The Monday Morning Goalie

One-timers …

1 – BATTLE OF FLORIDA: It’s a huge one in Sunrise Monday night. The Tampa Bay Lighting – winners of eight in a row – visit the Florida Panthers in a potential first round playoff preview. The Panthers may also be debuting shiny new acquisition Seth Jones, the bluechip defenceman acquired on Saturday from the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s the first time they’ve played since a fight-filled home and home series at Christmas. There’s an argument that it’s the game of the night! But maybe not …

2 – CHUCKY: It’s ironic that Matthew Tkachuk’s face adorns the front of the Panthers’ home, Amerant Bank Arena, yet he hasn’t played there since before the 4 Nations Faceoff and we learned on the weekend that Matthew’s been placed on Long Term Injured Reserve. However he’s still the Face of the Franchise, and will be for years to come. With the acquisition of $9.5M Seth Jones on the weekend, and Tkachuk going to LTIR, are the Cats playing their version of salary cap hijinx which were popularized by past Stanley Cup champions Vegas and Tampa Bay? It appears Florida GM Bill Zito is playing chess while everybody else is playing checkers.

3 – GAME NOTES: If this isn’t the game of the night, then it’s probably the capital cities clash of Ottawa at Washington on Monday, where Capitals star Alex Ovechkin sits just 11 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career mark. Amazing! … On Sunday Auston Matthews became the fastest Leaf to 700 career points (607 GP), besting teammate Mitch Marner (622 GP) who did it on January 16. Matthews also passed Darryl Sittler (389) for #2 on Toronto’s career goals list. … Jonathan Quick’s 3rd shutout of the season (Rangers  4 Predators 0) on Sunday placed him 6th on the all-time list for shutouts in a season by a goalie aged 39 or older. Dominek Hasek holds down the #1, #2, and #3 spots on that list, topped by an 8 shutout campaign in 2006-07.

4 – RING OF FIRE: The Calgary Flames are holding onto the final wildcard playoff berth in the Western Conference despite being the losers of three in a row. It’s nothing short of miraculous what sophomore head coach Ryan Huska has done in his second year, and Year 1 of a rebuild. While sitting beside a pro scout during Calgary’s 3-0 loss at Florida on Saturday, he quipped, “Christ, I was sent here to scout Calgary’s offence but they haven’t got out of their own end for two periods.” It’s true, the Stanley Cup champs gave the Flames a lesson that night but there’s not a lot of talent there. And that’s why they call it a rebuild. They have to play perfectly every night to have a chance to win …

5 – WHAT ABOUT BOB: Gotta fit this in here somewhere. For my money, 36-year old Sergei Bobrovksy is the best goalie on the planet. Sorry Jets fans. Two Vezina Trophies, now a Stanley Cup, and a Hall of Fame induction waiting. Yet you could light the humble Russian on fire and he still wouldn’t take any credit for his accomplishments. After Saturday’s 47th shutout of his career, I asked him when he realized he was in a goaltending battle with Calgary’s Dan Vladar that day, and would have to put up the plywood. “I don’t think it was a battle,” Bob steamed. “I thought he just stood on his head and I took the shutout because of the guys.” 

6 – DADS IN NET: That Flames-Panthers game on Saturday was the Panthers annual Kids Game where the players bring their kids onto the ice to be introduced prior to puck drop. Bobrovsky held his daughter in his arms during the national anthem. Clearly she wasn’t a distraction as he posted a 23-save shuttie! … It reminded me of my Dad bouncing me on his knee in between periods of his games with the Milestone Flyers. He had his goalie mask tucked in one pad, and me on the other. … The Old Guy’s favourite treat to bring back from his scouting trips to Dallas was I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Hmmm, butter in an aerosol can? His family was less enamored with it.

7 – ANTHEMS: During the Oilers-Panthers game Thursday night in Sunrise, some nincompoop in the crowd started booing the Canadian national anthem. He was hastily told to “SHUT-UP” by many around him. … There’s a jerk in every crowd … It was pleasing to hear that Saskatoon fans were cheering and singing along with the Star Spangled Banner at Saturday night’s Rush game. Saskatchewan – always classy to the end. … It wouldn’t bother me to get rid of the anthems.

8 – POLL QUESTIONS: Here are two great ones – 1) Should sports teams cease playing the national anthems before games? And 2) Who should be on Team Canada at the Olympics – Connor Bedard or Mark Scheifele? My answers are: yes it’s time to stop the anthems and I’ll always be a Bedard guy. How lucky we are to get to choose!

9 – AT THE MOVIES: Run, don’t walk, to Landmark Cinemas to catch the film Last Breath starring Woody Harrelson. Woody does it again as a nearing-retirement deep sea diver whose team fixes leaks among the 20,000 miles of pipeline on the ocean floor around the world. When one diver’s umbilical cord snaps, the race is on to save his life. IT’S A TRUE STORY! And as heart-pounding of a flick as I’ve seen in my life. Glad I went! If possible, three thumbs up from the Monday Morning Goalie.

10 – RANDOM THOUGHTS: There was much ado over Saturday, March 1 marking the 10-year anniversary of Craig Reynolds being hired as President of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. His record speaks for itself. … Watching the exchange between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the USA tag team of Donald Trump & J.D. Vance reminded me of every exchange I’ve had with a narcissist in my life. It gave me a touch of PTSD actually. I’ve learned the best thing to do with guys like that is punch them in the nose, or ignore them. Since we’re not on on the playground anymore, our only other option is the latter. … Jon Gruden needs to be back in the NFL. I can’t imagine anyone truly being a racist, and having a career in pro football. He’s learned his lesson, and now it’s up to Commissioner Roger Goodell. However I’m not holding my breath. … Wear a hat in the sun. … Don’t get too high, and don’t get too low.

Y’er welcome,
RP

(Rod Pedersen covers the NHL for the South Florida Tribune and his host of the daily Rod Pedersen Show on the Game+ TV Network. Call your cable provider to subscribe)