MIGHTY DUCKS INSIDE LOOK: FOR NIEDERMAYERS, IT'S JUST LIKE HOME BROTHERS HAVE PREPARED FOR GAME 7 SINCE YOUTH.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Back on the frozen ponds in their hometown of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Scott and Rob Niedermayer sometimes would pretend the childhood games they played after school really were taking place under the bright lights in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

``As kids, that's just what you do,'' said Rob Niedermayer, now a Mighty Ducks center, after Saturday night's 5-2 victory at the Pond. ``It's always the biggest game there is. For it to come true is just unbelievable.''

The brothers - the first to play against each other in the Stanley Cup Finals in 57 years - have been a subplot for this best-of-seven series. Now, just like those days in Cranbrook, the Niedermayers will find themselves on the ice for Monday's decisive Game 7 in New Jersey. It's just that they'll be on different teams.

Older brother Scott Niedermayer, a Devils defenseman, will be playing for the third Cup of his career. And Rob, a trade-deadline acquisition this season from the Calgary Flames, will be trying for his first. Their mother, Carol, is expected to be in attendance.

``It's a dream of both of ours,'' Rob Niedermayer said. ``But we know we have a job to do once we get on the ice.''

Added Scott Niedermayer: ``I'm sure it'll be something special we look back on once everything's done. But I don't think it's going to be different from any of our other games.''

The two have played hundreds of games together over the years, Rob Niedermayer estimated, from pick-up games on ponds and local ice rinks to dozens of meetings during their combined 22 years in the NHL.

``It's probably going to be harder on the mother than for either brother,'' Ducks right wing Dan Bylsma jokingly said. ``I'm sure their focus is not on what the other guy's doing but on the task at hand.''

The brothers' only other playoff meeting came in 1998 when Scott Niedermayer and the Devils eliminated Rob Niedermayer and Florida. They are the first brothers to play each other in the Finals since Terry Reardon and Ken Reardon did so with Boston and Montreal, respectively, in 1946.

Rob Niedermayer also was on the Florida team that got swept in the 2000 Finals. With that disappointment in mind, he made a point to not touch the Stanley Cup - not even when his brother brought it home after one of New Jersey's championship runs and left it on the family's couch.

``It's going to be amazing,'' Rob Niedermayer said of playing in Game 7. ``We worked so hard throughout the season to get to this point.''

Both brothers are sporting full playoff beards for the occasion and have spoken a couple of times during the series. But they did not get a chance to talk coming off the ice Saturday, and they will not do so during Monday night's game.

``It's going to be great to add to the memories,'' Scott Niedermayer said.

On Saturday, Rob Niedermayer had an assist on the Ducks' second goal. Between two defenders, he poked the puck along the boards to Mike Leclerc, who passed to Steve Rucchin for the first-period goal.

Scott Niedermayer, meanwhile, finished with four shots and led the team in ice time with a little more than 26 1/2 minutes. But he was left lamenting the Devils' inability to close out the series on the road.

Even if that would have meant closing out his brother as well.

``All we can do is coming back strong,'' Scott said. ``We still have a great opportunity.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com