Monday Commentary: No Guff

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What a difference a weekend makes!

Going into the weekend, it struck me that Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs had fallen far, far below the expectations we’d set after perhaps the wildest end of a regular season in NHL history.

Which reminds me – if you set your expectations too high, you’re bound to be disappointed.

And maybe that’s what happened here.

Some series which looked to be fierce battles going in were anything but, like the Battle of Florida looking like a sweep, and the Jets, Canucks and Leafs all withering away. Let’s not forget about the Dallas Stars not showing up against Vegas.

Then the weekend happened.

In Tampa, where I was fortunate to be able to take in Saturday’s Game 4, the Thunderdome was nothing less than sheer bedlam. I tried so hard to hear the P.A. announcer, with no luck, that I finally gave up.

It’s the loudest rink I’ve heard since the old Winnipeg Arena. No guff.

The Lightning won to avoid a sweep by the way, and the Panthers will try again to end it here tonight in Sunrise.

And then the Canucks, seemingly hanging by a thread with injuries to their top two goalies, pulled off a miraculous comeback in Nashville on Sunday, tying the game up with a couple minutes to go, then winning it a minute into overtime to grab a 3-1 series lead after being written off as recently as Friday afternoon.

As for the Jets and Leafs, well, they’re running out of time for miracles. After helping lead Winnipeg to the Jennings Trophy for best regular season goaltending, Connor Hellebuyck has been the worst goalie in the playoffs which is further proof that the postseason is an entirely new season.

And Toronto?

They’ve at least proven that they’re not worthy of betting on ever again.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)