WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – JETSTREAM
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!
THE WINNIPEG JETS BLASTED THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS 5-0 TUESDAY NIGHT ON THE STRENGTH OF CAPTAIN BLAKE WHEELER’S 2-GOAL, 2-ASSIST OUTING.
THE WIN CLINCHED THIRD IN THE SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION FOR WINNIPEG, AND GUARANTEED A FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MEETING WITH THE EDMONTON OILERS.
WE ALL KNOW THE PAST MONTH HAS NOT BEEN KIND TO THE JETS. IT INCLUDED A 7-GAME LOSING STREAK AND THE TEAM REMAINS WITHOUT STAR FORWARD NIKOLAJ EHLERS AND HIS INJURY WILL CARRY INTO THE PLAYOFFS.
AFTER LAST NIGHT’S GAME, COACH PAUL MAURICE DROPPED THE BOMB THAT BLAKE WHEELER’S BEEN PLAYING MOST OF THE SEASON WITH BROKEN RIBS. THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE PLAYOFFS.
GROWING UP HERE I ALWAYS FELT THIS WAS AN OILERS PROVINCE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR DOMINANT RUN IN THE 1980’S. BEFORE THAT, THIS PROVINCE WAS PRETTY SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN LEAFS AND HABS FANS.
AND NOW, I’VE SENSED, THAT THE WINNIPEG JETS HAVE MASSIVELY INVADED THE MINDSET OF SASKATCHEWAN HOCKEY FANS. THERE ARE A LOT OF JETS FANS HERE.
PLAYING THE CALGARY FLAMES IN THE HERITAGE CLASSIC TWO YEARS AGO AT MOSAIC STADIUM – AND BEATING THEM 2-1 IN OVERTIME – DIDN’T HURT.
SO I’VE GOTTEN ON BOARD THE JETS BANDWAGON, EVEN IF THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS ARE STILL MY TEAM. WINNIPEG GM KEVIN CHEVELDAYOFF’S BROTHER KEN IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, AND FRANKLY THEY’RE AN EASY TEAM TO CHEER FOR.
NOW THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY GAMES ARE LEFT THIS YEAR TO CHEER THEM? THEY’VE GOT ONE LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON, AND THEN THE OILERS.
EDMONTON’S LARGELY STEAMROLLED WINNIPEG SO FAR THIS YEAR BUT LAST NIGHT’S LOPSIDED WIN IS A VERY GOOD SIGN.
IT ONLY TAKES ONE VICTORY TO GET ON A ROLL, AND IT CAME AT A GREAT TIME.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY.
(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 10 am MT/12 pm ET on Game+ TV Network in over 2.3-million homes across Canada & USA. Call your cable provider for details. It also airs live on YouTube & Facebook and 24-hours per day at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)
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