Can Anaheim DUCK the 2003 NHL Stanley Cup Curse?

At least for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, they've already done this before.

Coming to the 2007 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks find themselves in a somewhat similar situation when they reached the final playoff series of the NHL season back in 2003.

Veterans Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Samuel Pahlsson and Rob Niedermayer all know what it's like to be in the Stanley Cup Finals and yep, they still remember what it's like to be on the losing end of a championship series like this.

You just know they'll still have that bitter taste of defeat the New Jersey Devils gave them back in the Stanley Cup finals of 2003 when they face the Ottawa Senators to start the seven-game championship series on Monday. These Ducks are hoping they won't have the same disappointment.

''That's the place every hockey player wants to be, the Stanley Cup Finals,'' Anaheim Ducks center Samuel Pahlsson said. ''I remember last time. We took it all the way to Game 7 and lost (to New Jersey). Standing on the wrong side of the ice, watching the other team celebrate, I definitely don't want to do that again. I want to win it this time.''

Mighty Ducks goalkeeper Jean-Sebastien Giguere, despite winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs last year, wants a different trophy this time. He became only the fifth player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy from a losing team in the postseason and he wants nothing less than a Stanley Cup win this year.

''These occasions don't come every year,'' Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere said.

''You have to try to take advantage of it. I'm just looking forward to having fun, enjoying the moment. Hopefully, as a team, we'll be able to achieve our goal.''

Can the Anaheim Mighty Ducks beat the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup series on Monday to take an early 1-0 lead? Who will win the 2007 NHL Stanley Cup? Bodog has the odds.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks 8/5

Ottawa Senators 3/2

Want more odds? Visit OddsHQ for more NHL hockey odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2007 Stanley Cup Finals Anaheim Mighty Ducks