defenseman Ruslan Salei. But Giguere was up for the challenge as he calmly closed his legs to stop Niedermayer’s breakaway shot from the right circle.

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SECOND PERIOD

MIGHTY DUCKS 4, DEVILS 1

*--* Shots Penalty minutes Faceoffs won Power Play DEVILS 10 4 11 0-0 DUCKS 10 0 13 0-2

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Highlight reel: To say that Kariya had an interesting period would be a major understatement. He was on the wrong end of a hit by the Devils’ Stevens, but he returned to score an electrifying goal to give the Ducks a 4-1 lead. After taking in a pass in the neutral zone from Petr Sykora, Kariya skated down the left side of the ice and rifled a blast from above the left circle. Brodeur is still looking for the shot, which beat him wide to his glove side at 17:15.

Key moment: The Devils showed signs of life as they cut the Ducks’ lead to 3-1. New Jersey was able to finally beat Giguere when feisty center John Madden skated with the puck from behind the right post and delivered a perfect pass to Pandolfo in the slot. After gathering in the puck, Pandolfo fired a shot around defenseman Ruslan Salei and beat Giguere low to his stick side.

Not in the summary: The hush in the arena when Kariya was flat on his back motionless on the ice after suffering a brutal check by Stevens. After Kariya made a play with the puck in the neutral zone, he had his head down when Stevens crushed him with a shoulder check. The Duck captain, who appeared to be unconscious for a moment, had to be helped off the ice by teammates, but he received a huge ovation when he returned to the Ducks’ bench later in the period.

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THIRD PERIOD

MIGHTY DUCKS 5, DEVILS 2

*--* Shots Penalty minutes Faceoffs won Power Play DEVILS 9 10 6 1-2 DUCKS 5 6 15 1-4

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Highlight reel: Although the game was all but over with the Ducks ahead by four goals, the Devils scored their first power-play goal of the game on a deflection by Grant Marshall at 10:46. Brian Rafalski set up the score with a nifty shot from the blue line that seemed to have eyes to get around several Duck defenders.

Key moment: Less than nine minutes into the final period, New Jersey Coach Pat Burns made a move that spoke volumes about the Ducks effort Saturday. Burns did a wise thing by replacing Brodeur with backup goaltender Corey Schwab with the Ducks ahead, 5-1, at 8:37. Brodeur was given the rest of the night off because Burns understands that the Devils will need their No.1 netminder for Monday’s Game 7. Brodeur, who gave up three goals in the first period, did not look sharp in making 17 saves in 22 shots after giving up three goals in the Devils’ 6-3 victory in Game 5.

Not in summary: How New Jersey’s physical forward Turner Stevenson tried his best to rough up the Ducks’ Mike Leclerc early in the period but ended up getting called for a double-minor roughing penalty. In front of the Ducks’ bench, Stevenson used his stick, elbow and fist to make his point to Leclerc and then the Ducks made their own statement with a power-play goal scored by Sykora to give them a four-goal lead at 3:57.

-- Lonnie White

THIRD PERIOD

MIGHTY DUCKS 5, DEVILS 2

*--* Shots Penalty minutes Faceoffs won Power Play DEVILS 9 10 6 1-2 DUCKS 5 6 15 1-4

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Highlight reel: Although the game was all but over with the Ducks ahead by four goals, the Devils scored their first power-play goal of the game on a deflection by Grant Marshall at 10:46. Brian Rafalski set up the score with a nifty shot from the blue line that seemed to have eyes to get around several Duck defenders.

Key moment: Less than nine minutes into the final period, New Jersey Coach Pat Burns made a move that spoke volumes about the Ducks effort Saturday. Burns did a wise thing by replacing Brodeur with backup goaltender Corey Schwab with the Ducks ahead, 5-1, at 8:37. Brodeur was given the rest of the night off because Burns understands that the Devils will need their No.1 netminder for Monday’s Game 7. Brodeur, who gave up three goals in the first period, did not look sharp in making 17 saves in 22 shots after giving up three goals in the Devils’ 6-3 victory in Game 5.

Not in summary: How New Jersey’s physical forward Turner Stevenson tried his best to rough up the Ducks’ Mike Leclerc early in the period but ended up getting called for a double-minor roughing penalty. In front of the Ducks’ bench, Stevenson used his stick, elbow and fist to make his point to Leclerc and then the Ducks made their own statement with a power-play goal scored by Sykora to give them a four-goal lead at 3:57.

-- Lonnie White