Okay, back in action. Time to watch game #3 and provide some pointless commentary.

And, if you’re really lucky, I expect I’ll miss large portions of the minute-by-minute coverage because I get distracted by the bottle opener. (Yes, Greg, this stuff is very good. But it’s not twist-top, dammit…)

Okay, coverage coming momentarily. I’m currently being severely distracted by Mark Messier’s giant head while being interviewed by Ron MacLean. Exciting stuff.;-)

- Oh, god. A cheezy pre-game montage has opened the game. Alberta oil workers saying things like “Time to Dig Deep!” Not a great start. Still, it’s finally HNIC! Exciting.

- And now they’re rocking out to the “Pulp Fiction” theme music. This crowd is hyped, clearly. Lord, how I wish the Canucks were there… (okay, no more Canucks talk.) Go Edmonton! (sort of)

- Don Cherry’s suit looks like a rorschach test. Wow. The man has no limits - it’s quite remarkable. One day he’ll show up naked and really out-do himself, I fear.

- Edmonton crowd-anthem singers impress again. Although they did lose the rhythm a bit, so maybe a few of them discovered my beer? Very possible. I didn’t even attempt to sing along. A wise move, without a doubt. Now GAMETIME!

19:40 - An Edmonton shot misses the net and Harry-Cole “Maybe that was a plan to miss the net and play it off the boards!” Seriously, I love these guys.

17:30? - Horcoff, was it? Edmonton scores, Cam Ward appears human, and 18,000+ fans almost blow the roof off the building. (I honestly did have to turn the volume down there.)

14:25 - MacT looks angry in a “you wouldn’t LIKE me when I’m angry!” sort of way. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that Hemsky just got knocked almost unconscious.

11:00 - Why does everyone like Doug Weight so much? I wish Edmonton scored while he was in the penalty box. I think he’s a bit of a drama queen, to be honest. So much whining — every damn time I hear him talk it’s something else with this guy.

7:15 - The Harry-Cole boys are sounding somewhat competent tonight. I’m not sure if they’ve got all their facts right, but they sure sound good! (update: as soon as I say that, Harry-Cole: “the Adams family is in the penalty box!” Honestly, why do I even bother listening…)

5:00 - Edmonton misses an opportunity to score 5-3. But that’s okay, it sure was fun watching the Canes control the play for more than half of it!

2:16 - I’m not sure if the Oilers are actually on a power-play, or if it’s more of a case of the Canes playing with them like a cat plays with a mouse.

0:00 - Edmonton outshot Carolina. Hmmm. The early part of the period was good for them I suppose, but it sure fizzled. I’m hopeful for the 2nd period. I’m just not sure what I’m hoping for…

NOW: Where’s the hell’s the bottle opener? (see you shortly!)

18:20 - Another Carolina penalty? The cat continues to play with the mouse.

15:45 - One good thing about all these penalties - both teams are handling them SO badly, it’s not much impacting the game. Magoo must be so disappointed - he’s sure TRYING to make the penalties take over the game…

13:20? - Another Canes penalty? God, this is sort of becoming The Penalty Period. The PENALTY LIVEBLOG! It’s all math, all the time, people…

11:00 - Since I’m strangely bored for the moment (aren’t you?) here’s my game prediction - Oilers win. I realize this isn’t some kind of radical prediction, but I just realized I hadn’t made an official statement yet. (And I’m always right about this shit, I promise. So now Oilers fans can relax and enjoy the game.)

7:50 - I’m still doing math, dammit! So many PENALTIES, this is killing me. And the longer this stays a one-goal game, by the way, the more likely that my “edmonton will win” prediction goes horribly wrong for Oilers fans.

4:00 - Another penalty. AWESOME! (While the excitement is pretty intense, I can really live without Harry-Cole saying things like “Look at DICK! (Tarnstrom)…”)

2:00 - Oh, well, THAT was fun! Mr. Magoo loses sight of the puck and blows the whistle; Edmonton then scores; arena goal-horn goes off; then goal waved off. And if you’re wondering, the fun part was watching Magoo waving his arms so hard, you’d think he was trying to take flight.

0:00 - No less than two people have pointed out to me in the last three minutes that Carolina will still win this game. But do we really want Carolina to win? Do we? (And P.S.: I hate Magoo.) Back shortly…

About the CBC Satellite Hotstove Debate - I just listened to the pundits and someone’s theory about how Tampa Bay will keep St. Louis/ Lecavalier/Richards together. I don’t think so. If I had to guess, I’d say St.Louis is gone and Ed Jovanovski is in. (Or maybe Florida.) Damn Mike Keenan to hell. Again. Somehow.

18:51 - Markkanen is looking excellent. Let’s see if his teammates can screw him over anyway. (Golly, I’m feeling frisky! I need another beer. A moment, please…)

16:54 - Another penalty. RIGHT ON! I almost hadn’t noticed and I’m so pleased! Really, could Bettman script this any better? The new NHL is so pretty…

10:45? - Carolina scores, which just woke me up again. (Who drank the rest of my beer, dammit!)

9:00 - I have it on good authority that the Acid Queen isn’t watching this game tonight. Part of her demented theory of “don’t watch the game and the Canes shall win!” theory-of-hockey-fandom.

Doesn’t that sort of kill the joy of finally watching your guys achieve the big prize, I wonder? But then again, if the Canucks were this close and I thought this system had any merit , I’d probably leave the country for a month, just to be safe.

4:35 - Good grief, I’m getting the horrible feeling that I (yes, ME!) might be wrong - that Carolina might actually win this game if this keeps up… sheesh.

2:20? - Well, holy shit. Edmonton manages to score! (ACCIDENTALLY, I should point out. You look at that replay and try telling me that that was a deliberate goal…) Regardless, well done Edmonton. It appears my predictive genius continues.

0:00 - So Edmonton wins. By the pure-dumb-luck of the Stanley Cup Finals, I should add.

And now I shall drink a toast to Markkanen. Well done, backup goalie man! (I’m sure MacT will take full credit…)

Harry-Cole have ended their broadcast saying “DITTO!” Alrighty… then… Ditto! And see you later.