It's here, it's here, it's here...

Finally! The Final. It’s been a long journey, and while I’d initially lamented the long layoff before the beginning of the Stanley Cup Final, it was a blessing in disguise—for me at least.

So here we have it. The Ottawa Senators, the Anaheim Ducks, hockey’s Holy Grail on the line.

We’ll keep it short and sweet, since these teams’ virtues and setbacks have been discussed in detail since early October. And in even greater detail since mid-April.

Ottawa’s forwards are clearly a better group, though it’s only a matter of time until the real Oleg Saprykin shows up and ruins everything. That said, the Ducks have been more balanced in their attack. Seven Duck forwards have seven points or more, compared to just four Senators forwards.

On defense, a lot was made of the collection of Norris Trophies in the Western Final. Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer obviously continue to bring that pedigree, while none of the Senators defensemen can make the same claim. But again, while Anaheim’s Francois Beauchemin is improving and becoming a standout defenseman, the rest of the guys are journeymen and unproven. Ottawa boasts much better overall depth along the blue line, and Joe Corvo and Wade Redden move the puck ahead as well as Anaheim’s high-profile defensemen.

In goal, it’s hard to ignore the pedigree Jean-Sebastien Giguere is building. He’s been to three of the last four Western Finals, winning twice. He has one Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in his pocket, and may be in line for another this year. If numbers and past accomplishments count for anything, Anaheim has an edge in goal. That said, Ottawa’s Ray Emery was so nonchalant about facing off against New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur (three Stanley Cups, two Vezinas, four Jennings, Olympic gold, and so forth), he missed a team flight heading to New Jersey. Emery has been the best goalie in the playoffs this season, topping the league’s top scorer Sidney Crosby and a high-flying Pens team, a Devils first line as good as any in the league, and the league’s top offense in Buffalo. We’ll call it square between the pipes.

So Ottawa’s the pick. I’ve picked against them in the first three rounds, and they continue to kick me in the crotch for doing so. Ottawa in six (maybe even only five), and Daniel Alfredsson takes the Conn Smythe, though it should be Emery or Chris Phillips.