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

For years, the general observation and rule-of-thumb when comparing trends between the N-H-L and the N-B-A at playoff time was that pro hockey players were tougher than pro basketball athletes. The basis for that generalized statement was the old saying that, when the going got tough, the tough got going. You’d see more road teams win to start a best-of-seven series in the N-H-L than in the N-B-A. And, that generalization is holding true so far, at least through the first six days of play in both sports! Road teams have won 10 of the 21 N-H-L playoff games so far while just five of 19 N-B-A Conference quarter-final games have been won by the away team in the N-B-A!

Three of the eight N-H-L opening round sets sit at 3-0, which really does surprise me. In all three instances, I expected the trailing team to be no worse off than 2-1 down – especially Pittsburgh! Having said that, many people during this season were calling for the Penguins to move away from their old core of stars – Crosby, Malkin, Letang and Karlsson – and start looking ahead to the future. That may have to happen if Philadelphia gets to use their brooms tomorrow night!

As I said earlier this week, the Canadian national sports media types were hyping Ottawa as a potential darkhorse team in the post-season, possibly upsetting Carolina in the opening round. Uh, not without a power play they won’t – almost as powerless as the Senate in our government!

And, Colorado is really good, too bad it looks like the end of Anze Kopitar’s career with the L-A Kings could be a meek four-game exit tomorrow!

How does one get excited about the imminent start of football season when we’re getting nailed with another dump of snow?! My golf clubs are whimpering in my office?! My plans to alternate morning workouts by riding my bicycle with throwing baseball’s off a net and pretending I’m getting ready to pitch this season is on hold! I’m sure there are people who are happy to see the moisture coming with the snow, but let it be rain already and enough of the white stuff! Just watch, we’ll get our first major snowfall in early October – only five-and-a-half months away!!

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