10 WEEKEND THINGS

Taking shots …

1 – THE CHASE: Studies from our audience show the viewers’ top focus right now is the Stanley Cup Playoff race (followed by March Madness, MLB, then NFL/CFL/UFL, if you can believe). Clearly the races at the top of the NHL standings, and at the playoff cutoff line, are going to go right down to the wire but as far as the chase for Lord Stanley goes, Carolina is the betting favourite (+650) at Draft Kings sportsbook to win it all this spring followed by Florida & Colorado (+700), then Edmonton (+750), NY Rangers & Dallas (+800). Obviously this is simply a guideline because all the oddsmakers had San Francisco to win the Super Bowl in February by two points over Kansas City, but the Chiefs took it 25-22 in overtime. Gambling remains a tax on the willing.

2 – ANALYTICS: We’re about ready to toss the numbers thing into the trash, aren’t we? I’ll never forget a chat with legendary NHL scout Jim Bzdel (Flames, Blues) when he came to visit my Dad in Wascana in 2017. “I’ve never seen numbers win a hockey game,” smiled The Buzzard. “Just line ’em up along the blue line and see how they do against actual players. That guy in Arizona running his team by numbers isn’t going to last long.” He didn’t.

3 – JOSE CAN YOU SEE?: Auston Matthews hit 100 points Saturday night in Toronto’s 4-2 win at Montreal. That gives the Scottsdale, AZ product two 100-point seasons in his career and as far as Americans go, that ties him with Patrick Kane, Matthew Tkachuk, Pat Lafontaine, Kevin Stevens and Jimmy Carson for the most all-time. Only Jeremy Roenick has more, with three 100-point seasons. Ironically the greatest American of ’em all, Mike Modano, never had a single 100-point season.

4 – SUNSHINE STATE: It’s a fun debate — which FLA NHL team will go further in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning or Panthers? Both teams clinched over the past week but they’re trending in opposite directions. The Cats are 3-5-2 in their past 10 while the Bolts are 7-2-1, and getting stronger. Did you watch that wild game on Saturday, Pittsburgh’s 5-4 home win over Tampa? In the dying moments the Lightning threw out Stamkos, Point, Kucherov, Hedman, Dumba and Paul. aka Murderer’s Row. … Prayers up by the way for referee Steve Kozari and Carlyle, SK’s Haydn Fleury of the Lightning who were involved in a nasty collision at centre ice. Both left the game and did not return. Reports are that both are okay. … We’ve got hours of Panthers & Lightning coverage here: Cats ‘N Bolts Podcast.

5 – HUMBOLDT STRONG: SJHL playoff arenas were dark on Saturday to observe the anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy of 04-06-2018, the worst day in Saskatchewan history. Beloved and never forgotten. When action resumes, Flin Flon has a 2-0 edge over Battlefords and Melfort has a 2-0 edge over Humboldt.

6 – DUB HUB: Oh boy, oh boy! Round 2 of the WHL Playoffs is set and it’ll be the Moose Jaw Warriors versus the Swift Current Broncos while the Saskatoon Blades will take on the Red Deer Rebels. … That Saskatoon/Red Deer series is a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal. … 9,869 turned out to Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre to watch the Blades clinch their series against PA on Friday night. You still mean to tell me they need a new arena? … It’s tough to watch former Regina Pats thriving in these WHL Playoffs with other teams. Here’s hoping this season was the bottom of the Pats’ rebuild!

7 – BARKING: RP Show football analyst Jim Barker was at his bombastic best on this week’s Football Friday episode. Regarding Week 2 of the UFL season, Jim blared “It’s a second rate 4-Down league!” When asked his thoughts on the legacy of former Rider President Jim Hopson, Barker declared, “He could’ve been the Commissioner of the league and the league would’ve been in a better place.” Frankly I enjoyed watching the UFL games this weekend, even if we don’t know who the players are. (How else are we supposed to get to know them if we don’t watch???) 

Then we got in an argument over Round 1 of the NFL Draft and Jim said teams might be scared off by Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy and “the Meditation thing”. (Look it up). I snapped that J.J. diagnosed his own Mental Health crisis, sought help, and then LED THE WOLVERINES TO THE NATIONAL TITLE! Jim countered that NFL pressure isn’t “Michigan pressure”. What a conversation that was!

8 – RIDER THOUGHTS: It’s a real tough time of year for the Sask folks. As the great #44 Roger Aldag was fond of saying, “In Saskatchewan there are two seasons – football season, and winter.” For the time being, they’re caught between both. However optimism is ratcheting up for the 2024 campaign and count me in the camp of those who feel the Green & White will go as far as QB Trevor Harris takes them. Harris will be 38-years old by the time the season kicks off. (Ron Lancaster turned 40 during his last season in that role). I applaud the optimism but don’t like the narrative that the environment had gotten negative in the final stages of the coach Craig Dickenson era. He’s the most positive guy I know so if it got sour, I wouldn’t be blaming him. Although the blame game is en vogue these days, I suppose.

9 – PICKLEBALL: Go ahead and scoff! Heaven knows I did for a long time, till recently. The Pro Padel League season kicked off this weekend here in Miami, FL with the semifinals and final airing live on Game+ TV (the same blossoming network which airs the RP Show, and now the CEBL). The Ultra Courts complex is smack dab in the middle of Little Haiti and is an absolute oasis. Not sure what the TV ratings are but 5,000 tuned into YouTube on Saturday night for the semi-finals. The final goes Sunday at 2 pm ET on Game+ featuring the Las Vegas Smash versus New York Atlantics. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GAMES! Ticket prices range from *Free*, to $40, to $150 and it’s sold out. Fans are encouraged to come spend the day, mingle in the four outdoor lounges and hang out with the players. Very creative, very innovative and most of of all, very F-U-N!

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: We learned this week, finally, that April Fools jokes are for kids, and kids only. … Not sure what’s the reason for the sudden explosion in popularity of NCAA basketball in Canada, both mens and womens. I’m assuming it’s due to media hype. Everything is. … There is only one Fall Guy. Lee Majors. Enough with the remakes. … And by the way, whatever happened to Heather Thomas? … “SWELCE”: The combo of Swift & Kelce. … Social media has taken the place of call-in shows and Letters To The Editor. Have you seen the ratings for sportstalk radio lately? An all-time low. … They say they’ve learned, but they never do. … I can put up with *weird* if they’re paying me. If they’re not, I can’t. … Don’t get your news from Instagram. … If there’s a spelling mistake in your LinkedIn bio, yikes! … The Jersey Shore beach season is almost here, and if last year is any indication, it will soon be time to pack the voodoo dolls, whoopie cushions, zip ties and denture powder. Those were just a few of the bizarre items plucked from the sands of New Jersey’s beaches last year by volunteers with the Clean Ocean Action environmental group, according to a report the group released Thursday. Nearly 3,700 volunteers picked up and disposed of 176,206 items along the state’s 127-mile coastline. Many were mundane and sadly common, like bottle caps, cigarettes and plastic pieces. Then there were the oddities: a 50-pound bag of rice; a Baby Yoda doll; a severed Barbie head. Also left seaside were boxer shorts; a bra; a bikini; fake eyelashes; fishnet stockings and a jockstrap; along with a pregnancy test, result unknown. … AND HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen