The Fort Wayne Komets held International Hockey League leading scorer Todd Robinson off the scoresheet Friday night, but they couldn't find any offense of their own in a 4-1 loss at Muskegon.
The victory pushes the Lumberjacks eight points up on second-place Fort Wayne in the International Hockey League standings. The Lumberjacks have 10 games remaining the Komets 12, with the only remaining matchup between the two being played in Fort Wayne on April 7.
``We just have to make sure we hang onto second,'' Komets coach Al Sims said.
The schedule breaks the Komets' way with seven of the 12 remaining games at Memorial Coliseum, while Muskegon plays seven of its last 10 games on the road.
``We're starting to play 13 games in 24 nights and we've got some injuries piling up,'' Sims said. ``That's pretty tough to overcome with that kind of a schedule.''
The Komets were already playing without forwards Brad MacMillan and Leo Thomas this weekend because of injuries, and then Mitch Woods suffered a lower-leg contusion late in the first period. Sims said Woods would not be available in Dayton on Saturday or in Flint on Sunday.
Friday's game was tied 1-1 going into the third period when Fort Wayne's Justin Chwedoruk was called for hooking two minutes in. Muskegon scored on the power play when the puck bounced high into the air, Komets goaltender Nick Boucher lost sight of it and it rolled down his arm and into the goal.
``It was a killer because that was the deciding goal,'' Sims said. ``The last fivie or six minutes they got a couple more, but the second goal they got killed us. It was a pretty good game up to that point.''
Both teams had 37 shots on goal, but the Komets were unable to solve Muskegon netminder Sebastien Centomo. Guy Dupuis scored his ninth of the season in the second period for the Komets who were held scoreless in four power-play opportunities.
Comments
Centomo stole that game. He was the better Goalie tonight. He is the reason that the FJ's will be hard to beat in the playoffs this year.
No Woods?? This season is scrapped. Next thing you know, we'll end up losing Warner too, then all Hell will break lose and it will be open season on the Komets. Hopefully Mac and Leo can get back sooner than later. Syro, come on big guy, breathe in, breathe out, put it in the net.
Hit, Sgriffith says on the "no mac,no leo" thread the Komets got outplayed. The goaltender is part of the team. Did the K's have better chances and couldn't bury them?
It may not seem important but heading into the playoffs it makes a difference.
I agree a hot goalie can be the difference. However, it is a double whammy if the Komets were outplayed and "C" stoned them to add insult to injury.
That must be one heck of a contusion.
Bold predictions: Bloomy finishes season in 3rd place ahead of Port Huron, earns Skalde coach of the year honors, 5 head to heads with Port Huron, they control their destiny, Flint hasn't been a pushover for PoHo all year so with a little help from Flint Bloomy could do it.
Muskegon, Bloomy ousted in first round of playoffs.
Welker blows muskegon game he officiates and costs them the Huber, this after Suey costs them a previous game.
Komets win Huber last game of season.
Savage forgets to change clothes before leaving house and shows up to flint game in flower colored sun dress with knee high black socks and flip flops.
Rockin Robin held goal-less in the playoffs (he automatically gets an assist for stepping on the ice at LC Walker).
At the end of the season Flint changes nickname to Savages in hopes that it will draw as many fans to the game as Savage has readers (I mean picture lookers).
The IHL adds more teams than it loses over the summer.
Because of the loss of teams the ECHL combines 2 divisions into 1.
Anyone but the Red Wings win the stanley cup.
Centomo made a few good saves; but the real killer for the K's was sloppy passing, over passing and giving Centomo way too many open looks at shots...
Muskegon brought their complete game and the K's brought about 3/4 of theirs...
The K's left Bouchard to roam at will again which is a problem. Biceks 2nd goal, he just skated by guys and put a nice shot past Bouchard who was visibly pissed after the 3rd goal...
Welker could have justifiably kept the Jacks on the PP all night long the way the K's were grabbing Jacks and then trying to push them into the glass instead of hitting guys... The holding was blatant all night long which tells me the K's are either the slower team, were a step off or playing over cautious...
I didn't see the game last night. I would have to think after four days of rest, against the first place team, and still in the hunt for the regular season championship, it wouldn't be hard to get "up" for this game. This team has perplexed me all season long. One thing is definite. The powerplay has disappeared. Maybe it is time to put other combinations out instead of starting with the Chaulk, Syro, Shafranov, line. Couldn't hurt.
Speaking of the poweplay. I've noticed when Muskegon has the man advantage they can really move the puck. On the other hand, when Fort Wayne is on a powerplay, the K's seem so much more deliberate.
Not sure I like to hear it when the Head Coach is quoted as saying, "we just have to make sure we hang on to second."
The loss last night sure made everything tougher, that's for sure. Still, there are two more games to play this weekend. Can't afford another loss this weekend.
My advice would be, sometime next week, get everyone together and have a Christmas Party. Maybe then they will take off again.
Watched the game last night.........The second period all the Komets did was turn the puck over. The Jacks must have had 10 odd man rushes. For being the best defensive team in the league we looked like crap defensively last night, in the biggest game of the year. Not a good sign.....
Speaking of Flint (Burgee), did anyone see the article in last night's newspaper about Flint, the city not the team? They are in the process of laying off about a quarter of their fire department and a third of their police department. There have been a series of suspicious fires.
Gee, if the city is in that bad of financial shape and no doubt it is, how can anyone expect the people there to support a hockey team?
That"s scarey! didnt flint, MI. beat out gary, IN. for the murder capital of the world a few years ago, and they are laying off a third of the police?
Who owns the flint franchise now? Have they committed and said that they will be around next year yet?
Who OWN the Generals???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2MJ7hKE1VY&feature=related
This should help you.
And I know who the Wizard of the IHL is too.
Pay no attention to that Franke behind the curtain....LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE
Bloomy dropped a critical playoff positioning game tonight