WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – STOMPIN’ TOM HAD IT RIGHT

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 & Rock 98.5)

THAT NOTED PHILOSOPHER STOMPIN’ TOM CONNORS HAD IT RIGHT WHEN HE SANG, “THE BEST GAME YOU CAN NAME, IS THE GOOD OL’ HOCKEY GAME.”

THAT WAS THE VIBE TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN 19,656 FANS JAMMED INTO FLA LIVE ARENA IN SUNRISE FOR GAME 1 OF THE SECOND ROUND STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF SERIES BETWEEN TAMPA BAY AND FLORIDA.

HOWEVER RIGHT FROM WARMUP, WHERE I WATCHED FROM ICE LEVEL, I GOT THE FEELING THAT THE PANTHERS WERE IN TROUBLE.

THE TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION LIGHTNING ARE A TEAM OF MEN WITH NAMES LIKE ALEX, VICTOR, PATRICK AND STEVEN. THEY’RE GRIZZLED.

THE PANTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN THE NHL’S #1 TEAM IN THE REGULAR SEASON, AND THE HIGHEST-SCORING TOO, BUT IN WARMUP WITH THEIR HELMETS OFF, THEY LOOKED LIKE BOYS, SPORTING NAMES LIKE MACKENZIE, MASON, CARTER AND TWO GUYS NAMED SAM.

FLORIDA JUMPED OUT TO A 1-0 LEAD BUT THE LIGHTNING WERE QUICK TO CHOKE THE LIFE OUT OF THEM AND SKATED OFF WITH A 4-1 VICTORY. GOALIE ANDREI VASILEVSKIY WAS THE NUMBER ONE STAR, AS HE SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT.

HONESTLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT FOR ME WAS AN INTERMISSION VISIT WITH LIGHTNING TV BROADCASTER DAVE RANDORF. WE’VE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE THE 90’S, GOING BACK TO THE CFL DAYS, AND RAMBO TRULY IS LOVING LIFE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE. HE’S ALREADY GOT A STANLEY CUP RING TO BOOT.

AS FAR AS THE SERIES GOES, PERENIALLY POSITIVE PANTHERS BROADCASTER BILL LINDSAY – THE PRIDE OF FERNIE, BC AND POUND-FOR-POUND AS TOUGH A CUSTOMER AS THE NHL HAS EVER SEEN – MENTIONED THAT FLORIDA FELL DOWN 1-0 AGAINST WASHINGTON AND CAME BACK TO WIN THAT SERIES IN ROUND 1.

IT WAS A VERY FUN NIGHT AND THE PLAYOFFS JUST BRING A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT. EVERYONE FROM THE FANS, TO THE USHERS, TO THE BEER VENDORS WERE SMILING EAR-TO-EAR FROM THE OPENING PUCK DROP. THEY JUST DIDN’T LEAVE THE ARENA THAT WAY.

AND THE PANTHERS LEARNED A TOUGH LESSON ALONG THE WAY.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV across Canada and the USA. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live and listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)