Thursday Commentary: Not So Fast

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In my opinion, everything was great but the game.

Canada downed Sweden 4-3 in overtime in the opening game of the NHL’s Four Nations Faceoff Wednesday night in Montreal. Sounds great doesn’t it?

Not so fast.

The opening game of the four-team tournament had all the bells, whistles and pageantry of what you’d expect from a big game in Montreal.

Bringing out local boy Mario Lemieux for a pregame ceremony was a real nice touch, and us oldtimers will agree that Mario had a real “Jean Beliveau” aura about him.

Then the game started and Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon scored on the powerplay less than a minute in. Brad Marchand made it 2-0 later on in the first period and Sweden didn’t even record their first shot on goal till the 15-minute mark.

On the first intermission TV panel, TNT’s Wayne Gretzky referred to the Swedes as “horrific” and expressed what a disappointment it was that they didn’t show up to play.

But then, they did.

Coupled with Canada taking their foot off the gas in the third period, Sweden was allowed to crawl right back in it and even force overtime.

That’s when Mitch Marner was the hero for Team Canada – yes, I said it – and scored 1:06 into OT with the assist going to Sidney Crosby. Canada wins 4-3.

And it all turned out nice again.

This game was probably not an indication of how this tournament will go. At least, I hope not. It wasn’t a no-hitter like the All Star Game or most regular season games, but it certainly wasn’t a war like the Stanley Cup Playoffs either.

Wednesday night was about dipping their toe in the water and taking the temperature.

It proved what we always knew:

Canada is always good enough to do just enough to win.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 4 pm ET on Game+TV, Podcast & YouTube Live)