FRIDAY COMMENTARY – OLE? MORE LIKE HOLAY!
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)
REMEMBER WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT SPORTS BEING THE ULTIMATE SOAP OPERA?
WELL THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS TOOK ANOTHER DASHING TURN THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN THE MONTREAL CANADIENS VANQUISHED THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS WITH A 3-2 OVERTIME VICTORY, CLINCHING THE ROUND 3 SERIES IN SIX GAMES.
THERE’S SO MUCH COMING OUT OF THIS TO DISSECT.
IF YOU’RE VEGAS, YOU’VE GOT SOME SOUL-SEARCHING TO DO. THE KNIGHTS TIED FOR THE BEST REGULAR SEASON RECORD BUT THEY WERE HARDLY DOMINANT IN THEIR FIRST TWO SERIES WINS AND IN THIS ONE THEY LOST OUT TO THE LOWEST SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS.
BUT THEY ARE GETTING BETTER AND HAVE MADE IT TO THE CONFERENCE FINAL IN THREE OF THEIR FOUR YEARS OF EXISTENCE. WITH KELLY MCCRIMMON AS GM, THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS WILL ALWAYS BE IN CONTENTION AND GO DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS.
AND HOW BOUT MONTREAL? WHAT THEY’VE DONE IN TORCHING THE LEAFS, JETS AND NOW KNIGHTS IS SOMEWHAT INEXPLICABLE OTHER THAN A TREMENDOUS EXAMPLE OF AN ENTIRE TEAM COMING TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
ONCE AGAIN CAREY PRICE WENT INTO “GOD-MODE” AND NOW HE’S JUST FOUR WINS AWAY FROM HIS FIRST STANLEY CUP. ROOKIE COLE CAUFIELD MIGHT NOW BE IN THE RUNNING FOR THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY, AND SHEA WEBER AND JEFF PETRY HAVE TURNED BACK THE CLOCK ON THE BLUE LINE.
I’M LIKELY GOING TO BE PULLING FOR THE HABS THE REST OF THE WAY BUT IF THEY FACE THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS, THAT MAY BE A TOUGH CALL. WITH JORDAN EBERLE, BARRY TROTZ AND CLARK GILLIES ON LONG ISLAND, THAT’S A STRONG REGINA PATS CONNECTION THERE.
AND WILL THERE BE BIGGER CROWDS IN THE BELL CENTRE NEXT ROUND? 3500 WERE ALLOWED INSIDE YET 30-THOUSAND GATHERED OUTSIDE TO PARTY IN DOWNTOWN MONTREAL, MASKLESS AND SWEATING ALL OVER EACH OTHER.
I SAW APOLOGISTS SAYING ON TWITTER, “IT’S QUEBEC.”
LAST TIME I CHECKED QUEBEC IS STILL PART OF CANADA AND THAT BETTER BE AN ILLUSTRATION OR INDICATION THAT LARGE OUTDOOR CROWDS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THIS COUNTRY PRONTO.
COME ON TRUDEAU. PUT DOWN YOUR RED, WHITE & BLUE POMPOMS AND GET WITH IT.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY
Regarding the Montreal Canadiens. I have read Ken Dryden’s The Game twice. With class like Jean Beleveau as their Captain and just the endless list of legends everyone should respect them. I do not know how they did this. The only comparison I have and it is a far reach. 1991 the Minnesota North Stars got in. They had Bob Gainey as Head Coach (big shock) and with John Casey and that group went on a run. Now that year nobody was beating Mario Lemieux, but Tampa/Isles are not Mario. They can beat Tampa. They play the Isles that will… Read more »
Mark Stone, admitted to getting “skunked” against the Habs. It wasn’t just him! How did the Habs do it? The Colorado Avalanche made Stone, Karllson, Marchessaut, et al look like the next coming, that’s how they got here and the Avs didn’t. I’m not a Habs fan but good luck to them in the finals. Like you Rod, if the Isles get in, it’ll be a toss up who to root for.