Komets lead 1-0 and shots are 12-5 Fort Wayne. Four of RC's shots came on the power play. Komets are going much more North and South tonight than last night when they went East-West a lot. RC is the team tonight missing high and wide with a lot of shots. Komets are flying off the bench on line changes.
Came with 5:39 left in the first on, of course, a power play. Komets killed it off. Much more physical game than last night so far. Much chippier.
Kaleigh Schrock deflected a long shot from the point from Stephon Thorne. RC just got it's first shot on goal with 12:18 left in the first period.
The Komets are asking the CHL to review the hit by Jeff Kyrzakos on Brett Smith from Friday night. The replay shows the hit was from behind, and Kyrzakos also left his feet to deliver the blow.
http://www.wane.com/dpp/sports/komets/komets-vs-rapid-city-game-1
Courtesy of WANE and KELO TV
On a Colin Chaulk power play slap shot that Brett Smith actually jumped over. Early in the third.
Strange calls -- both ways. Calls that you would not normally expect in a playoff game when you normally see refs stick to calling things on the puck or mostly off scoring chances. So far, Blazic has blown the whistle and players from both teams are looking at him wondering what he's called. No one is quite sure.
On a 5 on 3 power play goal. Some interesting calls led to it. Jamie Lovell got nailed from behind behind the FW net right before the goal with no call.
Halfway through the second. Couple of penalties. Nothing much different from the first period. Komets are doing a good job on faceoffs and blocking shots, especially on RC power play. Komets' speed advantage is still there. Rush are only having offensive success against the Smith-Chaumont-Thomas line and that's all.
Komets have 1:04 left on a power play. Shots are 9-9. Leo Thomas got called for tripping Shawn Limpright, but then Les Reaney got called for roughing Komets defenseman David Starenky during the ensuing power play.
The ice isn't as good as usual here in RC.
Jamie Lovell made the biggest plays of the first period. After Jamie Milam turned the puck over inside the FW blue line, Lovell blocked two shots to prevent RC from getting two great scoring chances.
Mike Vaskivuo set up Chris Auger in front on a little pass from behind the net. The Chaulk line is having great success behind the net and cutting in off the wings.
Komets appear to be much faster than the Rush at both ends of the ice so far. Shots 8-4 FW. Komets look very relaxed and comfortable out there.FW has had no problem getting the puck out of the zone, while RC has early.
Crowd is about 2/3 full.
For some reason, the Komets had a lineup on the ice of Starenky, Milam, and Molle -- all three defensemen out -- with Chaulk and Mele. Weselowski shot from the point, Nick made the stop and then Scott Wray jammed it in. No one is sure how that happened.
... how much I hate cowbells? Not a sellout tonight. Great place to watch a game. No bad seats, fantatsic lighting.
When Justin and I were on SportsWise the other day, someone asked what our superstitions/rituals were. Great question.
Now, my rituals are totally different but very similar to players in a way. I really don't and can't care who wins because I'm not a fan. If they win, my job is easier because they are more willing to talk. If they lose, I still have to do the job the same way with same energy, same focus, etc. Period.
