I'll bet everyone at the game is screaming mad at referee Derek Berkibile. I'll bet they can't wait to rip him on the boards or whatever. Maybe he didn't have a great game, but here's something to consider.
That's 12 games in a row the Komets' opponents have have more power plays than Fort Wayne has, totaling 32 extra chances over those games. That includes an average of 10 power plays over the last four games, when the Komets have mostly been playing with five defensemen and in close games.
That's not all the referees' fault, folks. Twelve games is more than a blip. The worst part? It's mostly the Komets veterans who should know better who are getting nailed for the penalties.
Give you an example, and I'm not trying to pick on him specifically. When Galbraith was called for charging with 2:22 left, he left his feet to make the hit so it's an automatic, easy call. I'm sure Shutterbug will have a picture of it up on her website soon. Lance was being aggressive and trying to make a play, but he made a mistake.
Tonight's game was definitely a different brand of officiating. I carp all the time that the players ought to know what kind of game an official calls. Scouting officials and their tendencies is part of being a professional player.
But there was no consistency at all tonight at either end of the ice. If Berkebile used his turn signal on his way home to say he was going right, I'd sure stay out of the left lane.
Comments
I thought we played down at quad city's level. seems like we're playing at the other teams level. not a good thing. also was a little peeved at the ref but i don't think it was all the refs fault.
i couldn't see but when Frenchy decked that guy i don't think he should have been thrown out. 2 minutes for roughing at the most.
While Berkibile was inconsistant on his calls between the teams, he sure as hell does not get the blame for the loss. Again, outside of some spurts, its pure flatness. Again, its Quad City. Again, its at home. The last 10 minutes was some real excitement though. Hussle and selling out on every play. They may of not been playing great hockey but by god there was some emotion. Each stoppage was some barking and jossling. Loved it. Too bad the game is 60 minutes long.
Its easy to not do the little things and be physical when your a superior team playing an inferior opponent, scoring goals. But when your playing your equal and hit some adversity you need to man up. Show me 60 minutes like the last ten (outside of some dumb penalties) against Flint.
Photo of Galbraith with 2:22 left in game
http://www.kometsphotos.com/Mallards5/K21_0478.JPG
You know the Komets and QC combine for some of the most boring Hockey ever played. You would think that these two teams would have a dislike for each other being in the same division and battling for second place. Listen to game on the radia and even Chase sounded bored. Also, why is it that Frenchy has to protect himself from guys either running into him, pushing him or slashing him before and after the whistle. Last night we has to take matters into his own hands and punch a guy....This has been a problem for sometime and yet we do not protect him. It happens in the playoff's and it is too late to do anything then. Blake you have have written about this many of times and even Franke has address it over the years about teams taking liberties with our goalie. When do we as a team start taking a stand and start pounding guys who choose to do this
I just looked at the Photos on Galbraiths hit and if his feet are off the ice its not by much.....the toes of his skates look to be on the same level as the Komets standing flat-footed right next to him....wow I looked at that photo toooo closely. It would have to be said that the ref eagle-eyed Galbraith around the rink all night long and seemed to be just waiting for him to do something. The ref was bad but the K's didnt play with any intensity until around 5 minutes to play.... they played hard but no intensity. K's really need to bring in another defenseman, playing only 5 is gonna kill them by the end of the year.
JR-
I agree. Let me throw something at the wall and see if it sticks. Why not make Summerfield a defenseman. He's young, always hustles and shows the kind of passion we need from our defense. I believe that instead of giving up on most every play, Summerfield would go for the puck and keep it in the zone on occasion. Watch our defenders. If it doesn't come right to them they start skating backwards ready to break down ice. If you get a guy like Summerfield making a move on it, maybe the other guys will follow suit.
Like the ref has the time to see if he's up on his tip-toes or not. He's going to call that every time when a player hits another up high like that against the boards. That's common sense. As hockey fans we all know that.
You know something we all come here saying the same thing over and over again, me included, about the K's lack of this and lack of that, no one wanting to step up and be an enforcer, etc..etc...But when you look in the stands and there is 8,300+ I guess it does not matter to the Franke's because they are laughing all the way to the bank. I did not go last night for one simple reason I knew it would be a boring game, no emotion, eruo hockey. This is the product that the Franke's have put on the ice like or not. The only recourse we have is not to go to the games and let the attendacne suffer. We are 6th over all in all minor league hockey for attendance. Our power forward we all want is here in Franke's mind with Rumble, we signed a defesemen with Patten, who got hurt, and after the game I saw him play in he looked lost on the ice. We tried to sign Sellars a guy who had a bum knee who we lost to Danbury. I am sure they will try to sign a defenseman but you can forget about a trade because we have no one to trade. Who would you want off this team in a trade? We are what we are period and will be no better or nor worse than we are right now. We will fight to make the play-off's and more than likely will but it will be a short stay. We are not a physical team and we will not be a physical team, why?? Because we do not have those type of players period. We do not have a team who will mix it up, why because we do not those type of players. We are whay I call a finese team or want to be finese team that would rather skate up and down the ice without any contact. There is more contact in the Olympics women's hockey game than there is here in Fort Wayne. This is who and what we are and it is not going to change. Of course there will be the Galbraith's and Jorde's who will at times stick up for a guy and fight, but they always react instead of act. I know I am rambeling, but I have nothing else better to do....
Komets update:
Sean Venedam,36 games-25 goals-17 asst.
Kevin Kotyluk,17 games-1 goal 0=asst. 115 pim.
Jeff Worlton, 9 games, 1 goal, 0-asst. 40 pin.
Venedam is the only one off that list I would want back. I not only miss his production on the ice, but his heart and effort on the ice!
David, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and buy a team. It sure sounds like it must be very easy listening to you all the time.
If you are so miserable going to the games, why do you go? If all you are going to do is gripe about the money, why do you give it to them? Do you enjoy being so negative all the time? Do you honestly think the Frankes enjoy failure? They must LOVE opening themselves up to cheapshots like this all the time. Their goal in like must be to be your punching bag.
WOW!!! Go get em' Blake!
Friday from what I hear was an off night. Should the Komets win tonight and tommorow it will still be a very productive 4 game weekend. Muskegon has been going through a slump. About a month or two ago the Komets proved that they can hold their own against the lesser teams. I don't know if we're too far away from a fighting chance to be productive in the playoffs. I say this because I don't think the Komets have peaked yet. While the Komets continuely get better with some bumps here and there I think we've alreayd seen the best of the other teams. I think teams like Rockford, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, even QC has hit their plateau. Ok enough for now, I gotta get ready for tonights game.
Well Blake if I could I would...Why do I go to games, being doing all my life it is much as a family tradition as anything. No I do not enjoy being negative all the time, but isn't the right of a fan to point the things you like and dislike about a particular team or issue? Is it not why you have this BLOG?
Blake, all I was sayin is I see guys leave their feet all the time to make hits in this league and it doesnt get called....My point was that the ref was lookin to call something on Galbraith all nite long and in that particular play the leaving the feet excuse doesnt wash. You mentioned looking at the picture and I did then made my comment to the penalty call....as a hockey fan I think that is my right, you seem to have taken my comment in the wrong way cause I wasnt picking at anything you said.
Any word on who the K's may bring in for some defensive help???
Couldnt make it 2nite...sick kids...how was the game. I see they won,so 4 of 6 is good, they keep up this pace and they will be just fine.
The player Galbraith hit was standing next to Dupuis somewhat not expecting the hit and somewhat defenseless. A charging call will be made when the skater takes more than 2 strides towards the opposition. It was an easy call to make and the correct one. Loved the emotion and intent but it was the right call.
Blake only goes to half the games, so he's not going to respond. I looked up there tonite, wanted to tell him how smart it is to yell at his readers, and didn't see him.
Blake is just being objective just like all journalist are suppose to do.
far be it from moe to criticize some of you people but get real. You piss and moan about nobody standing up for St. Pierre on a slash in which he reacted a split second after it happened. Nevermind that a few Komet players slashed on Tapp when play resumed. If some brawl would of happened after that so be it. But nothing was going to happen after the St. Pierre slash because their simply was no time for anything to happen.
This is going to be a roller coaster ride till the bitter end of the season. Sometimes things will be rough, most times they won't. Sometimes the band of 10 goal players will come through, other times they will not. The K's are who they are and unless some transactions are made or hidden gems are found they will be who they be. Long time ago I learned to accept that fact and moved on.
Oh, I'll bitch when they play like dawgs but I won't ask them to be players they aren't.
Check out my post on Sunday's game for more, and LJ whoever said I was smart?
Scoops.....once again, the voice of reason. In Scoops we Trust!!! LOL
Can't a couple of those players be Jagr and Forsberg?