WEDNESDAY COMMENTARY – THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

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

AS MY SPONSOR BOB SAYS, NOT MUCH GRASS GROWS UNDER MY FEET.

TODAY WE’RE IN EDMONTON FOR THE EDMONTON OILERS’ NHL HOME OPENER AGAINST THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS AND WILL BE BROADCASTING LIVE ROD PEDERSEN SHOWS FROM THE WEST EDMONTON MALL WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY!

THE NHL SEASON OPENED TUESDAY NIGHT WITH ONE UPSET, AND ONE EXPECTED OUTCOME. THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS SPOILED TAMPA’S BANNER-RAISING NIGHT BY EMBARRASSING THE LIGHTNING 6-2.

AND IN VEGAS, THE EXPANSION SEATTLE KRAKEN MADE THINGS INTERESTING BUT IN THE END, THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS PREVAILED 4-3 BEFORE A SOLDOUT HOUSE.

NO SURPRISE THERE.

BUT REALLY, ALL EYES ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE HERE ON THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS.

SO MUCH IS EXPECTED OF THE OILERS WHO FINISHED SECOND IN THE CANADIAN DIVISION LAST SEASON, BUT BOWED OUT IN A FIRST ROUND SWEEP AT THE HANDS OF THE WINNIPEG JETS.

ONE THING ABOUT THESE RABID CANADIAN HOCKEY MARKETS; THEY HAVE SHORT MEMORIES.

EDMONTON IS ABUZZ WITH OPENING NIGHT AND IT’S AN HONOUR TO BE HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, “WHY GO TO EDMONTON?”

I SAY, “WHY NOT?”

IT’S GREAT OWNING OUR OWN SHOW, BEING THE BOSS, AND CALLING THE SHOTS.

I’VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME BUT DON’T BELIEVE I’VE EVER ATTENDED AN NHL HOME-OPENER. IT’S GOT AS MUCH HYPE AS ANY LEAGUE’S OPENING NIGHT AND IN EDMONTON, IT’S SPECIAL.

THE “HOUSE THAT CONNOR BUILT” WILL BE PACKED TO THE RAFTERS AND THE OILERS WILL ASSUREDLY BE LOOKING TO GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

AS FOR THE VISITING VANCOUVER CANUCKS, THEY’VE GOT HIGH HOPES TOO BUT HAVE SET A GOAL OF SIMPLY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS. AFTER ALL, THEY FINISHED DEAD-LAST IN CANADA LAST YEAR.

BUT AS FAR AS THE OILERS GO, IT’S STANLEY CUP OR BUST.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY