THURSDAY COMMENTARY – THE RACE IS ON

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

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE GOOD OLD HOCKEY GAME.

HERE IN EDMONTON WEDNESDAY NIGHT THE OILERS AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS RAISED THE CURTAIN ON THEIR 2021-22 NHL SEASONS.

OPENING NIGHT IS INDEED SPECIAL. ORANGE OILER JERSEYS WERE SEEN ALL OVER THE CITY ON GAME DAY AND THEY WERE IN ROGERS PLACE EARLY FOR THE SPECIAL PREGAME CEREMONY. IT WAS ABOUT 2,000 SHORT OF A SELLOUT – WHICH IS A BIT OF A SURPRISE – AND A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER TEAM.

BUT IT WASN’T JUST ANY OTHER GAME. THE OILER PLAYERS WERE INTRODUCED ONE BY ONE AND OF COURSE THE BIGGEST CHEER WAS SAVED FOR LAST, #97, THE CAPTAIN, CONNOR MCDAVID.

AND THE NHL’S BEST PLAYER DIDN’T DISAPPOINT, SETTING UP EDMONTON’S FIRST TWO GOALS BUT THE 2-0 LEAD DIDN’T LAST. VANCOUVER TIED IT UP IN THE THIRD AND IT WAS A TREAT TO BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE NHL’S FIRST OVERTIME GAME OF THE SEASON.

AND THEN IT WENT TO A SHOOTOUT. IT TOOK FIVE ROUNDS TO DECIDE IT, BUT EDMONTON’S KYLE TURRIS WAS THE LAST ONE TO SCORE AND THE OILERS SKATED OFF WITH A 3-2 VICTORY.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TEACHING MOMENTS COMING OUT OF THE GAME FOR OILERS COACH DAVE TIPPETT, AND YOU CAN BET EDMONTON WASN’T HAPPY WITH GIVING UP A POINT TO A DIVISION RIVAL WHEN THEY SHOULD’VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT AWAY IN REGULATION.

BUT TO THE OILERS FAITHFUL, THAT DIDN’T MATTER. EDMONTON WON ON OPENING NIGHT AND THAT’S WHAT THEY CAME FOR.

ELSEWHERE TORONTO OUTLASTED MONTREAL 2-1 AT SCOTIABANK ARENA AND WINNIPEG WAS TROUNCED 4-1 IN ANAHEIM.

DEBATE AWAY.

THE RACE IS ON.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY