Thursday Commentary: The Foxhole

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A funny thing happened on the road to the Stanley Cup.

Like a lot of journeys, things haven’t always gone according to plan.

Exhibit A is the Vegas Golden Knights going into Denver and manhandling the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday.

After a strong initial push by the NHL’s #1 regular season team – the Avs – Vegas slowly took the game over on the way to a 1-0 series lead. Oh, and Vegas has the leaders in the three biggest postseason stats: goals (Pavel Dorofeyev), points (Mitch Marner) and assists (Jack Eichel).

It was a surprise to this prognosticator because after the week the Golden Knights have had – their team being severely reprimanded by the NHL and a tidal wave of criticism of GM Kelly McCrimmon – I thought they’d have been too distracted from the task at hand.

Nope. And let that be a lesson: there’s a lot to be said for a team that’s galvanized, and underfire. “Circle the wagons,” as they say.

Glad I jumped in the foxhole with them.

That’s come with the predictable howling from the numpties, particularly in Edmonton, who said I was bought off by Vegas for defending the club on the RP Show Wednesday.

Meh. Do better.

Similar to the CFL fans who say that just because I’ve encouraged fans to come together and watch all the games this summer, I’m somehow a lackey for Commissioner Stewart Johnston.

I don’t like his changes anymore than anybody else, but it’s their league.

And it’s a lot easier to go along when you get along.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

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