Editing Anaheim Ducks (section)

====Western Conference champions (2002–2003)====
The Mighty Ducks did not reach the postseason again until the [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]] with head coach [[Mike Babcock]]. They entered the playoffs in seventh place with a 40–27–9–6 record, good enough for 95 points. In the first round, the Ducks were once again matched up with the Detroit Red Wings, the defending Stanley Cup champions. They shocked the hockey world by sweeping the Red Wings in four games.<ref name="ducksredwings"/> Steve Rucchin scored the series-winning goal in overtime in Game 4.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/giguere-mighty-ducks-dethrone-red-wings-1.365697 |title=Giguere, Mighty Ducks dethrone Red Wings |work=CBC Sports |date=April 17, 2003 |access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref> In the second round, the Ducks faced the Dallas Stars. Game 1 turned out to be the fourth-longest game in NHL history, with [[Petr Sýkora|Petr Sykora]] scoring in the fifth overtime to give the Mighty Ducks the series lead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/04/25/sykora-lifts-ducks-over-stars-in-5th-overtime/ |title=Sykora lifts Ducks over Stars in 5th overtime |work=Chicago Tribune |orig-date=April 25, 2003 |date=August 21, 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref> The Ducks would finish off the Stars in Game 6 at home. In the team's first trip to the Western Conference finals, they were matched up against another [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella team]], the sixth-seeded, three-year-old [[Minnesota Wild]]. [[Jean-Sébastien Giguère|Jean-Sebastien Giguere]] strung together three consecutive shutouts and allowed only one total goal in the series in an eventual sweep.

The [[2003 Stanley Cup Finals]], to be played against the [[New Jersey Devils]], had multiple interesting story lines. Anaheim forward [[Rob Niedermayer]] was playing against his brother [[Scott Niedermayer|Scott]], while Giguere faced off against fellow French-Canadian goaltender [[Martin Brodeur]]. The series began with the home team winning the first five games. In Game 6 at home, Kariya was knocked unconscious from a hit by Devils captain [[Scott Stevens]]. However, Kariya would return in the second period and score the fourth goal of the game. In an exciting third period, the Mighty Ducks defeated the Devils 5–2 to send the series back to New Jersey for Game 7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anaheim Ducks - New Jersey Devils - Jun 7, 2003 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ana-vs-njd/2003/06/07/2002030416 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=June 7, 2003}}</ref> Anaheim, however, could not complete their winning streak, as they lost a hard-fought Game 7 to the Devils 3–0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anaheim Ducks - New Jersey Devils - Jun 9, 2003 |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ana-vs-njd/2003/06/09/2002030417 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=June 9, 2003}}</ref> For his brilliant play during the postseason, Giguere was awarded the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] as the [[most valuable player]] (MVP) of the playoffs. He became only the fifth player in NHL history to have won the trophy as a member of the losing team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Winners |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-conn-smythe-trophy-winners-complete-list-287709808 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=June 25, 2024}}</ref> Giguere posted a 15–6 record, 7–0 in overtime, with a 1.62 [[goals against average]], a .945 [[save percentage]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jean-Sebastien Giguere Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/jean-sebastien-giguere-8462044 |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> and a record 168-minute, 27-second shutout streak in overtime.