NEUTRAL ZONE

A Fine Line

* Heading into the finals, a great deal of attention was devoted to the matchup between the Ducks’ checking line -- Samuel Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer and Travis Moen -- and Ottawa’s top scoring trio of Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley. The first advantage goes to the Ducks’ checkers, who not only held Spezza and Co. quiet for most of the game but also produced the game-winning goal when Moen scored at 17:09 in the third period.

MIA

* Although Alfredsson and Heatley picked up assists on Wade Redden’s second-period power-play goal, the Senators’ main scoring line did not create many problems. The Ducks limited the Spezza line’s scoring opportunities against goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who had to make only 18 saves. Ottawa’s top line finished with a combined minus-3 rating for the game, while Pahlsson’s line was a plus-3

Save of the game

* After the Ducks took a 3-2 lead late in the third period, things got really tight for them in the final minute when Ottawa had a six-on-four advantage. With the Ducks’ Chris Pronger in the penalty box for holding the stick, the Senators pulled goaltender Ray Emery and forced the action deep in the Ducks’ zone. But Giguere kept the puck out the net to secure the victory.

Turning point

* Early in the third period, the Ducks’ physical play seemed to take control of the game and led to Ryan Getzlaf’s game-tying goal. Ducks defenseman Ric Jackman got the play started with a bruising hit along the boards and with the Senators scrambling on defense, Getzlaf gathered in a lead pass from Corey Perry and beat Emery with a backhand shot from outside the right post to tie it, 2-2, at 5:44.

Three stars

* 1. Samuel Pahlsson, Ducks center: Although he did not score a point, Pahlsson had four shots on goal and a game-high eight hits as he helped set the tone for the series with his physical play against Ottawa’s top scoring line of Spezza, Alfredsson and Heatley.

* 2. Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks center: This year’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to be a showcase for Getzlaf, whose backhand goal to tie the score at 2-2 in the third period was highlight material. Getzlaf finished with three shots on goal, all in the final 20 minutes.

* 3. Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Ducks goaltender: With the Senators getting only 20 shots on goal, Giguere did not have a busy night, but he had to be strong when it counted after Ottawa took one-goal leads in the first and second periods.