The Fine Art of Falling Apart in the Stanley Cup Finals

Let's be realistic. Anaheim did not deserve to win the Stanley Cup.

They deserved to win one series.
Minnesota was a complete joke from day one. Vancouver was so tired from their first round battle that they had nothing left. And I'm convinced that Detroit was only eliminated due to bad luck and poor officiating. (The 3rd and tying goal by the Ducks in the 4th game of that series, the one where Hasek was literally shoved into the net with the puck sitting on his leg, never should have counted. And it all went downhill from there.)

Ottawa on the other hand, did deserve to win the Cup. Well, at least 3 of the 4 rounds anyway.
They saved their choking for the fourth and final round this year, unlike so many years in the past. Nothing seemed to be going their way, and Spezza and Heatley were out to fucking lunch the entire final series, despite romping the league in the lead up matches.

Niedermayer got the Playoff MVP title, and though he did play well, he wasn't deserving of that trophy either. I'm glad they didn't do the cliche thing and give it to Giguerre, because he was less than spectacular. (Much like Emery in the finals. He looked amazing in game 2, but besides that he gave up a weak goal in every one of the 5 games.)
Personally, I think Daniel Alfredsson was the MVP of the playoffs. For years he's been eaten alive by the press and fans, and always took the blame for the Sens bowing out of the playoffs early. But this year he lit the lamp the most out of any player (including 4 game winning goals), and lead his team with ridiculous penalty killing and solid play, pretty much every game. I think a big reason he was denied the Conn Smythe was that shot he took at Niedermayer in game 4. Beyond that stupid play, he was everything Ottawa needed in a leader.

But now it's finally over (shit, it's only June) and I know what's next - months and months of Leafs Nation laughing about how Ottawa failed.
But guess what fucko's - the Leafs couldn't even make it into 8th place in the conference! Then again, most Leafs fans are too stupid to understand the concept of a glass house.

I'm pretty pissed that the Sens lost, but I look on the bright side:

• We got to party in Ottawa for the only Sens victory
• The Cup will spend most of its time North of the border, what with all the Canadians on the Ducks
• And I won my hockey pools. Let's hear it for beer and money!