MONDAY COMMENTARY – A FLOWER OR A PANDA?

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

I’VE OFTEN SAID SPORTS IS THE ULTIMATE SOAP OPERA.

AND WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE MONTREAL-VEGAS STANLEY CUP SEMIFINAL TOTALLY PUTS VICTOR NEWMAN AND DAYS OF OUR LIVES TO SHAME.

LET’S GO BACK. ON FRIDAY NIGHT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS WERE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A VICTORY OVER THE HABS AT THE BELL CENTRE. I WAS ABOUT TO GO TO BED! THEY WERE UP 2-1 WITH A MINUTE TO GO, AND THE PENDING 2-1 SERIES LEAD MIGHT’VE BEEN TOO MUCH FOR THE BANGED UP CANADIENS TO OVERCOME.

BUT MARC-ANDRE FLEURY HAD OTHER IDEAS. WITH SHADES OF THE 2004 WORLD JUNIORS, THE FLOWER WENT OUT TO PLAY THE PUCK BEHIND THE VEGAS NET. HE GOT IT CAUGHT UP IN HIS FEET, KICKED IT TO MONTREAL’S JOSH ANDERSON, WHO PROMPTLY RIFLED IT HOME FOR A 2-2 GAME.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS WERE SO RATTLED FROM THAT, THAT THEY NEVER RECOVERED IN OVERTIME AND JOSH ANDERSON STRUCK AGAIN FOR THE GAME WINNER MIDWAY THROUGH THE FIRST O-T SESSION.

ALL OF A SUDDEN MONTREAL HAD A 2-1 SERIES LEAD AND THE FLOWER HAD WILTED. I LOVE THE GUY MORE THAN ANYONE, BUT COULDN’T EVEN LOOK AT HIM AFTER THAT GAFFE.

FAST FORWARD TO SUNDAY NIGHT AND IT WAS NO SURPRISE THAT VEGAS ELECTED TO GO WITH BACK-UP ROBIN LEHNER WHOSE ONLY SHOWING IN THESE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WAS BEING TORCHED FOR 7 GOALS IN GAME 1 OF LAST SERIES AGAINST COLORADO.

US VEGAS FANS WEREN’T TOO CONFIDENT WITH THIS SELECTION BUT ALSO KNEW FLEURY HAD TO PAY FOR HIS SINS. BUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS SUCKED IT UP IN FRONT OF THE GOALIE THEY CALL “THE PANDA”, AND WON IT 2-1 IN OT TO TIE THE SERIES UP 2-2 GOING BACK TO VEGAS.

YOU’RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT OFFICIATING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, PARTICULARLY FROM MONTREAL FANS. BUT I THINK WE’VE BEATEN THAT TO DEATH. DIDN’T WE DECIDE THAT REFEREES HAVE A TOUGH JOB?

THE ONLY THING I’M INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT IS WHO THE KNIGHTS WILL START IN GOAL FOR TUESDAY’S GAME 5: THE FLOWER OR THE PANDA?

I’M HONESTLY GLAD I DON’T HAVE TO MAKE THAT CALL.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY