THURSDAY RUNDOWN: GOING INSIDE THE NHL BUBBLE

It was Blue Jackets TV on Episode #296 of The RP Show! Here’s the rundown:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Rollout for Flooring Superstore covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour was fined $25,000 for comments critical of NHL Officiating. Was it worth it?, 2) Day 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The winners were: Boston, NY Islanders, Colorado, Philadelphia and Vancouver, 3) Teeing up Day 3 with Blue Jackets/Lightning, Blackhawks/Golden Knights, Hurricanes/Bruins and Flames/Stars, 4) Kicking around CFL updates from Justin Dunk and Dave Naylor, 5) The Blue Jays set a team record for homeruns in consecutive innings (6), and 6) The Raptors post an history 16-point comeback victory in the NBA Bubble.
• Blue Jackets pro scout Rich Sutter joined the show from his home in Lethbridge to discuss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He said his team is over the “non-call” in the 5th overtime of Game 1 and in the playoffs, you need to have a short memory. Sutter talked about how huge it was for the franchise to knock off Toronto in the Play-In Round, discussed the career of Jackets goalie Joonis Korpisalo, and previewed today’s Game 2. Rich also talked about the methodical rebuild of the Philadelphia Flyers saying they’re definitely not an overnight success.
• A special treat was Blue Jackets defenceman Nathan Murray of White City, SK joining us from his hotel room in the NHL Bubble. He said Columbus is definitely over the “non-call” and the team wasn’t exhausted by the 5 overtimes. Ryan said it was more “fun” than anything. The former Everett Silvertip said his team is enjoying playing in Toronto and the huge national stage since they don’t get as much coverage in Ohio. He also explained what life is like in the Bubble and while some NHL’ers have said it’s a prison, he’s enjoyed it. Murray feels his team definitely has it in them to withstand a 2-month grind.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Should CFL players be allowed NFL opportunities during the suspended season? At press time over 80% of respondents said yes.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by famed NHL super pest Matthew Barnaby from a cottage outside Ottawa. Barnie feels the Leafs are the right track despite their Play-In Round exit and feels the Avalanche, Lightning and Bruins are the best teams of the 16 who are left. He also discussed the disappointment in Ottawa over the Senators not landing the #1 overall pick and that Sens owner Eugene Melnyk has been a “complete disaster”.
• Leah Barnard and Graham Crosbie of the Pense Kraft Hockeyville Team joined the bunker to discuss the online voting which opens Friday morning. Pense, SK is the only Western Canadian town in the running and the pair said if Pense wins, the $250,000 from Kraft will be earmarked for a new ice plant and other arena upgrades. You can vote as often as you like at www.krafthockeyville.ca beginning Friday morning. Please vote!
• Be sure to tune into The RP Show Facebook Live channel at 7 pm MT Thursday evening for Canada’s Game of the Week esports broadcast of the Stampeders and Lions from virtual BC Place.
• See you at 10 am MT on Friday for Football Friday on Game+ TV Network, Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive!