The Fort Wayne Komets moved into second place in the International Hockey League by beating the Port Huron IceHawks 5-1 on Saturday night before 8,010 Memorial Coliseum fans.
The Komets scored first 22 seconds after the opening faceoff when Matt Syroczynski threw a puck in front of the Port Huron goal where Konstantin Shafranov reached around the defenseman to tap it in. The Komets added to the lead six minutes later when P.C. Drouin scored his 20th of the season with an unassisted tally.
"I thought we played really well defensively again and had a really good first period," Komets coach Al Sims said. "We've done that the last three games and obviously it's spelled easy victories for us."
The win was the Komets' third in a row and ended a three-game homestand that saw them out-score Bloomington, Muskegon and Port Huron 14-3.
"We're really thrilled with keeping teams like Port Huron and Muskegon down to one goal or two," Sims said. "We'll win most of those games."
Port Huron cut the margin to 2-1 early in the third period, but Drouin, Colin Chaulk and Sean O'Connor scored for the Komets who kept pouring on the offensive pressure.
Muskegon won at Quad City so the Komets were unable to gain ground on the first-place Lumberjacks.
The Komets also knocked their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to seven points.
Fort Wayne lost forward Brad MacMillan to a separated shoulder on his first shift of the game. He'll see the team doctor on Monday.
Comments
I don't really sweat the small stuff,But the Komets have out-scored their opponents 15-3 in the last 3 games. :)
Great game by almost everyone in a Komets jersey.
Hope Mac can heal up quickly.
Haun has done a great job.. and continues to.
Pretty decent job by Langdon.
I pretty much figured this one was over as soon as Lawrence heard the horn go off after that first goal. He's a pretty big head case when you get to him quickly, and it seems like his team fed off of his energy all night. He seemed pretty worried about how much he was being made fun of on the big screen all night. I've never really noticed any of the other goalies this year paying so much attention to that thing.
Komets played really well tonight. It seems to help when we have our best defenders on the ice (not so subtle hint in that statement). Game was pretty fun to watch tonight, and even had some fireworks in the end. I guess my only question is concerning the penalties for Woods and the Port Huron player... Why give them the 10:00 penalty when there is under a minute to go? Wouldn't some lesser penalty, like a 2:00 unsportsmanlike conduct do? Just curious, or does it not matter at that point so they make it sound more severe in the books?
Great games the last two nights. They have played SO much better! Definitely liking the Defensive lineup better lately...I'd hate to think it's because Warner's out but it makes you wonder...
I think the 10 min penalties was langdon saying boys I aint puttin up with this-who wants the next one.
Wait a minute, where did the naysayers go and the people giving up their season tickets? "Shirley" there is something to be ultranegative about, we gave up 3 goals in the last 3 games, well I aint gonna stand for that I tell ya.
Muskegons fat and lazy.
Port Huron just doesn't have what it takes to cement a championship.
Fort wayne has everything it needs and we are gelling at the right time to make a run.
But, the race for 4th place is going to be close and whoever it is will be dangerous in win or go home hockey. Its just that kind of a wierd year. It would be nice if flint made the playoffs, it would give Savage something to do besides watch reruns of 70's sitcoms.
I love Birdies
Saw most to the second period on line between our games. The shots were like 11 to 3 FW in the time I watched. Keep that up and they will be tough to beat. It was an unusual period with the way the penalties went. Makes it difficult to keep everyone in the game. Obviously Al did a good job and the guys fought through the line juggling from killing penalties to being on the power play.
What does everyone think, drive for first or play as solid as possible to keep second place? As Burgee says that fourth place team may be a bear, so my vote is go for it.
Well stated Burgee, Last night The KOMETS played with the Lumberjacks seems like we are starting to get it together at the right time SO LET'S GO KOMETS!!!!!
Nice fight from the hawks, sure didnt look like a battle for second, 3 checks all night from the hawks.
I'm more worried about Flint than musky or port h.
Dont underestimate QC if they can beat Flint for the 4th spot..
Mike I say play solid hockey and first place may just come around here.
First, the Komets are playing, in the last three games, exactly the way most fans have been begging for them to play since well before x-mas and they did it for three games in a row... Well done!
Second, where is Blake and his admonishment to Burgee for intentionally trying to incite fighting between posters with differing opinions on this blog???
Third, win or lose, I just want to see the K's put forth the same effort and attitude for the rest of the year that they have shown these last three games. Thats all that most of us have wanted from the start...
First to Burgee. I was wondering how long it would take for some of our more "positive" bloggers to throw in a "negative" comment about some of our more "realistic" contributors. Everything the Komets have changed; more shots on goal, less trying to make the perfect pass, crashing the net, going after the "garbage goals", all have been a point of criticism by some of the bloggers on this thread. It is interesting to me, that these are exactly the same things that Al Sims has been trying to pound into their heads at the same time. Are you saying Al Sims is negative? One contributor stated that as a 22 year season ticket holder he would not renew. Did you actually believe that? Come on, it was just pure emotion. But, time and time again, you have thrown the "naysayer" label on people. Look, I know that you employ one of the Komet players and maybe it is tough to read criticism of a friend and co-worker. Loyalty is a great attribute but it can also skew judgement. I have been in commission sales for 29 years and I am judged on performance and numbers. (Kind of like a hockey player is judged on performance and numbers ). If I don't produce then I'm gone. Usually that is the standard of measurement. If that is not the case in your organization, then send me an application. Respectful comments by people who you deem "naysayers", "positive Patty's" or "realistic Ralph's" should all be welcomed and considered as one reflects on the hockey season. You have your right to post anything you want, let others also enjoy that right without labeling them.......To Mike in Toronto. Always, always, always, drive for first place. As I write this today, the K's are in second place. They are one point ahead of Port Huron with one game in hand. They are six points behind Muskegon with two games in hand. Tonight Port Huron visits Muskegon. (That game should be a war). The K's are idle so the points in the standings will change but the K's will also have another game in hand on both teams. Home ice advantage can be everything. Never settle for anything less than first place. I'm glad the K's had home ice advantage against Port Huron two years ago. That Turner Cup Championship game went on forever and I think the result may have been different if the game would have been played in Port Huron.
well said JR
Amen, JR. Amen.
JR and Alan: You couldn't have written it any better. Or wait, am I supposed to say "cha ching" or put down a bunch of +'s in a row? I can't keep up. Building on what both have said, if the team would put out the effort and heart we've seen in the past few games, none of us would have anything to "complain" about. We just wanted to see the play we're used to and the potential of this team realized. It's not like any of us hate the Komets, or else we wouldn't pay to watch them.
SyroFan: If it walks like a duck and quacks, chances are...
Yes I am happy the K's are finally playing like champs, but that still isn't changing my mind on renewing season tickets. It's not because of the way the k's have been playing. It's the league I'm dissapointed in the whole league. Calling yourself a "champion" in a 6 or 7 team league is nothin to bragg about.
Cha ching, I'm always sleeping when my hand should be on the reel.
I was waiting for someone to call JR and Co. idiots.
Good stuff written above.
I heard Mac broke his collar bone. Heard from several people.....that heard it from Mac.
KO Legault anybody? It is time he is signed, put in the pressbox, and then we will have our goodluck charm to win 2 more championships. It worked the last 2 years. Buy him and shelf him.
Funny that this team's defense is playing "so much" better. What has changed? Keith Rodger is in the line-up playing his arse off and looking like a complete stud out on the ice hitting everything in site and taking away the front of the net, oh, and he has made Bert look 10 times better. No knock on Bert, but when Bert has to carry his paired defender on his back and still has to play his own position, it is much difficult for anyone......Kudos to Rodger. Stud.
And Hukalo is back. He isn't showing up in the scoring column yet, but he solidifies the defensive game bigtime. When you can throw out a 3rd line with Chewy, Schrock, and Huk.....holy crap, how can anyone beat the Komets?
The team is playing hockey.
My one negative comment,,,,,no offense.....but someone take Syro to the ice today and back him 7 feet from the front of an empty net, and have him shoot about 10,000 pucks at it. Anything less than 50% in, and he should be tested for anxiety disorder or a new pair of glasses. Seriously. You all know what I mean. Very good player....but holy poop man, if you are aiming at the front of the net, start aiming at the Budweiser Suite and maybe that will help??? LOL
Larry sucks. Where was Tab Lardner last night?
If Mac is indeed done, Legault should be signed. And before you all jump on his lack of talent... Let's compare what Woods has done thus far.
If Mac is done wouldn't it be wise to see what is available out there in the hockey world instead of just automatically signing Legault? If Mac is done than I want the Franke's to take their time and make a well, thought out decision.
Good pair of wins for the Komets. Lets keep it going.
The Franke's will sign Brent Gretzky if you give them time to think.. Might as well get a recent re-tread...
The other thing to think about:
They always find a diamond amateur player this time of year or even.
Always!!!
Hodgeman, Milam, Rodger, Wiggins, etc. Who am I leaving out?
Should read "even 2"
You'd think after two seasons, we'd at least know how to spell HODGMAN! J/K, Hit. But yes, the usually do find someone pretty decent. I'm with Alan, I don't necessarily think we should automatically jump on Legault. He isn't going anywhere and there may be someone better out there. Whether he's out or not, I'd like some official word before I start forgetting about Mac. He's done enough this season that we owe him that, at least.
I agree on both counts.
I brought up Jaromir Legault half-jokingly because it would be so like the Komets to bring him back, after letting the likes of Varone, Saidachev, Laise, Woodard, etc. go this year, and Legault sitting the pine the last 2 years. They bring him back to sit the pine and that gives everyone's favorite hometime hero a chance to go back on the blue-line, move Rodger back to part-time (1-3 shifts a game total) forward, and the recent Mojo back to mediocre play.
Just saying.
And I know how to spell Hodgman. I accidently put the e in. Frozen makes that joke, which is funny, and follows it up with a typo of his own.
Now that is double funny.
Ok, long weekend and I'm obviously being stupid and reading over it, but where's my typo? I'm definitely not denying I have one. I almost always throw in a few when I'm posting from my phone.
Caught it, I forgot my "y". Touche ;)