MONDAY COMMENTARY – YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

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

BUCKLE UP FOR WHAT’S ALREADY A WILD STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!

PEOPLE ARE BUZZING FAR AND WIDE TODAY OVER FOUR TREMENDOUSLY ENTERTAINING SERIES OPENERS ACROSS THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.

THREE OF THEM WENT TO OVERTIME WITH WASHINGTON TOPPING BOSTON 3-2, THE ISLANDERS UPSETTING THE PENGUINS 4-3 AND THE WILD SURPRISING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1-0.

THE LONE GAME THAT DIDN’T GO TO OVERTIME WAS STILL A NAIL-BITER AS TAMPA BAY GOT PAST FLORIDA 5-3 IN A SURPRISINGLY JUMPING BB&T CENTRE IN SUNRISE.

TURNS OUT WHEN IT’S TOUGH TO GET TICKETS, ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT THEM!?

I’M SURE WHEN ANDY WILLIAMS SANG, “THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR”, HE WAS REFERRING TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

THERE’S JUST AN EXTRA BUZZ ON THE ICE AND IN THE AIR, WITH EVERY SINGLE SHIFT. NO DIFFERENT THAN EVERY PITCH IN THE FALL, OR EVERY SNAP ON THE FROZEN TUNDRA.

I OFTEN WONDER FOR THOSE WHO DON’T CARE FOR SPORTS, WHAT EXACTLY FIRES YOU UP? I COULDN’T IMAGINE LIVING WITHOUT THIS HYPE.

AND OF COURSE IT’S TIME TO MAKE OUR STANLEY CUP FINAL SELECTION AND WHILE EARLIER IN THE YEAR I PREDICTED A VEGAS-TORONTO MATCH-UP, I’VE AMENDED IT TO A VEGAS-NEW YORK ISLANDERS FINAL.

PEOPLE HAVEN’T SCOFFED AT THAT PREDICTION. IN FACT THEY’VE HAD NO REACTION AT ALL. YES, IT’S A LITTLE OFF THE BOARD BUT NOT TOO MANY HAD A DALLAS-TAMPA FINAL LAST YEAR IN THE EDMONTON BUBBLE.

THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT FUN! NOW LET’S DROP THE PUCK ON NIGHT 3.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.