p1130699

Mightbite drank too-much Orange Kool-Aid=8-3 Komets win & lots of fights :(

Well mightbite had the 3 right but was way short on the 8. Another loss to a team almost as bad as we are. When do the Komets have to realize they can't wait until the game is well into it before they start to get into it. They started out flat again. Reiter gave a goal on the first shot by the Corndogs and 2 more tricked in. PC played terrible. Warner had a decent night and Shrock kicked the crap out of Grenache. This was a must win. It didn't happen. Again. How confident is Leo now?

1. Props to Sims and the boys for being prepared and adjusting. First 10 minutes of the game there were many times we had five guys inside the blue line making short passes to clear the puck to the neutral zone. Clearly something they worked on and carried out well early on.

2. Better passing in the offensive end as well. Had a nice set play on the PP where their passed cross ice from the top of one faceoff circle to the other. Not the back door defensemen on the weak side, but the forward cycling around and then looking pass. Had some traffic in front of the net as well. Great to see these two adjustments.

3. Reiter was very solid in net tonight. Kept us in the game, played angles well, played the puck well. Had no chance at all on two of the three goals. I've always liked him more than Boucher.

4. Komets will have a long season without a center who can carry the puck in the zone. Don't want to beat a dead horse, but something has to be done. DeAngelis carried the puck in the zone when Warner scored the first goal. Cescon also had a good carry in the third period. Defensemen carrying the puck in five on five won't work long term, but it was nice to see these guys adapt.

5. Warner logged a lot of ice time this game. I doubt the stat is tracked, but I'd love to see his time on the ice tonight. Seemed like every other shift. Had two good shotblocks in the third period that go unnoticed in a loss. Still room for improvement, but looked more poised out there.

6. Francis did a great job carrying the puck in the zone in the second period, but got crushed into the boards after making a great pass. I like this kid's effort and heart.

7. Second period ended about three minutes too soon. Schrock had a great fight after getting killed the first part of it and came back and throttled the guy. Even though we were on the PK, I bet we would have put the puck in the net if there were three more minutes right after that. Crowd and team was in it, but then went to the locker room. Didn't come out with much energy to start the third.

8. Keep getting pucks to the net. Still hitting the goalie in the center of the chest way too many times, but Leo had a crossbar in the second and we hit a post in the third. It took two hours and 37 hockey minutes for me to see a Komets goal at home this year (Missed the game they won). Hopefully a win and more than two goals on Saturday night...I'll not be there so hopefully the pattern continues.

What happened to PC that they gave him a penalty shot? I didn't see anything that would cause the call....Seemed to me that PC just didn't fire anything on net but not because he was obstructed. Did I miss something or was it a crap call in our favor?

Musselwhite didnt impress me at all!! Leo looked great tonight and the fight with schrock were the highlights for me.. glad i had script tickets!!!!

PC was hooked slightly on the elbow, but I don't think it deserved a penalty shot.

Actually KometKrazy, Arizona may not be a team to sniff at anymore. 2 of the 3 goals were scored by Erickson, one of their new additions from Rapid City. Laurysen, the other newcomer, had an assist.

For that matter, Szuper is new too, signed in early November.

Did anybody notice the Sundogs passing compared to the komets passing. Arizona passed the puck fast and on the tape most of the time. komets passed the puck slowly and lazy giving Arizona time to get into position and defend it. It happened all game long. Can't win games doing that. Once again komet had trouble with the opponents speed. The game is to fast for most of the komet players. They did have 38 shots on goal but I say 10 or less were quality shots. PC's penalty shot move was an ihl move. That won't work in this league. I can't wait for the next original CHL team to play here so I can see some quality hockey. Komets will lose Saturday night. 4-2. IMO.

Did anybody notice again that the Komets didnt belong on the ice???? wait alot of the players.....veterans didnt belong out there......im not a hockey player and never have been but being a season ticket holder for 20 plus yrs can it be more obvious????? didnt think so.....wake up frankes....and sims....he isnt the greastest thing since dirt like most people think he is....l

It's great to call guys out when you don't use your name (or the player's!)

I apologize to antone who doesn't want to hear this, including those I mention by name, it isn't personal, but it is an observation:

PC and Curadeau are supposed to be 2 of our best players, correct??? Am I the only Komet Fan wondering when these 2 players are going to officially report to the team, because right now, both are MIA.

Patrosso and Naurato were very good players in PH....why do they seem invisible in a Komet Sweater??? I know those guys can play some hockey....where are they right now?

When your 2 goals come from Schrock and Warner, it is exciting I know, but when those are the only two guys who score goals against a mediocre team like Arizona....you know you are in trouble.

OC always starts slow and gets better as the year goes on....that is Fact. We have seen it before. But how long can we wait before we change some of these guys up.

And my biggest concern and complaint goes to the doorstep of our coach.....Big Al.....do me and the team and thes rest of Komet nation a big favor......it is ok to tinker with the lines from game to game when the team isn't scoring goals, but as some point, you have to leave these guys on the same line for more than 2 or 3 shifts to give them a chance to gel. This single thing might be the biggest reason this team is struggling so much right now. I have thought hard about this because once again, tonight, he sent line after line out, and players were mixed and matched from shift to shift, never any chance for 3 players on Offensive pairings to actually build any continuity or confidence.....this seriously is starting to look like pick-up beer league hockey out there. When are we going to start playing shirts and skins? Big Al, thanks for using my line combinations I posted on here, but for Chaulks sake, please, please, please MAN, stick with the lines for an entire game and roll the dice, lets see what this team can do. No one out there looks like they have a clue where a teammate will be, and it is every Komet for themselves out there.

Am I wrong about this......NO.

And yes......We need Colin Chaulk, or Colin Chin, or Colin Lister at this point to pull this team's head out of their......well that is if Big Al can settle on a line-up and let the guys play hockey.

I am officially frustrated, and I am thinking of going down to Scotts before the game Saturday and borrowing some paper sacks.....any takers? LOL

Here is your motivation speech from me......One shift at a time, one arse whooping at a time, one check at a time, one goal at a time......one win at a time.

You guys can do it......

Stop choking your sticks so hard.....Gheesh. Since we are blaming the sticks and stick company.....

I apologize to ANYONE......not just Antone......whoever that cat is????? LOL

That was funny, and a classic typo moment. LMAO

All in all it seems there were more improvements tonight than I had expected. Still quite awhile away from being the winning team we are used to, but seems there is hope now. I don't understand how some are seriously thinking that the main downfall for the Komets right now is "poor coaching". He has coached them to 3 championships in a row, yes I know it is a different league now and they are struggling but seeing that he was a respected, winning coach for 3 seasons implying that just two months into a new season he is now the main reason for being the cellar dwellars....just doesn't make a whole lot of sense? Not that he doesn't have room to improve just like the majority of the players. I do realize it's natural to place blame on someone...and some people just seem so eager to single certain people out early on. Al relates well with the guys and if the players respect his way of coaching and enjoy playing for him(which they have told me this personally)...that can lead to great things.

Hey hit. I brought brown sacks with me tonight... I didn't put them on but I will have mine on tomorrow night in section 217 :)

Well to me Sims is and always will be the greatest thing since dirt. Not sure what that means but I like the sounds of it. If it means he is a coach we can be proud of and trust to lead this team back on a winning path..than I will say it again, Sims is the greatest thing since dirt.

You guys always bust on Legault , but Lackawits getting that penalty after the period, to act like a tough guy then ?????

I thought the Sundogs were the biggest bunch of sissies to ever hit Komet ice. I've never seen more instigating and then when it came time to show what you're made of THEY DUCKED!!!

On the Komets side, I told my fianc

Most of the players from the ihl have not been able to compete in the CHL. Which is why the komets are a losing team. I don't think it's a slump they are in. They just don't have the talented players who can play at this level. The have the goaltending but nothing else. The komets still look like they are stuck in the slow and sloppy ihl. Dayton 4 komets 2. " Losing is a disease, as common as gonorrhea, syphilis, and the common cold. Ah, but curable" From the movie The Natural.

Delisle got a lot of ice time and I thought he played well for his first game in the system. I would compare his skating to Legault's, but Legault doesn't know how to skate yet, so it wouldn't be fair. Tonight was the first that I saw Legault manage to stay upright throughout an entire game...in the stands. Sorry, mightbite, but I think he's done.

My guess is Rodger gets the shaft, yet again.

Anyone that thinks this kid got a fair shot, well, whatever.

He was forced into playing forward, when you have a forward playing Defenseman........go figure.

And the Super Hero stays, and the unknown guy goes.

Thems are the breaks I guess.

The "system" doesn't work in the CHL.

This isn't a talent issue. It's a coaching/system issue.

Goaltending is solid. The rest of the guys didn't forget how to play hockey over the summer.

Al needs to adjust to a fast-pace, NHL style of game. The "old-school" defensive style created penalties and keeps the forwards bogged down. When you have guys with speed you have to capitalize on it. When Cescon is carrying the puck into the offensive zone, you have problems. Cescon is my boy, don't get me wrong... but he should never be the guy bringing the puck into the offensive zone. Al needs to adjust his style before he loses the players. They are going to get sick of looking dumb and losing.

Thanks to Leo and Schrocky (I should have copyrighted by my Schrocky Balboa gimmick) for busting some tail all night long. PC, on the other hand....

How long til the paper sacks come out?

I think that maybe we are missing the obvious issue with the team. I think the majority of people on this blog believe that we have the talent. What about the coach? If you look at what he has done outside of Fort Wayne, what success has he had? Pretty much all losing seasons anywhere else. Yes, the last 3 years we have won a championship but with, in my opinion, vastly superior talent in a six team league. Port Huron matched us talent wise last year and I think would have beaten us easily if Sterling hadn't gotten hurt.

In my opinion, two of the areas that a coach can have a big influence on is getting the team focused to play and the power play. We consistantly come out flat and our power play is not good. Approximately half the league is operating at 20% or above. We are around 14%. With the talent we have, that is not acceptable. As far as being prepared to play, i think we all know our record at falling behind early. You can say that the players are professional and should be able to prepare themselves, but it is the coach who sets the tone and must hold players accountable.

A few of you mentioned that Arizona should no longer be considered a bad team because their roster is a lot different than it was a few weeks ago. hmmmmm they were losing and made some changes.....

I applaude the Franke's for always putting a competitive team on the ice but maybe it's time to make some Big Changes. Is it time to look at our roster and make some trades? One example I will give is PC. Great player in the past and has definately helped us to much success but just doesn't seem to have the fire to compete at a high level any more. I won't say that he is coasting, but in my opionion does not belong on this team. If guys like Narauto and Patrosso are not producing like they were in PH then why is that? Did they suddenly lose their talent?

I truly hope that the Komets can turn it around but I think that we are all kidding ourselves if we think that doing nothing is the answer. A wise man once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Time to step up and make some tough decisions.

Go K's!

Positive post of the season goes to ... Salvucci. Have fun at the MC tonight, folks. I'll be shooting football at Bishop Luers. Besides since Blake is now a Sports Illustrated published photographer, your photo coverage from tonight's game will be in good hands.

Honestly though, Blake does do a pretty good job shooting with the limited equipment he has. Oops, did I say he has limited equipment? I meant he doesn't have a very long lens. OK, that doesn't sound any better. I'll leave you on that note.

Thanks for the insight on Blake, Chad, enjoy the game tonight. So tempted to go there instead. Go Luers!!

I am glad someone agrees with me on PC. Gotta love the guys desire to play hockey but he just doesn't belong in this league. I am beginning to think he is actually holding the Komets back. And Curadeau what a bust. Been to all 4 home games so far and haven't seen him do a single thing to help the K's cause. At least Dupuis has adjusted somewhat and is playing better. 2 or 3 players really need to go. And I wish they would bring back Fletcher and Cianfrini. Its time to get younger and see what happens. Can't be any worse than it is now. And come on Sims. Change the system and stick with your lines so the guys can gel. And of course knowing my luck since I am going to miss my first home game of the season tonight the K's will probably win 5-0.