THE MONDAY MORNING GOALIE

Taking Shots …

1 – THAT TIME OF YEAR: The NFL got its first-ever 17-game regular season in despite Covid and it came with an astonishing final Sunday of play. Social media was abuzz with the scenario facing NBC’s Sunday Nighter; the Raiders and Chargers both needed at least a tie for each to clinch a playoff spot. “Would they both kneel down all game to ensure a tie?” It was a cute suggestion, but this is the NFL … not a roody-poo league. Las Vegas didn’t owe Los Angeles a damn thing, and won 35-32 in overtime to punch their ticket to Cincinnati for next Saturday’s first wildcard playoff game of the weekend.

Incidentally the Raiders’ Rich Bussacia becomes the first interim coach in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs. Look it up.

2 – BLACK MONDAY: As it stands, there are three NFL head coach openings — Las Vegas, Jacksonville & Denver. How many more will rain down on this first-day-after-the-season, habitually called “Black Monday”?

*UPDATE* FIRED: Chicago/Matt Nagy, Miami/Brian Flores, Minnesota/Mike Zimmer

3 – QUIRKS: At little more on the NFL, since it’s en vogue at the moment and this column is originating from an NFL market. …. This year’s 16-team playoff field features seven teams who missed the postseason last year – Arizona, Dallas, San Francisco, Cincinnati, New England, Philadelphia & Las Vegas. … For a second straight year the Miami Dolphins finished above .500 (9-8) and for the second straight year, they’ll miss the playoffs. I don’t expect any firings here and if not for the Week 2 injury to Tua, the Dolphins likely would’ve been in the postseason. As it is, two teams from their division made the playoffs (AFC East, Bills/Patriots). … The longest NFL playoff drought is owned by the NY Jets (2010), followed by Denver (2015) and Detroit/NY Giants (2016). … The Jacksonville Jaguars wreaked havoc on the playoff picture with their upset victory over Indianapolis on Sunday but will still pick #1 in this spring’s draft. Any clue who the #1 pick will be? Didn’t think so. ESPN Draft Expert Mel Kiper thinks it will be Michigan defensive end Aiden Hutchinson. Ironically, there isn’t a QB in Mel’s Top 5 just one year after a QB rich first round. … God-willing the RP Show will be broadcasting live from Super Bowl. We have our plane tickets. Fingers crossed.

4 – TO THE ICE: Weird and wild. Sellout crowds to witness top-end hockey games in Tampa Bay, Carolina and Las Vegas last week yet teams like the Winnipeg Jets are looking for somewhere else to play due to attendance restrictions caused by Covid. This isn’t a criticism, just an observation and plain old facts. Question: the Olympic break is two weeks but these postponed games are spanning three-plus weeks. How are they going to get the games in in? I sympathize mightily with Canadian sports leaders.

5 – COOL SHOTS: With Marc-Andre Fleury’s win at Vegas on the weekend with the Chicago Blackhawks, it means the Flower is the only goaltender to beat all 32 NHL teams! … Even Fleury was moved to tears by the video tribute at The Fortress but do you think the Golden Knights are regretting showing him the door? Unfortunately not. He screwed up, and had to go. At least everyone’s gotten over it. … Former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin has been named Assistant to the GM of the LA Kings. That didn’t take long. … It still says here Mathieu Darche will be named GM of the Montreal Canadiens. … The Colorado Avalanche have won a franchise record 12 straight at home and go for 13 tonight against the Seattle Kraken. … The Florida Panthers are the #1 team in the NHL. What a time to be alive! … My Facebook video featuring a joyful Joe Thornton in Panthers warmup as reached 1.6-million views and counting. See what we did there?

6 – OIL COUNTRY: It’s been a good, long break for the Edmonton Oilers to figure out their stuff after a dreadful stretch over the holidays. I see TSN/NHL Radio/NHL Network’s Mike Johnson saying the Oil should do whatever takes – and pay whatever salary cap penalty it takes – to go out and get a goalie for the stretch run and playoffs. The Athletic’s Eric Duhatshek is suggesting they pry Anton Khodobin off the Dallas Stars (yes, that Anton Khodobin).

But here’s what they need to do: stay the course. It’s still the same team that got off to a franchise record 9-1-0 start and is still only a point out of a playoff spot with games in hand. They’ve had two summers to address the goaltending situation – cough, Braden Holtby, cough – and elected to stay with what they have. So by sticking together through this, they’re showing confidence in each other that will serve them come springtime.

If it blows up, then GM Ken Holland probably should dust off his resume. It just boggles my mind that a former goalie like Ken couldn’t see what his team’s Achilles heel is. It’s the most important position on the ice.

7 – ROLL TIDE: Reasons to watch Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis — 1) The Crimson Tide’s Nick Saban is going for a 7th national title, 2) The Tide have won eight in a row since their inexplicable loss at Texas A&M this fall, 3) Alabama lost six first round draft picks from last season, five on offence, but are still rolling, 4) It’s a rematch of the SEC championship game from a month ago, which Alabama won 41-24, 5) Somebody’s gotta tell me why Georgia’s favoured by 2.5-points in this one at BetRegal.net, 6) Toronto’s John Metchie III stars for the Crimson Tide, but will miss this game due to a torn knee ligament. *This is traditionally a four hour game so get ready for a long evening.

8 – FEEL THE RUSH: The NLL is another head-scratcher in that it’s tough to decipher who can play where and when. I was startled to receive game notes for the Rush’s weekend game at Albany because I thought they were sidelined. But they weren’t, and they lost 10-5 to the Fire Wolves Saturday night. At 1-3, the Rush return home to face the San Diego Seals this Friday night at SaskTel Centre.

9 – HIT AND MISS: It’s similar to our favourite junior leagues. A visit to WHL.ca only brings the screaming headline of “POSTPONED-POSTPONED-POSTPONED” across the top of the page. The SJHL isn’t entirely dissimilar, although they are getting some games in and coaches Brayden Klimoski (Battlefords, 100 wins) and Jason Tatarnic (Estevan, 500 wins) both hit milestones last week. Don’t forget the Bruins are hosting the Centennial Cup this spring and it would be nice to have the RP Show broadcasting from the Energy City all week for the national tournament. We’ll see.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: Yes, Florida is a dreamland. Tropical climate (it’s further south than Cabo), ESPN and US currency. If anybody wonders why I’m here, they’ve never been. … Blue Bombers star Willie Jefferson ruffled some feathers in the Rider Nation with his comments on Friday about not getting a moment’s privacy in Regina whereas Winnipeggers respect his personal space. Here’s an idea: instead of lashing out at Willie, maybe try looking at yourself for once. … It was about this time last year when I gave my CFL West Division predictions of WPG-SASK-CGY-EDM-BC. That was pretty close. I’ll wait awhile before making my 2022 prediction. There’s just too much madness to come in free agency. … Some people aren’t even good at disguising that they’re trying to use you. … Football is football. There’s no reason to bicker and squabble over which league is best. Do you ever hear that argument over the NHL, AHL, WHL or SJHL? No. I love it all. Why can’t football fans? … Stay safe out there!

Y’er welcome,
RP
@rodpedersen