Commentary: The Return

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A coupla three or more thoughts entering the weekend …

#1 – Sometimes the games don’t match the build-up! Thursday was one of those nights. I waited all day for the Panthers-Jets clash in Winnipeg but it was quite a snoozer; 0-0 almost into the third period. But Florida prevailed 2-1 in a shootout and Paul Maurice got his first win back in Winnipeg. Cactus Jack would say, “And it all turned out nice again.”

Meanwhile in Edmonton, in a game voted Game of the Night by RP Show viewers, Stuart Skinner didn’t even play for Pittsburgh as the Penguins trounced the Oilers 6-2 at Rogers Place. Cue the goalie controversy through the weekend in Edmonton, and Skinner won’t even be a part of it.

#2 – Ohhhhhh we don’t need a poll to decide Friday’s Game of the Night — it’s Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto with the Vegas Golden Knights. We should  look upon this as fun and, as a sign of the times, I saw media people on Twitter warming up their vocal cords to boo the former Leafs forward as he returns to his hometown after a public split last summer.

I mean … really?

But again, hopefully everybody keeps it fun and Marner has a good time — and lights the Leafs up.

And #3 – It’s Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL with New England at Denver in the AFC and the LA Rams at Seattle in the NFC.

Didn’t they used to split these games up to Saturday and Sunday in the past? No matter. It’s going to be six solid hours of football fun as the combatants for Super Bowl 60 will be decided.

I’m taking the Patriots and Seahawks to advance.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

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