NEW YORK -- The city that never sleeps no longer has to stay up nights wondering what went wrong with its New York Rangers.
The Rangers, said to be cursed by a former rival for 54 years, played a solid all-around game to beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 Tuesday night to win their first Stanley Cup championship since 1940.
With his first-period goal raising his playoff points total to 34, Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch was named winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Born in Texas and raised in Connecticut, he is the first U.S.-born player to win the award.
But fans must have been wondering whether the late New York Americans coach Red Dutton really had placed a hex on the team when Trevor Linden scored his second goal of the game at 4: 50 of the third period to cut the Rangers' margin to a goal.
They must have also been wondering when Kevin Lowe's shot hit the post late in the third period when the Rangers were trying desperately to get a two-goal lead.
But luck seemed to find the Rangers when Martin Gelinas' shot was whisked out of the goal crease by Lowe and Nathan Lafayette's shot hit the post with six minutes remaining.
It was a power-play goal created by the speed and skill of Pavel Bure. Esa Tikkanen, unable to control him on a rush into the Rangers' zone, was forced to pull him down 34 seconds before.
Adam Graves, goalless in the first six games of the series, had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, who finished the regular season with the NHL's best record.
His goal came on the power play at 14: 34 of the first period and assist came on a goal by Mark Messier at 13: 29, which regained the Rangers' two goal lead.
The Canucks, who had won Games 5 and 6 to tie the series. tried to come back against the Rangers after falling behind 2-0.
When referee Terry Gregson raised his hand to signal a delayed penalty to Leetch for hooking Murray Craven, Canucks goaltender Kirk McLean came to the bench for the extra attacker.
Trevor Linden took a pass from defenseman Brian Glynn and roared by Leetch to flip a shot that jumped over Rangers goaltender Mike Richter to make it 2-1 at 5: 21 of the second period.
But Messier made the Canucks pay for a penalty by Dave Babych, when he swatted the puck past McLean for a power play goal at 13: 29 of the period.
