Rejoice, those who dislike hockey, for this will be the last time you’ll have to read about hockey in this space!

The LA Kings, behind a 6 goal performance, and thanks in large part to a penalty, put away the New Jersey Devils to earn the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Midway through the first period, Devils winger Steve Bernier committed a major penalty (which, in hockey, grants the other team a 5 minute power play ) and received a game misconduct (ejection).  The Kings took advantage of their 5 minute power play, scoring 3 times to take a commanding 3-0 lead. They would not look back from there, scoring another goal in the second period, before the Devils added one heading into the 3^rd period. LA didn’t rest on its 4-1 lead, as they added two more goals in the third (scored within 15 seconds of each other).

The win is an improbable one for a team that barely made the playoffs. The Kings are the only team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup as an 8 seed. Goalie Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP).

You can probably get used to stories like this in the Bulletin. As the NBA and NHL seasons wrap up, I’ll be diving a little deeper into baseball “stuff.” This morning’s “baseball stuff” includes a contract extension for Dodgers OF Andre Eithier. Namely a 5 year/$85 million extension.

Eithier has not batted over .300 in a season since 2008. Granted, batting average is not a very important statistic, but it’s certainly worth noting. His career .363 OBP is perfectly acceptable. The fact that as a 30 year old he has exactly 1 season with more than 25 HR? I’ll let you decide there.

Eithier will be 36 by the time his deal expires, as it is reported to include an easy vesting option for the 2018 season. The Dodgers need look only as far as their dugout to find an example of how a contract of this magnitude can handcuff an organization. Or, since they’re playing the Angels this week, perhaps go talk to them about that Bobby Abreu contract.

Just as we all predicted, the Ukrainians now lead Group D, following their surprising 2-1 victory over Sweden yesterday.

In the earlier Group D match, the English and French played to a 1-1 draw.

The hits kept on coming last night in Toronto for the Nationals (14 of them) as they defeated the Blue Jays 6-3 to extend their winning streak to 4 games.

The Nationals were given a solid outing by Edwin Jackson, who threw 8 innings, surrendering 2 runs, and striking out 3. The Nats were also the beneficiaries, unfortunately, of an injury to Toronto ace Brandon Morrow, who left after facing one batter in the first inning with an oblique strain.

Game 2 of the series will be played tonight (presumably in front of about 39 people) at Rogers Centre. Chien-Ming Wang will take his astronomically high WHIP into action against one of the AL’s best hitting teams. He’ll be opposed by Henderson Alvarez (7:05/MASN)

Two matchups in Euro 2012 play today. Neither are particularly sexy.

12:00-Greece v. Czech Republic

2:45- Poland v. Russia

The real Game of the Day will be Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Miami @ Oklahoma City (9:00/ABC)