Clutch rookie

Rupp's first playoff goal turns out to be a Cup-clincher

Mike Rupp became the man of the hour in Game 7. Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Devils rookie Mike Rupp turned out to be one of the unlikeliest Game 7 heroes ever.

Rupp scored the game's first goal and set up two by Jeff Friesen in leading the Devils to a 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on Monday night and their second Stanley Cup in four years.

"Throughout the whole playoffs it's been someone else all the time," Rupp said after living out every hockey player's dream of being the hero of Game 7. "... Guys were just stepping up to the plate. When you follow any sport, that's what championship teams do."

The guy who stepped up to the plate for the Devils was a young man from Cleveland, who spent the first half of the season languishing in the minor leagues, and the first three rounds of the playoffs sitting on the bench.

"Mike Rupp explains the type of a team we are," Friesen said. "This guy was skating on his own in the first couple of rounds and all of a sudden he comes in and scores the game-winning goal in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals. That incredible."

The goal was Rupp's first in his playoff career. The assists were his second and third. The postseason game was his fourth. The Cup was his first.

Rupp had talked to his mother, Debbie Coyle, and father, Lowell Rupp, earlier in the playoffs and said he didn't want his name on the Stanley Cup if he didn't contribute to winning it.

"I think I would have taken my name on the Cup anyway," Rupp quipped. "I wanted to contribute, just play one game. It didn't have to be on the score sheet. That was just a bonus."

Rupp got his chance when an injury to center Joe Nieuwendyk created an opening in the lineup for the finals. Devils coach Pat Burns made the surprise move in Game 4, going with Rupp, who played 26 games after being called up from Albany of the AHL on Jan. 13.

"I kept telling him 'You know what you have right now? You know the opportunity that you have right now?' " Burns said. "I kept reminding him and he definitely took it."

Rupp, who scored two of his five regular-season goals in his NHL debut, put New Jersey ahead at 2:22 of the second period by tipping a shot by Scott Niedermayer between the pads of Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The defenseman had made a great play to keep the puck in the Anaheim zone and then snapped a low shot on net.

Rupp and Niedermayer combined again on Friensen's ninth goal of the playoffs about 10 minutes later. Rupp tipped a shot by Niedermayer and Friesen outmuscled defenseman Kurt Sauer to put the rebound home.

Rupp capped his biggest scoring night in the NHL by setting up Friesen again with 3:44 to go, starting the celebration of the Devils' third title since 1995.

Martin Brodeur made the goals stand up, stopping 24 shots in recording his record seventh shutout of this postseason and 20th of his career.

Rupp scored two goals in his first game against Florida and he finished with five, including three game-winners.

This game-winner he will never forget.

 

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