Stanley Cup Final Players to Watch

Daniel Alfredsson, RW

Playoff stats: GP 15: G 10, A 7, PTS 17 The first European captain to appear in the Stanley Cup Final, Alfredsson made his NHL debut with the Senators in 1995-96 and is the only player to have appeared in all 94 playoff games in the franchise's history. He leads the playoffs in goals (10) and game winners (4), including his double-overtime strike in Game 5 against the Buffalo Sabres that won the Eastern Conference title. He remains a strong candidate to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP should Ottawa win the Cup.

Dany Heatley, RW

Playoff stats: GP 15: G 6, A 15, PTS 21 Heatley has rescued his career since the tragic auto accident that killed Atlanta teammate Dan Snyder. Traded by the Thrashers two years ago for Marian Hossa and Greg de Vries, Heatley has notched a pair of 50-goal seasons and 208 total points with the Senators. He leads the playoffs in scoring with 21 points and has been impressive at both ends of the ice.

Jason Spezza, C

Playoff stats: GP 15: G 7, A 13, PTS 20 When Ottawa traded problematic center Alexei Yashin, their first-ever draft pick, to the New York Islanders in 2001, the pick they received that year (second overall) in return proved well more than worth it. Spezza has progressed into one of the NHL's top centers and is second in playoff scoring to teammate Heatley, whom he centers along with Alfredsson on what is easily the best line in hockey.

Ray Emery, G

Playoff stats: 12-3, 1.95 GAA, .919 SV% The 99th overall pick of the 2001 draft, Emery has emerged as a steady backstopper for the Senators, posting the NHL's best record this postseason (12-3) and a shutout in each round of the playoffs. He will be the first black starting goalie in the Stanley Cup Final since Grant Fuhr of the Edmonton Oilers in 1988. Backup Martin Gerber may be a good luck charm for Emery, as Gerber has sat behind two Conn Smythe-winners in the past three seasons, including Ducks netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003.

Anton Volchnkov, D

Playoff stats: 15 GP: 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS Ottawa's first round choice (21st overall) in 2000, Volchnkov led all NHL players in blocked shots (273) during the regular season and ranks first in the postseason with 61. Both of his two career playoff goals have been game-winners, including one in Pittsburgh during the first round that gave the Senators a 3-1 series lead over the Penguins.

Mike Fisher, C

Playoff stats: 15 GP: 3 G, 3 A, 6 PTS Fisher has fit in nicely as the Senators second line center throughout the season and playoffs. Ottawa's second-round pick in 1998, he has developed into a 20-goal scorer who can check the life out of the opposition's best line. His crafty face-off skills will come in handy as the Ducks are impressive on draws.

Chris Pronger, D

Playoff stats: 15 GP: 3 G, 11 A, 14 PTS Anaheim traded for the all-star defenseman just weeks after watching him lead the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final last year while posting a club-leading 21 points (5 G, 16 A), Now, the 6-foot-6 workhorse is the Ducks' leading scorer in the postseason and he leads the NHL with 31:16 average ice time per postseason game. Both Pronger and teammate Scott Niedermayer were named as two of three finalists for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league's top defenseman.

Scott Niedermayer, D

Playoff stats: 16 GP: 3 G, 6 A, 9 PTS The other component of Anaheim's daunting backline duo, Niedermayer led all defenseman in scoring during the regular season with 69 points (15 G, 54 A). He signed with the Ducks in 2005 after winning three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, the last against Anaheim in 2003. He provides skill and experience to a team that includes his brother, center Rob. The two hope to become the first brother combination to win the Stanley Cup since Brent and Duane Sutter captured their second consecutive title together with the New York Islanders in 1983.

Teemu Selanne, RW

Playoff stats: 16 GP: 5 G, 7 A, 12 PTS The fleet right-winger led the team in scoring with 94 points this season (48 G, 46 A). Although his numbers have dipped in the playoffs, Selanne has posted two goals and four assists in his last three games. After 14 years and over 1,000 regular-season games in the NHL, he will be making his first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G

Playoff stats: 9-3, 1.87 GAA, .931 SV% He is making his second trip to the Cup Final after losing to the New Jersey Devils in seven games in 2003, though he did win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Giguere didn't start the first four games of the playoffs this year as he was attending to his infant son's serious eye condition. Since his return, Jiggy has been stunning. Entering the final, he boasts a career playoff record of 27-12 and his playoff OT record is a stellar 12-1 (with one goal against in 250:47).

Ryan Getzlaf, C

Playoff stats: 16 GP: 5 G, 8 A, 13 PTS Getzlaf has emerged as a well-rounded forward for the Ducks, centering Anaheim's second line, which has 11 goals in the playoffs. Getzlaf leads the team with three game-winning goals, and he is second in scoring for the Ducks this postseason.

Samuel Pahlsson, C

Playoff stats: 16 GP: 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS Arguably one of the best defensive forwards in the league, Pahlsson and his checking line will be charged with shutting down Ottawa's scorching No. 1 line, which has triggered the Senators throughout the playoffs.