WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – RING OF FIRE

(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary at 9:50 am and 5:20 pm on Cat Country 98 FM)

ANY FLAMES FANS OUT THERE?

I THOUGHT I’D TAKE THE DAY OFF FROM CFL/XFL TALK AND CONNOR BEDARD CHATTER TO EXAMINE THE NHL AND THE EXCITING SCOTIA NORTH DIVISION.

SPECIFICALLY, THE CALGARY FLAMES.

THE HEAT IS HOT IN COWTOWN THIS YEAR WHATWITH THE FIRING OF HEAD COACH GEOFF WARD A MONTH AGO AND THE TEAM PLAYING AROUND .500 HOCKEY SINCE DARRYL SUTTER TOOK OVER.

AS WE SIT TODAY, THE FLAMES ARE FOUR POINTS BEHIND MONTREAL FOR THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT AND THE CANADIENS HAVE FIVE GAMES IN HAND.

WE’RE CLOSE TO COUNTING THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR THE FLAMES TO BE ELIMINATED FROM STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF CONTENTION.

THIS AFTER I SELECTED THEM TO FINISH ON TOP IN THIS COUNTRY IN 2021.

IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME I’LL BE WRONG, BUT THIS ONE IS BITTERLY DISAPPOINTING. AND I DON’T EVEN LIKE THE FLAMES.

WHAT I’M TOLD IS HOW THIS SEASON PLAYS OUT IN CALGARY WILL DETERMINE WHICH DIRECTION THE FLAMES FRANCHISE TAKES THIS OFF-SEASON. DARRYL SUTTER’S FINE – HE HAS A 3-YEAR CONTRACT.

THEY COULD TURN IT AROUND. REMEMBER DARRYL TOOK AN 8^TH-SEED IN L.A. AFTER THEY FIRED TERRY MURRAY AND WON A STANLEY CUP FIVE MONTHS LATER.

BUT IF THE FLAMES MISS THE PLAYOFFS THIS SPRING, IT’LL CUE A MASSIVE SHAKEUP WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION. THEY’VE HAD A REVOLVING DOOR OF STARTING GOALIES AND HEAD COACHES AND THE RESULTS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE THE SAME.

AT SOME POINT BIG THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE.

SO WHILE IT’S EXCITING AT THE TOP OF THE STANDINGS PARTICULARLY WITH TONIGHT’S LEAFS/JETS GAME, IT’S EQUALLY EXCITING TO WATCH WHAT’S GOING ON BELOW THE CUT-OFF LINE.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY ON CAT COUNTRY 98.