Ladies and gentlemen, I know this blog has gone through a lot of neglect but today, on a whim, I've decided to recommit myself to this space and build it back up from the ground. Well, not quite the ground. I mean there are still 3 of you kicking around, aren't you? Hello to the 3 of you! I even took back my name! (Note: Not my real name)

In any case, no matter how busy my life gets, I always find time to live-blog the finals. Even though I vowed this year that if it was a repeat of the Wings vs. Penguins I would somehow sleep through it (which seemed likely today as I've been laid up all day with a cold. Don't worry, it's not swine...I don't think).

While due to my real life obligations (read: job), I can't blog as much as I would like, I think I'm done with making excuses as to why I don't. Even though I see a long off-season ahead where I'm clawing at news to post, I'm sure we'll find something. We'll suffer through it together you and I.

So, check back at around 7:45 EDT for the annual SI Stanley Cup Finals Live-Blog and marvel as the quality dissolves not due to alcohol, but as I start chugging the cold medication. It'll be epic.

7:50 pm - What the heck is this "Battle of the Blades" thing on CBC with Tie Domi and Bob Probert. I get the feeling it's figure skating related...I am both intrigued and disturbed.

7:51 pm - Elliotte Friedman tells us that Sidney Crosby is very competitive. So much so that he refused to leave the golf course when he was tied at the 18th hole with his father. Oh, Sid. Haven't you heard of a thing called respecting your elders?

7:53 pm - Well, Sid's beard might look slightly better this year but it could still use some filling in. Apparently his favourite activity in the summer is to go fishing by himself. I have...no comment on that whatsoever because I think just the thought of fishing put me right to sleep.

8:01 pm - Just the mere sight of Steve Yzerman makes me happy. That still doesn't mean I'm cheering for the Wings though. Or the Penguins. According to Steve, Detroit will win if...they win 4 games. Thanks, Steve!

8:11 pm - One of the things I do love about HNiC: their dramatic musical montages. Today's offering is "The Scientist" by Coldplay. Well, at least it's a Coldplay song that doesn't put me to sleep. Today's montage is done similar to the music video for "The Scientist" where everything goes backwards and we see some childhood memories from some of the key players. It's well done and suitably dramatic as per the CBC's usual montages. If I cared about either team, it would certainly bring a tear to my eye.

8:14 pm - The Octopus inflatable is released from the scoreboard at centre ice and some poor game screw schlup has to skate it safely off the ice. Don Cherry stares on in wonder. Datsyuk and Draper is out for the Wings. Penguins icing 11 forwards and 7 d-men. Apparently Chris Pronger has some advice to give them, something about stomping your enemies into submission. I might be paraphrasing here.

National Anthem - You know what I would like? To hear the Canadian anthem at the finals one of these days. And Lidstrom has some very funky spiked up hair going on. Nice. Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay for the ceremonial puck drop. Nice touch. I see throwing octopi on the ice isn't so much banned as long as their lil ocotopi.

Click Here for the Rest of the Live-Blog

First Period
20:00 - Jim Hughson with the call. Bill Guerin gets the first shot on goal. It's his first final appearance since 1995. Oh, Billy G. Fleury makes his first save of the Finals game and he's already doing better this year than last what with not tripping on the entrance and everything. Massive rebound off the save but nicely cleared by Scuderi.

18:47 - Max Talbot with a shot off a bounce off the dasher boards and a good save by Osgood. Things getting chippy early. Apparently part of the home ice advantage of the Wings is doing where the puck bounces off the boards. Sure, I guess that sounds kind of true.

18:11 - It really does please me to see Tim Hortons rinkboards in American stadiums for some reason.

17:20 - Zetterberg in on a 1-on-2 and just shoots it in. Good end to end action here early.

16:50 - Confession... I still don't really know how to pronounce "Bylsma".

16:05 - Staal with a short-side shot and Osgood swallows it up. He's like a puck vortex! Whereas Fleury is giving out rebounds, but he's controlling them all right so far.

15:45 - Cleary to Zetterberg to Franzen...with a great one-timer that goes off the post and the crowd goes wild! So close!

15:00 - I will say this about the Penguins, they seem to be giving as good as they're getting and they don't look way over matched as they did last year.

14:20 - All sorts of traffic in front of Fleury and the Pens have some trouble getting it out of the zone before it's finally cleared.

13:33 - No whistles so far. Great continuous action, barely have time to take a breath!

12:34 - Shots 4 on 4 so far...I swear it felt like more. Hossa delays and shoots and stopped by Fleury as it flutters to the other side.

11:53 - Orpik lays a big one on Hossa. I was wondering if any of them was going to get extra saucy with Hossa.

11:40 - Finally a whistle when the puck goes off the netting. And we can finally go to the bathroom. Osgood's favourite band is "The Eagles". I KNEW there was something I didn't like about him. Asides from being a Red Wing.

10:53 - One of the things I enjoy judging the arenas on is their choice of music. Joe Louis is playing Rise Against right now...I think I might slightly approve.

10:21 - Crosby now on a line with Cooke. He wheels and deals into the zone and Cooke gets a good shot off that's stopped by Osgood.

9:41 - Malkin from behind the net with a good chance on his own but the puck slides off his stick.

8:51 - Staal breaking to the net, off to Tyler Kennedy but tipped off the net, great defensive play by the Wings!

7:55 - Red Wings bring it to centre but that's as far as they'll go. Good pressure by the Pens as they get it back deep into the zone. Shot on Osgood holds onto but there's no whistle until he drops it back onto the ice.

6:22 - Brad Stuart off the boards and into the net just trickled by Fleury. 1-0 Wings. Guess knowing where the bounces go really does help!

5:45 - Wings have a 8-1 record when scoring first. Not that these stats mean anything...of course.

5:06 - Great chance by Zetterberg that goes high. Zetterberg again with another shot off a turnover that's stopped.

4:49 - Wings have the Pens deep in their zone and take the opportunity for a line change after Zetterberg had been on for what seemed like forever.

4:18 - Malkin's backhander is wide of the net and it looks like Osgood got a piece of it.

4:04 - Hossa bursts after the puck to get in alone but to quote Hughson "Hal Gill had to be as quick as he could be"...which elicited a giggle out of me.

3:14 - Is it just me or does "Abdelkader" sound like an organ of some kind? Like "Ouch! My Abdelkader!"

2:15 - Wings keep it in before the Pens finally get it out. Things have calmed down a bit, it looks like the teams are taking their time a bit more with line changes and such. Makes sense after the fevered pace the game started out with.

1:24 - Malkin takes a shot and Osgood can't control the rebound and Fedotenko has a wide open net to score! 1-1 tie!

0:41 - The Wings respond well to the goal by pinning the Pens back in their own zone. Couple of good chances but none that connect.

0:00 - And that's time. Tied 1-1 after one. Everybody is on the edge of their seats.

1st Intermission
Coach's Corner is coming up...I think I'll go watch some Robin Hood.

2nd Period
19:35 - Shot early for the Penguins and Osgood with some mad moves to make a save off a scramble in front of him.

19:20 - Puck over the boards and out of play. Man, I can't even remember when the last time that happened was!

18:08 - Osgood attempts to clear but puts it on a Pens' stick, he makes the save and didn't know there was a rebound but it's safely cleared for an icing call. First one of the game!

17:05 - Maltby with a hard shoot in and almost has a chance all alone in front but is stopped.

16:37 - Malkin on a break away off of what seems like a trip on Kronwall that's not called. Malkin's in all alone and a full head of steam and STOPPED BY OSGOOD. And the crowd goes wild!

16:23 - Shots 5-1 for Pittsburgh so far in the 2nd. Kris Letang may or might not be hurt. He looks like he's in some pain on the bench.

15:30- First penalty of the game for the Wings. Lebda in the box.

14:47 - Guerin with a shot, Osgood saves and the Wings clear it but the Pens bring it back up again with ease. Lidstrom gives it to Hossa and wastes some time in the Pens' zone.

13:49 - Malkin tries to tap it on the side of the net with some space but Osgood saves! Mad scramble before it's cleared to the blueline.

13:21 - Penalty over and Pens get another shot but Osgood hangs on.

13:15 - Red Wings come out 3-on-2 but doesn't get a good chance before Staal brings it back out again.

12:55 - Staal hauled down and Samuelsson is off to the box. Second PP for the Pens in the period.

12:35 - Short-handed chance by the Wings but is saved by Fleury.

11:10 - Gonchar can't keep it in, only 10 seconds left in the PP...and the crowd cheers...?

10:51 - Penalties over and Samuelsson is back on but the Pens have the puck in the offensive zone. The Wings players must be dog tired.

9:40 - Pens have the Wings pretty deep in their zone before they finally clear it on the icing. They look like they're on their heels a bit. Babcock is suitably aggravated.

8:08 - Hockey Night Close Up is about how Zetterberg and Crosby are practically the same person. I think that's an insult to Zetterberg's much more impressive playoff beard.

7:13 - Satan makes one deke too many and Osgood stops him off of a good chance.

6:31 - Crosby makes a fancy schmany spin but is stopped by Osgood! Hooking call on the Penguins and the Wings get their first PP of the game. And...the Empire's Theme from Star Wars plays. Nice.

5:31 - Offside call on the Red Wings. This PP isn't looking too organized.

4:27 - Holmstrom's ass is right in front of Fleury's face but he manages to stop the puck anyways. All sorts of shenanigans in front of the net. Cooke is at the center of it all. What a surprise.

4:10 - Penalty's over. Both teams still tied at 1.

3:03 - Gill with a shot, Osgood makes the save and another crowd gathers at the front. Man, these goalies sure are popular!

2:45 - Boys are saying if the Penguins come out of this period with nothing it will be a darn shame and I tend to agree. They really were the stronger team in this period.

1:49 - Red Wings with a great deal of pressure in the Pens zone before Guerin finally clears the puck.

1:15 - Icing call on the Penguins. Gill and Scuderi are gasping for air. "Ghost Town" by Shiny Toy Guns plays...another good choice. Bylsma wisely calls for a time out to give his troops a breather.

1:12 - Okay whatever this poppy techno they're now playing is has erased any good will I had of them.

1:04 - Crowd in front and the RED WINGS SCORE! Looks like it might go to Cleary. Stadium explodes appropriately.

0:20 - Zetterberg with a good shot but is gobbled up by Fleury. Good thing that goal hasn't shaken him up too badly.

0:00 - Period over and the Wings are up 2-1.

2nd Intermission
Lebrun, Strachan, Morrison and McLean are on The Hotstove. No Mike Milbury? You mean I shall be denied a potential fist fight between him and Strachan once more? Back to Robin Hood it is.

3rd Period
19:20 - Hughson with a fun tidbit: Zetterberg and Crosby have seen over 12 minutes of Even Strength action so far.

18:45 - In this year's playoffs, Wings are 9-0 when leading after 2.

18:33 - Malkin barely gets away from the missile that is Kronwall. Man he just throws himself at anything.

17:48 - Darren Helm is in all alone and...is STOPPED BY FLEURY. Good stick work by Gill to throw him off. Man, I never thought I'd say anything "good" about Gill if it wasn't paired with the word "Grief".

17:14 - Abdelkader with a shot that alludes Fleury. Staal lost sight of the puck and he dejectedly skates back to the bench. 3-1 Wings!

16:32 - Osgood stops a good hard shot by Letang. Good to see Letang is feeling better.

15:56 - Crosby tries to bank it in off the post and off Osgood and Osgood pounces on it and a pile-up occurs. The frustration is boiling over...

14:13 - Crosby gains the zone and makes some space while his teammates catch up, Hossa finally clears the zone.

11:11 - Good end to end action so far. No whistles, no nada. The boys are just letting the boys play.

9:27 - Darren Helm had 9 minutes of ice time so far.

7:38 - Icing call on the Red Wings and Babcock calls a timeout. "What I Like About You" on the system...eh. It's not the most original choice but I think it's an arena staple. And then it's the Mortal Kombat theme! You're back in my good books, music people.

5:36 - Tim Horton's commercial where the Penguins' bus breaks down and he goes off to play with the little Timbits. Oh please, as if the Pens' personnel would let him off that bus. I do like this one better than "Just a couple more minutes" though.

5:30 - Shots 30-30 overall. Off-side call. This game has slowed down quite a bit.

4:08 - Loads of action in front of Fleury and he's flying all over the place to stop the puck. Good pressure by the Wings, even better saves by Fleury!

2:33 - Maltby just lost his helmet and now Kronwall loses his. Come on guys, tighten those buckets. Speaking of Maltby, I literally have not heard his name in this game until now. Had a good couple of shifts though.

1:45 - Extra attacker and net empty for the Pens. Hossa makes a beeline to the net but he misses wide.

1:13 - Lidstrom holds the zone and the net is empty, Pens have some trouble getting out but the Wings have some trouble getting to the net as well.

0:41 - Icing call on the Red Wings. No time out, no change. Could be tight. Lemieux looks on and does not look best pleased.

0:18 - Lidstrom gets it out and Gonchar takes his sweet time getting to the puck...and it will be another icing call on the Wings.

0:00 - And that's time! Red Wings take Game 1 and the Penguins are forced to go back and regroup.

The Penguins are a stronger team and they even controlled the play at times tonight, but in the end the Red Wings still came through. This won't be as easy of a series as it was for them last year as the Pens have shown that they are indeed a better team than last year. It ought to be a good challenge and we'll see how both teams respond.

See you tomorrow and thanks for hanging out for the long-winded liveblog!

Labels: detroit red wings, live-blog, pittsburgh penguins, stanley cup finals