Commentary: Cup Crazy

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It’s Random Thoughts Wednesday on this Commentary! Here we go:

#1 – Is this the best first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs ever? I don’t know. That’s a mighty big claim. But the plot twists in just about every series have to have the TV ratings through the roof. For the fans of the Leafs and Jets, I suggest deeeeep breaths.

#2 – Sports fans, particularly in America, have taken to the practice of screenshotting Hot Takes by those of us in the Hot Take business and rubbing them in our face months later if and when we’re wrong. (All the Draft prognostications of prospect Shedeur Sanders come to mind). But I’m seriously considering turning the tables.

What do I mean?

I mean the Hot Takes from fans who pour their poison out on social media saying they’re going to burn their season tickets. Or the horrible things they say about the players and teams they supposedly love.

The dramatic turnaround of the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1 is Exhibit A. From being down 0-2 to L.A. to being up 3-2 after last night’s Game 5 come to mind. There are a lot of fans who should be feeling awfully sheepish about the things they said of The Oil just a week ago.

Hey, what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Whatever that means.

#3 – The CFL Draft came and went in a blink Tuesday night and here’s what you need to know: The Riders drafted Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, and I would have too. The Blue Bombers selected QB Taylor Elgersma while top prospect Elic Ayomanor – the receiver from Medicine Hat who starred at Stanford – didn’t get drafted at all.

If you needed anymore proof of the zaniness of the CFL Draft …

#4 – Back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs to wrap it up. The Battle Of Florida continues to get the least amount of pub but I can tell you it’s been by far the most vicious series.

We’ll be at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay tonight for Game 5 as the Florida Panthers look to close out the Lightning. But Florida D-man Aaron Ekblad will not be as he was suspended two games for his dirty shot on Tampa’s Brandon Hagel in Game 4, which knocked the Saskatoon product out of tonight’s game with a head injury. It’s just the latest in a series full of suspensions, head shots and fines.

Cup Crazy. Because it’s the Cup. Call it whatever you want. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

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