Teemu Selanne - Game Five Of The 2007 Stanley Cup Final

Author's Note: This isn't as in-depth as my piece on Rod Brind'Amour. Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to create diagrams on the plays that I wanted to focus on. Also, my computer has decided that it's time to start dying. So, what you're getting is basically a look at how I make notes when I cover Blackhawks games. Obviously, this is a lot more cleaned up for the reader.

Hope you enjoy.

Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne is the greatest Finn to ever play in the NHL. Drafted in 1988, 10th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets, Selanne scored 684 goals and 1457 points (most by a Finnish player) in 1451 games.

Of course, we're here to talk about what Selanne did with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. Specifically, in Game 5, when the Ducks won their first (and only) Stanley Cup.

Selanne was actually on the Ducks twice. The first time was from 1995-2001, when they were known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and then again from 2005-2014, when he retired from the NHL.

Fast and skilled, the "Finnish Flash" used his excellent skating to find open space and score goals. Selanne knew how to leverage his speed and maneuver around opponents to create space.

Let's see how he did that in Game Five of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final.

First Period

I really liked this pass here. Selanne makes a great pass to Ryan Getzlaf (ANA15) in the slot. Ottawa fizzels the play with a well placed stick.

Selanne is ok on the Ducks' first powerplay attempt. He only had a couple of puck touches, but the Ducks failed to sustain much pressure with Selanne on the ice. He did have a second shift with 30 seconds left on the powerplay, and he drew another penalty to extend their advantage and score.

The second powerplay (technically the third) wasn't Selanne's best shift either. He misses a pass, and the Ducks struggle to maintain pressure.

This shift was alright for Teemu. He made an excellent OZ entry and then chased the puck, finishing checks on the forecheck. No offense was generated as a result however.

Selanne has an unnoteworthy shift and takes a holding penalty to close out the first shift.

Second Period

Selanne has a decent shift once he's out of the penalty box to start the second. He makes two solid breakouts and presents himself as an option on the rush as a trailer.

Here he has an ok shift. Ottawa is down 2-0, and they are forechecking hard and attempting to build momentum.

This shift isn't eye-popping. A lot of time is spent in the DZ as Ottawa is now down 2-1 and increasing pressure.

Even though the Senators scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-2, thanks to a Getzlaf turnover at the blueline, Selanne had a decent scoring chance, but that was about it.

Selanne has a strong shift to close out the period with some good pressure and forechecking.

Third Period

Selanne's first shift of the third period begins with a collision with a teammate in the DZ, but Selanne displays his incredible speed on the forecheck and disrupts Ottawa's offense with a well-placed pokecheck.

Great forecheck by Selanne followed by a decent backcheck.

Awesome shift. Selanne blazes out of the DZ to lead the rush with a midlane drive into the OZ and does excellent work on the forecheck. He follows this up with a solid PP shift.

Decent shift with a nice shot from the high slot. The Ducks are up 5-2 and the Senators aren't really in the fight by this point.

Selanne has a good DZ shift here where the Sens are trying to make one last push.

Here, he makes a nice pass from below the goalline into the low slot on an otherwise quiet PP shift.

Selanna has a few more shifts before the game ends.

Teemu Selanne scored 5 goals and 15 points during the 2007 playoffs. Although Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final wasn't his best performance (and I think it was pretty damn good), it's a decent study of what he brought on the ice: offensive drive, speed, and solid two-way play.