THURSDAY COMMENTARY – MAKE OR BREAK

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

It’s funny how you can pinpoint the exact moment that makes or breaks a team’s season.

A lot of times it’s difficult to see when you’re on the frontlines – in the throes of it – but it’s way easier to see from 30,000 feet. Or in the press box.

I can give you several examples, and will, but for the fledgling Florida Panthers of the NHL, in the first season under head coach Paul Maurice, Wednesday night’s 4-2 home loss to the New Jersey Devils may end up being the tipping point to their season.

It was wonderful watching that game, before a huge Holiday crowd, and examining the play of Melville’s Damon Severson on the Devils blueline!

The Panthers had the chance to put their foot on the neck of the Devils who were riding a 6-game losing streak coming in. But Lindy Ruff’s crew wiggled off the hook and came back to win a big one.

This is a much different Panthers team than last year’s squad which won the Presidents Trophy and as the Panthers approach Christmas, the broadcasters already have broken out the calculators out to figure what it’s going to take to make the playoffs.

They’ve got 50 games left and will probably need to win at least 30 of them. And they’re simply not good enough to overcome the loss of captain Sasha Barkov, who’s out with injury.

Last year Florida was talented enough to withstand something like that, but this year they’re not. The window for success is minuscule, and for their sake I hope it isn’t closing.

We talked about with the Riders in September when the team cut controversial D-lineman Garrett Marino.

That seminal moment sent the club into a tailspin where they never won another game.

Again, it’s another example where sports is like life. Those tragic moments in life like a car crash, a divorce, losing a loved one, or a job, are what can make you, or break you.

It’s how you respond that matters.

And it’s what makes the difference between winning and losing. In sports, and in life.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV, YouTube Live and WQEE Radio)