Devils shoot down Ducks

Friesen fires into an empty net for the Devils' third goal

The New Jersey Devils drew first blood in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup final, beating Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3-0.

Martin Brodeur collected the shutout and Jeff Friesen added a pair of goals.

Brodeur was not overworked in earning his fifth shutout of the postseason facing just 16 shots.

His Ducks counterpart Jean-Sebastien Giguere was much busier, he was tested 30 times.

Grant Marshall scored New Jersey's other goal.

Making their first Stanley Cup appearance in the franchise's nine-year history, the Ducks appeared sluggish.

It was the first time they had played since eliminating the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference final 10 days earlier.

Friesen broke open a scoreless contest 1:45 into the second period with his sixth of the playoffs.

Marshall added a second when he was left alone in front of a gapping net to slap home a pass from Patrik Elias.

Friesen then closed out the scoring with 21 seconds remaining, hammering the puck into an empty net.

Friesen said afterwards: "Playing my old team, that gave me some jump."

But Devils coach Pat Burns urged his team not to get too carried away.

He said: "In fairness to them [the Ducks], you could tell they had a little rust on their blades.

"But they'll get better as the series goes along."