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Tailing the Komets

Al pulls some fast ones

Komets coach Al Sims has consistently used the same forward lines all season, but he sometimes mixes things up during road games. Sunday it paid off as the Komets rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Kalamazoo 4-2.

The home team's coach has the final change after each whistle, meaning he can set up his forwards the way he wants them against an opponent. Usually they'll put their most-experienced forwards against the most-inexperienced defensemen, and best defenseman against the other team's best forwards. Using versatile forwards P.C. Drouin, Terry Marchant and Terry Reynolds who can play any position, Sims likes to counter by mixing and matching.

``Every time I play (Kalamazoo coach) Brian Curran he's very into matching and I like to throw a few different wrinkles at him if I can,'' Sims said. ``These games are chess matches every time we play them, and I try to keep them off-balance if I can, even in their building.”

Sims said he hasn't tried the trick much at home because he hasn't needed to, but the Wings had the Komets bottled up halfway through the second period with a 2-0 lead before the Komets got some favorable match-ups to force some penalties and get back into the game.

``Before we go into a game, we know who has the most minuses on their defense and who has the most minuses as a line so I know which lines I need to get my best player out against so we can have success,'' Sims said. ``A lot goes into it.''

It's the first time this season the Komets have rallied from a 2-0 deficit to come back to win. Mathieu Curadeau scored two goals to give him three over his last three games, and Drouin had three assists to lead the Fort Wayneoffense. Curadeau scored the game-winning goal early in the third period. Nick Boucher made 28 saves as the Komets out-shot the Wings 40-30.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

chuckitt
Mon, 02/25/2008 - 10:59am

this team really is starting to remind me of the 73 team. any thoughts??

bsebring
Mon, 02/25/2008 - 11:49am

Kinda, sorta. There's lots of balance. Only difference is these guys got hot a lot earlier in the season. Personality wise there's a lot to compare, too. I also think the coaching styles are similar. I guess the more I think about it, the more I agree. LOL.

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