Komets

Game 1 -- Friday at Rockford, 8:30 p.m.
Game 2 -- Sunday at Rockford, 6 p.m.
Game 3 -- Tuesday, April 25 at Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 -- Thursday, April 27 at Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 -- Friday, April 28  at Rockford, 8:30 p.m.
Game 6 -- Saturday, April 29 at Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m.
Game 7 -- Tuesday, May 2 at Rockford, 8:30 p.m.

Olivier Proulx is out for the season with shoulder surgery. The IceHogs are deciding their last roster spot between Bob Nardella and Nathan Lutz. Lutz is currently playing with Milwaukee of the AHL and won't be available to start  the series, and Nardella is banged up.

According to Rockford coach Steve Martinson, Billy TIbbetts' two-game suspension in the AHL will not carry over into the UHL playoffs and he'll be able to play Friday. The IceHogs also got Robin Big Snake and Preston Mizzi back from AHL call-ups today.

Congratulations to Kevin Kurk who was named the UHL's Goaltender of the Week for his two wins over the weekend against Muskegon and Kalamazoo. Richmond's Mike Oliviera was the player of the week. The Komets nominated Kelly Miller.

If anyone is planning on going to the games this weekend, hotel rooms are very scarce in Rockford because of a huge soccer tournament and a convention. You might even want to consider trying to get rooms in DeKalb. The first five hotels I called, the onces the IceHogs had checked out earlier to see if they had rooms, were now sold out.

The Komets will go into the playoffs without Colin Chaulk who has a tear in his Achilles tendon that will require four to six weeks to heal. He was left off the playoff roster in a unable to perform category so the Komets will retain his rights. The injury will not require surgery.

Komets General Manager David Franke said the team plans to be active in Tuesday's waiver wire draft.

More to come

Two great games in a row. How about that comeback? They were busting their rear ends right to the end of the game.

How about that shaky goaltending early? That's what I mean about leaving rebounds like hand grenades. Give the kid credit, he hung in there and pulled it together.

Anybody surprised by some of the awards? I was a little surprised Lance didn't get anything, but I'm sure most of you will be surprised Guy was defenseman of the year.

How about Rockford once again!!!!! I am so happy I don't have to go to Danbury.

Best. Game. Of. The. Year.

They dominated. I was so impressed that the Komets won the game, Muskegon didn't lose it. To my mind, they broke the Fury.

Did you notice how the Komets were covering passes up high in the defensive zone? That is something that has always killed them against the Fury.

How about Troy Neumeier. He played like he was 25 not 35. It's also looking like keeping A.J. Bozoian under 60 games so he can be a rookie next year is brilliant.

What did you think?

He saw the doctor Friday morining and the early prognosis is that at the very least it's going to be another week. The MRI results will be back Monday, Chaulk said.

``It's improving a little bit, but the range of motion is coming back very slowly,'' he said. When I walk, I have to kind of drag my foot behind me. When you walk forward and your heal comes of the ground, that's when it hurts.''

That doesn't sound good. I'm sure the Komets are beating the bushes to find what they can to serve as a back-up if nothing else.

Komets have nothing to play for except pride, which they need against Muskegon, and the Fury have everything to play for. What are you expecting out of this weekend's games?

Another thing. The Komets have been talking in recent years about maybe changing the format the of the annual season awards as far as when they are presented. It just seems that fewer and fewer fans stick around to watch them. What would you like to see? Or leave it the same?

If the Komets play Rockford  in the first round, the first two games will be played April 21 and 23 in  ockford The IceHogs announced the dates on Wednesday. If those dates hold up, Komets President Michael Franke said it's likely the Komets would play Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, April 26 and Saturday, April 29, meaning Game 5 would likely be Sunday, April 30 in Rockford. Game 6 would probably be played Tuesday, May 2 in Fort Wayne and Game 7 Wednesday, May 3 in Rockford.