THURSDAY CAT COUNTRY COMMENTARY: TOUGH LOVE FOR THE OILERS

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

I ONLY RIP ON THE OILERS BECAUSE I CARE. I’M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.

IF IT WAS THE FLAMES, JETS, CANUCKS, LEAFS OR WHATEVER, I REALLY WOULDN’T CARE IF THEY BLEW A PLAYOFF GAME, OR IF THEY NEVER WIN A STANLEY CUP AGAIN.

CALL IT TOUGH LOVE, IF YOU WILL.

SO THE OILERS WORKED THEIR BUTTS OFF TO TIE UP THEIR FIRST ROUND BEST-OF-5 SERIES WITH CHICAGO AT 1-1 AND IT SET THE STAGE FOR A HUGE GAME 3 WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

YOU SHOULD KNOW TEAMS WHO WIN GAME 3 IN THAT SITUATION GO ON TO WIN THE SERIES 75-PERCENT OF THE TIME.

AND DESPITE A TIGHT GAME THROUGHOUT, THE OILERS TOOK A 3-2 LEAD INTO THE THIRD PERIOD AND IT HELD UNTIL THE FINAL FIVE MINUTES WHEN PENALTY TROUBLE AND SOME DEFENSIVE GAFFES CAUSED THE ROOF TO CAVE IN.

CHICAGO WON THE GAME 4-3, HAVE TAKEN A 2-1 SERIES LEAD, AND NOW EDMONTON FACES ELIMINATION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THESE PLAYOFFS.

NOW YOU KNOW WHY OILER COACH DAVE TIPPETT WAS LOSING HIS MARBLES WAY BACK LAST FALL WHEN EDMONTON WAS WINNING HIGH-FLYING GAMES BY LOPSIDED SCORES.

THEY WERE IGNORING THE DETAILS THAT MATTER COME PLAYOFF TIME, AND NOW HERE THEY ARE.

EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER. AND THESE LESSONS WILL SERVE THEM WELL IN THE YEARS TO COME. BUT IT’S TOUGH TO SWALLOW IN THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS, WHERE MANY BELIEVE THEY DON’T EVEN DESERVE THAT NICKNAME ANYMORE.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.