THURSDAY COMMENTARY – PLEASE STAND UP

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

Will the real mathematician please stand up?

We’re following the NHL with great ghusto and on Monday, heard a very interesting stat from NHL Radio’s Scott Laughlin.

He reported on the RP Show that studies show if you’re an NHL team in a playoff spot at U.S. Thanksgiving, then you stand a 90-95% chance of making the playoffs.

Quite impressive indeed, and it got me to scrambling to see exactly who’s in and who’s out.

Now, a day later on NHL Network TV, the host said the number is actually closer to 75%.

Still, it’s good news if you’re in a playoff spot as of today’s U.S. Thanksgiving and here’s who in:

In the East – Bruins, Maple Leafs, Wings, Devils, Islanders, Hurricanes, Rangers and Lightning.

In the West – Dallas, Colorado, Winnipeg, Vegas, Seattle, L.A., Calgary and St. Louis.

If that’s your team, bravo. I guess you can start making plans.

Although as our Winnipeg viewers pointed out this week, the Jets were in a playoff spot at this time last year before the bottom fell out.

I believe in the science world, this is called “The exception that proves the rule.”

The list of teams on the outside looking in right now is just as long, and includes the Oilers, Predators, Wild and Penguins; all of whom made the playoffs last season.

Much has been made of this and it’s fun!

I’ll be studying it more today as I enjoy my turkey and sweet potatoes.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm on Game+ TV and WQEE. Call your cable provider to subscribe. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)