THURSDAY COMMENTARY – GLORY DAYS

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

A FEW THOUGHTS TODAY …

FIRSTLY THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS AND TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING ARE HEADED TO A REMATCH OF LAST YEAR’S NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL.

THE ISLANDERS BOUNCED BOSTON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND HAVE REACHED THE FINAL FOUR FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR. IT’S AMAZING WHAT’S GOING ON ON LONG ISLAND, AND IT CONJURES UP MEMORIES OF THE FAMED 1980’S ISLANDERS WHICH FEATURED SASKIES BRYAN TROTTIER, CLARK GILLIES, CHICO RESCH AND BOB BOURNE.

AND THIS WHOLE RUN HAS BEEN ORCHESTRATED BY ISLES GM LOU LAMORIELLO, WHOM MODERN ERA RECORD BOOKS SHOW IS THE SECOND-BEST GM BEHIND GLEN SATHER.

TELL ME AGAIN WHY THE LEAFS LET HIM GO?

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MEANWHILE THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS LOOK TO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL FOUR TONIGHT WITH A HOME WIN OVER COLORADO. THEY CERTAINLY HAVE FULL MOMENTUM IN THIS SERIES HAVING WON THREE IN A ROW, BUT THIS ONE IS FAR FROM A GIMME.

IF THEY WIN TONIGHT, OR PULL IT OFF IN GAME 7, IT’LL MARK THE THIRD TIME THE KNIGHTS HAVE ADVANCED TO THE CONFERENCE FINALS IN THEIR FOUR YEARS OF EXISTENCE.

SOUNDS LIKE A FIRST RIGHT? WELL ACCORDING TO NHL P.R., THE BLUES AND RANGERS HAVE DONE IT TOO.

HOW BOUT THAT?

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AND ALL OF THE CFL IS ON PINS AND NEEDLES AWAITING MONDAY’S BOARD OF GOVERNORS VOTE WHETHER TO KICKOFF THE SEASON ON AUGUST 5.

IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE. THERE’S A LOT OF POLITICS AT PLAY AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOBBYING I’M SURE.

LAST YEAR, WE WERE TOLD, THE VOTE TO PLAY WAS 6-3 IN FAVOUR BUT THEY STILL DIDN’T END UP PLAYING.

IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS VOTE TURNS OUT, AND WHO VOTES NO. (IF ANYONE DOES).

ALL THE HURDLES REMAIN – 1) THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT, 2) THE COST OF PLAYING THIS YEAR, 3) GETTING EVERY TEAM ON BOARD, AND 4) GETTING ENOUGH FANS IN THE STANDS TO MAKE THIS FINANCIALLY VIABLE.

THE PLAYERS TRULY DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON EXCEPT THEY’RE ABOUT TO GO INTO QUARANTINE WITH THE PRAYER THAT THEY’LL HAVE A REASON TO.

15 OR SO MONTHS INTO THIS, WE STILL SIT AND WAIT.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(Photo: Joe Lozito)