It’s my Parting Shot for my Monday Musings…..

So, Super Bowl LX will be a re-match of Super Bowl 49 – the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks. I can hear the shrieks of Seahawks’ fans from 11 years ago when Russell Wilson threw a pick at the goal-line, rather than handing off to Marshawn Lynch, who was money in those short yardage, goal-line situations!

As shocked as I was, I was happy. Unlike many people that I know, I didn’t mind the New England dynasty with Belichik, Brady, Gronkowski, etcetera. And, for Super Bowl LX, I will be pulling for the Patriots to ground the Seahawks again for one reason…Sam Darnold!

As a Minnesota Vikings’ fan, I’m still upset with Darnold’s performance, or lack of same, on behalf of the Vikes in the playoffs last season. Yes, I hold long, deep-seeded grudges against those who have wronged my favourites in the past – Sam Darnold, the Montreal Canadiens, the Edmonton Oilers and the Ottawa Senators just to name a few!

I will give Darnold credit. I hear coaches all the time talk about needing to learn lessons through adversity. Well, Darnold obviously learned his lesson from last year’s playoff meltdown with Minnesota and has Seattle in the N-F-L title game. So, well done, Sam!

Speaking of the Oilers, I got to witness – first hand – their 6-5 overtime win Saturday over Washington at Rogers Place. I may have a beef with the franchise from years back when it came to their smug and arrogant G-M and head coach plus his public relations henchman, but you can’t help but admire great players. Connor McDavid is the best player in the world. He scored the O-T winner and had five points, but was overshadowed by Evan Bouchard’s first-ever hat trick and six points. It’s a good thing that Bouchard had that kind of offensive performance that he is capable of because it made up for the bakery he runs with all the turnovers he makes, or should I say commit!

Let’s put it this way, the Oilers may have McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but as long as the Oilers insist on saddling them with a sub-standard supporting cast with a player like Bouchard, close is all they’ll ever get to winning a Stanley Cup!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk on the road with the Blades…and it turned out nice again!