Bring it on, Jeff Zatkoff! If not you, let it be Tristan Jarry!
Tomorrow (April 13) marks the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. One
of my favorite times of the year.
And, yes, my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins are back in it. (And, gulp, not
a single Canadian team made the grade – the first time in 46 years. And, yeah,
I remember that previous season of 1969-70 VERY well. With Les Canadiens out, the
Bruins skated their way to the finals and Bobby Orr, a fellow Georgian Bay
native, scored The Goal after being tripped by St. Louis Blue Noel Picard: one of the
most memorable moments in modern pro hockey history.)
Could Jeff Zatkoff be the next Bobby Orr, and lead my Penguins to
victory?
Well, it looks like the 27-year-old journeyman from
Detroit, Michigan, will get the start for the Pens against the Rangers
tomorrow. With No. 1 puckstopper Marc Andre Fleury and No. 2 Matt Murray out
with head injuries, it’s up to Zatkoff and his backup, 20-year-old Tristan
Jarry from Surrey, BC, who has never faced a single shot in an NHL regular
season game – much less a high-stakes playoff game.
The time is right for Stanley. Just lovin’ Jeff and Jarry, and the
prospect of these little-known heroes making their mark in the spotlight on the Can-Am sports
stage!
Next: Running for Your Life: Up “Hill”
Battle
