THURSDAY COMMENTARY – OOPS, HE DID IT AGAIN

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)

With apologies to the six teams who opened the NHL season with a tripleheader on Tuesday, last night really felt like opening night for the National Hockey League.

And depending on your perspective, it didn’t disappoint.

Just like the farmhouse living room in the 1970’s, I was gathered around the TV set Wednesday evening waiting for the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast.

It. does. not. get. better. than. that.

However the NHL On TNT programming schedule had other ideas, and they were carrying the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Fine by me. I got to see Connor Bedard’s first NHL goal – a wraparound 5:37 into the first period – in an eventual 3-1 Bruins win.

Wait till the kid gets comfortable!

As for that Leafs/Habs game, Auston Matthews scored a hattrick and Toronto scored a stunning 6-5 comeback victory in a shootout. A soul-crusher for Habs fans, and an inspirational win for Toronto.

The other games I had my eye on were split into two categories: no surprise and what-the-heck-happened?

No surprise that Calgary beat Winnipeg 5-3 in the Saddledome in Ryan Huska’s first official game as head coach of the Flames. It was one of the longest off-seasons in Calgary hockey history and they simply weren’t going to be denied.

Plus those Flames players got Darryl Sutter ousted and wanted to prove they were justified. I guess they did.

The eyebrow-raiser of the night was Vancouver whalloping Edmonton 8-1 on the west coast. Oiler goalies each let in four goals. Maybe they should let them tend the net at the same time?

Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said afterwards it was a “preseason work ethic” from his team while Connor McDavid said, “It sucked”.

At least we can all agree on that.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)