It’s my Parting Shot for some Weekend Short Shots…..

This will be more of the same from me for those of you who are faithful listeners and/or readers of this daily sports commentary. For those of you who aren’t, do not be appalled because what I’m about to say has nothing to do with politics and/or nationalism and everything to do with my preferences from growing up over 60 years ago! I want an American-based team to win the Stanley Cup because the three Canadian hopefuls, trying to end our home and native land’s 33-season drought when it comes to winning the N-H-L title are my three most despised teams – and have been long since before I moved to Saskatoon in 1994! So, yes, I don’t want the Montreal Canadiens, the Edmonton Oilers or the Ottawa Senators to hoist Lord Stanley’s mug in mid-June! I despise them all, for various reasons that I will share at a later date when they’ve all had their championship ambitions dashed – I hope!! The next Canadian team that I want or will accept having as Stanley Cup champ, in order, are the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames! Let the games begin!!

As for what The Fearless Predictor thinks will happen, a two-part picks edition of this commentary will happen on Monday and Tuesday. Hey, T-F-P doesn’t need to do it today, just because the turnaround from regular season to playoffs is so quick, thanks to the Olympic break! One game done in all, but one series isn’t going to sway my thinking – at least not too much! Who knows, T-F-P might surprise those of you appalled with me and my anti-Habs, Oil and Sens campaign!!

Since there is nothing going at Rogers Place in Edmonton either tomorrow or Sunday, why is Game 1 of the Oilers-Anaheim opening round series not starting until Monday. It’s bad enough that the Oil get the easiest touch of all first round match-ups, but they get three off-days?! Why? Is this a C-B-C, Sportsnet thing? Why are they showing Vegas and Utah on Sunday night and not Edmonton and Anaheim?! Sorry, no explanation is likely going to satisfy me when it comes to giving the Oilers any kind of advantage!!

When I finally get around to posting them on our website, I urge you to check out the various end-of-season media scrums the Saskatoon Blades did on Thursday, especially the one with team President and G-M Colin Priestner who does an outstanding job of explaining why it’s easier and more likely for lower seeded teams to beat higher-seeded teams in the N-H-L than it is in the W-H-L!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!