Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Live Blog

Ducks GM Brian Burke believes the Canadian media will back the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup Finals, which begin tonight at 8 p.m. EST in Anaheim. "That's fine. We have more Canadians on our team than Ottawa does," Burke told NHL.com.

Ah, yes, having more Canadians than the other guys. Maybe that's why Vegas has the Ducks as the favorite to win the Cup, and why it would behoove Ottawa to come out and kick them in the gut like the Senators did against Buffalo in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Will California finally claim the Cup? Will the Ottawa Senators finally prove that Gary Bettman's NHL isn't simply content to allow Canadian teams not named Montreal to make the Finals, but never let them actually win the big prize? Can anyone working on the VERSUS studio show say something remotely interesting, or will it continue to feel like watching "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" while drinking a Valium and NyQuil cocktail?

There are so many questions surrounding this championship series, it's going to take a live-blogging tag team to sort them out. Join NHL FanHousers Jon "J.P." Press and Greg Wyshynski as they live blog Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals beginning at 8 p.m. in this thread. Pithy comments from readers welcome; pithy comments (as well as expert analysis) from writers expected.

Pregame Thoughts

- JP: Engblom really rocked the hair dryer tonight.

- GW: Here's a fun drinking game: Take a shot every time anyone on VERSUS says something completely obvious to anyone who's watched a single hockey game in the last 25 years. You'll be down and out after three minutes.

- JP: I actually threw together a "NHL Playoffs Drinking Game" post last month. One of the rules was "Drink nothing when Brian Engblom hedges on a prediction. We're all for having a good time, but no need to send anyone to the hospital."

- GW: For the record, Brian Engblom says Ottawa wins the Cup; Keith Jones takes Anaheim; Bill Clement takes Anaheim in six; and Mark Messier takes Ottawa and says, "I learned a long time ago not to make guarantees in opposing rinks." That sound you heard was Marty Brodeur kicking out his television.

- JP: Is Emerick sitting in Olczyk's lap?

- GW: For the record, I've picked the Anaheim Ducks to win in seven games, for the five reasons I have cited here. JP, what say you?

- JP: I'm going Ottawa in six (but I picked Buffalo and Jersey before them and Tampa to beat Jersey in the first round, so that pretty much locks it up for the Ducks).

- JP: Great timing on the wave runner ads, given the news of the day.

First Period

- JP: Low cut blouse on Chris Simpson, eh? I think Pronger was trying to figure out how to sneak a peek.

- GW: I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Neil Young would have been more in tune than Stephen Stills singing the National Anthem. By the way, Stills and Barry Trotz - separated at birth.

- GW: 1-0 Ottawa, Niedermayer in the box. Mike Comrie tucks the puck in as Giggy deflects it to the far post. Really goofy little bad goal for the Ducks to give up.

- JP: Good work by the Sens getting J.S. moving laterally. Does Bryan Murray ever uncross his arms?

- GW: Coming into the Finals, Ottawa was third in the postseason on the power play (20 percent) while the Ducks were seventh (15.3%). The Senators were fourth on the kill (20%) and the Ducks were sixth (15.3%). The special teams battle is going as the stats told us it would go thus far, which could be bad news for the formerly Mighty ones.

- JP: Hopefully the players - and not the refs - decide the series. By the way, the wife and I have a strict "No Enterprise" rule when it comes to renting cars due to their unbelievably annoying ads.

- GW: Celebrities at the Stanley Cup Finals Watch: OSCAR winner (!) Cuba Gooding, Jr. and super-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who should do a "CSI"-style show to determine what killed the Buffalo Sabres' Cup hopes.

- GW: Anaheim ties this baby up at 1-1, as Ottawa turns the puck over in its own zone and Andy McDonald destroys Ray Emery top shelf. Geez, all of this scoring...is this the Ducks and Senators or the Angels and the baseball equivalent of the Senators?

- JP: Beauty goal. Drew Miller's big hit makes it happen - welcome to the NHL, son. Ottawa was just dominated for a minute by the Brad May line and the Ric Jackman defense pairing - that's not encouraging for the Sens.

- GW: The Senators are getting so completely outplayed at this point, the Ducks should be wearing Maple Leafs jerseys.

- JP: No way Comrie didn't hear that whistle before shooting, but he draws the penalty from Jackman. Good timing - Ottawa needs the power play just to settle things down.

- GW: Have I mentioned how happy I am that there isn't a team from the Southeast Division playing in this game? It will be such a happy day when the rest of the Patrick Division rescues the Washington Capitals in a daring midnight raid.

- JP: I guess the Division decided to let someone else win the Cup for the first time since '03. Am I the only one who feels Emery letting in an uber-soft goal tonight?

- GW: I can't tell if Emery's playing well or practically Cechmanekian. End of the first, and we're tied at 1-1.

- JP: Basically, Ottawa's got to be happy at 1-1. I haven't seen them dominated like this at any point in the playoffs. But it's been a long layoff, first period on the road, etc. - pick your excuse. I wouldn't expect it to continue this one-sided. Alright, dude, Miss Universe is starting over on NBC. I'm out of here - talk to you later...

- GW: A few thoughts after the first 20 minutes: Senators getting outshot 8-4, which shows that Anaheim was hella nervous to start the game, got knocked on its collective ass and then played Ducks hockey for the next 12 minutes. No shots for Heatley or Spezza. Beauchemin leads the Ducks defensemen with 10:37 total ice time. The VERSUS guys are rightly creaming all over this first period, which was played at lightning speed (as opposed to Lightning speed, which only lasts six games). For the record, Andy McDonald became the second player who could not overcome the gravity of Chris Simpson's plunging neckline. The scoring:

• (1-0) Ottawa, 1:38, Mike Comrie 3 (power play) (Mike Fisher, Andrej Meszaros)
• (1-1) Anaheim, 10:55, Andy McDonald 6 (Teemu Selanne)

Second Period

- GW: Ducks power play. I see the power plays are sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken, which I believe is part of Bettman's master plan to expand the NHL's U.S. regional footprint...until Jim Balsillie buys it and moves it to Kitchener.

- JP: Ducks fans should all bring duck calls to the games and blow 'em when they score or have a strong shift. It'd give that building some much-needed personality.

- GW: 2-1 Ottawa on a Redden rocket from the point. Good job, Pahlsson. Why not ask Giguere to juggle some chainsaws along with his stick. The Anaheim crowd is D-E-A-D after the goal, and ANOTHER Ottawa power play.

- JP: It's hard enough to stop a puck without your own teammate flipping a stick at you, no? Thanks, Sami. Too... many... power plays. Let 'em play, stripes!

- JP: Big missed opportunity for Ottawa on that long 5-on-3 (ugh - all this Versus coverage has led to me stating the painfully obvious).

- GW: The pace of this game is insane. It's like both teams have been given 32 oz. cups of new Energy Coffee from 7-Eleven. That's Energy Coffee from 7-Eleven -- Oh, Thank Heaven. (And now I wait for the comps to roll in...)

- JP: Do the Ducks have the worst logo in the League? What the hell is it - just their name with a webbed foot as the "D"?

- GW: Would you prefer they go back to the eggplant roadies with the duck-billed goalie mask? As I said in the preview, it "made them look like they should have been taking pictures with toddlers at the Magic Kingdom instead of playing in the NHL."

- JP: Fair enough. Miss Universe swimsuit competition is currently underway. This just in - Miss Venezuela es en fuego. I believe they were just playing "Word Up" by Cameo in the arena. Nice.

- GW: Terrific play by Emery to keep that floating puck out of the net. Unfortunately for the Ducks, Sami Pahlsson didn't try to throw a stick at him while he was making the save.

- JP: Anyone else notice that Spezza is having an awful game? (There's some of that "expert analysis" you promised above.)

- GW: OK, so we're at 2-1 in favor of the Senators entering the third period. Shots were 10-10 in the second, but considering Ottawa's power plays that tells you Anaheim's been pretty damn good 5-on-5. The Sens are trying to get Giguere moving side to side, but I've also noticed they're shooting high on him, which is odd because it appears Giggy has a children's moon bounce stuffed under his jersey. Points of concern for Anaheim: Pronger and Scott Niedermayer need to be in the offensive flow much, much more. And "Great Puppy" Getzlaf has no shots on goal; he should be happy this isn't Buffalo, or they would have labeled him a choker already. Reason for hope for the Ducks: Emery looks about as calm as a dog at Michael Vick's house. The scoring:

• Ottawa 4:36, Wade Redden 3 (power play) (Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza)

- JP: A couple of stats after two periods:

• Frankie Beauchemin has more ice time than either S. Niedermayer or Pronger through two.
• Anton Volchenkov has six blocked shots for Anaheim. Tim Duncan has two blocked shots for the Spurs.
• Spezza has one shot, two giveaways, zero takeaways. He does have a PP helper, though, and has won 10 of 18 draws.
• Chris Neil led the League in hits during the regular season, but doesn't have one yet tonight.

Third Period

- GW: Mike Fisher was given credit for the first Ottawa goal, his fourth of the playoffs. What do they chant in Anaheim? It sounds like "Let's Go Duh-hucks!" That can't be right can it?

- JP: "Let's Go Angels". Duh. Because you know you're interested, here's a pic of Miss Venezuela.

- GW: GREAT PUPPY! GREAT PUPPY! GREAT PUPPY! What a killer little backhand by Getzlaf to tie this game at 2-2. If you don't think this is a coming out party for a future star, you haven't been paying attention - this kid could win the Conn. Delayed call on the Sens, who are on the ropes and taking body blows.

- JP: Wow. That was pur-ty. Good choice by Redden to stick with Brad May (who was already covered) rather than challenge Getzlaf.

- GW: Well, I'll be damned - Ryan Miller actually was good enough to make the Stanley Cup Finals. By the way, the team defense that got the Ottawa Senators into the championship round? Must have left it on the hotel nightstand.

- JP: Hindsight's 20/20, but do you think Caps' GM George McPhee is kicking himself for taking Eric Fehr one pick ahead of Getzlaf?

- GW: JP, it occurs to me at this point in the third period that we never discussed what's going to happen with the whole live blogging thing should this game, you know, advance into multiple overtimes. Any thoughts?

- JP: I have been fearing that. I'm probably good for one OT - I have to get up at 5:30 to go to work. Let's hope we don't have to cross that bridge.

- GW: My suggestion: People just scroll back up to the top and pretend we're talking about three periods of overtime.

- JP: Great idea. Then just wake up in the morning and add "What a goal! Now I can go to bed..."

- GW: I never thought I'd see a game in which Rob was the better Niedermayer. By the way, although we had a few of those "you won't beat Arena Football's ratings!" knuckleheads on the comments below, this is what the NHL needs to actually get people to watch the damn sport: Fast, physical, exciting hockey with everything on the line. This game's been awesome - just listen to Emrick's voice right now. It sounds like he's been calling a Game 7.

- JP: Volchenkov has 10 blocked shots right now. Anaheim has 11 total. And here's a stat on Anaheim's dominance - with five minutes left, they have 29 shots on goal, 15 missed shots and 21 that have been blocked. That's 65 shot attempts in 55 minutes. Ottawa has 34 total shot attempts. That's domination.

- GW: GOOOOAL for the Duckies. 3-2 with 2:49 left in the game. Again, the team defense that Ottawa's built its Cup hopes on is gonzo. Moen with his fifth (!) goal of the postseason. And then Giguere with a huge save with Emery pulled. Act like you've been there, kid.

- JP: Travis friggin' Moen has five playoff goals? And nice to see Spezza running around chasing Rob Niedermayer - kinda a microcosm of this game.

- GW: Ducks win Game 1, 3-2. And that, friends, is the subtle difference between J.S. Giguere and Ray Emery. Giggy came up huge tonight. Engblom just compared Great Puppy Getzlaf to Mark Messier. What, would comparing him to Gordie Howe put too much pressure on the kid?

- JP: Ottawa was 36-5-4 when leading after two periods in the regular season and 9-2 in the playoffs. Anaheim was 5-15-5 when trailing after two during the regular season, but 3-2 in the playoffs. Looks like those playoff numbers will need to be adjusted.

Awesome game, but not as close as the score. Ottawa needs to make some adjustments (Jason Spezza removing his head from his posterior, for example) for Game 2. Thanks for the live blog, Greg - let's do it again some time.

- GW: You got it JP. This is the first Game 1 the Senators have lost in this postseason. If I'm Ottawa, no worries - the Spezza line was invisible, the team defense was just terrible and Emery was playing on instinct when he was being hung out to dry. That's all very fixable in Game 2 on Wednesday night. For the record, Travis Moen becomes the first player tonight not to steal a glimpse of Chris Simpson's...eh, "research assistants." No wonder he could handle that bouncing puck on the game-winner -- talk about focus...

The scoring:

• (2-2) Anaheim 5:44, Ryan Getzlaf 6 (Corey Perry, Ric Jackman)
• (3-2) Anaheim 17:09, Travis Moen 5 (Rob Niedermayer, Scott Niedermayer)

Thanks for reading...