The Komets' opponents have scored first the last four games and seven of the last 10 but the Komets are 8-2 in those games... Though comparable to any other weeknight playoff crowd, Thursday's attendance of 6,418 was the smallest of the Komets' last six home finals openers... The Komets have won 12 in a row at home and are 14-0-2 over their last 16... How big is Saturday's Game 2? When they go up 2-0, the Komets are 22-0, but they have lost Game 2 the last five times they had a chance to go up 2-0, including the last four times in Fort Wayne... That said, the Komets are 26-3 when they win the first game of a series at home... There were only three penalties called in Game 1. During the 1959 and 1960 playoffs against Louisville, the Komets played a game each year that saw only one penalty called between the teams... Saturday night will be the 450th playoff broadcast of Bob Chase's 56-year career... The last time Muskegon was in the Turner Cup finals was in 1992. The Lumberjacks lost to Kansas City 4-0 and moved to Cleveland the next year... The Muskegon line of Todd Robinson, Robin Bouchard and Chad Woollard had only eight shots on goal, including five by Woollard... They were on the ice for both Fort Wayne goals... The was almost an exact replay of last year's Game 1 of the semifinals between Fort Wayne and Muskegon when Colin Chaulk scored in overtime for a 1-0 win... The Komets hit the post three times... Bob Langdon was the referee for that game, too, and kicked Al Sims out... Nick Boucher stopped four breakaways... Since Dustin Virag's title-clinching goal in 2003, the Komets are 7-1 in overtime games at home and 1-3 on the road... After winning four straight playoff games in Fort Wayne, Muskegon has now lost four straight... Danko Mironovic's second-period goal went in off his shinpad... Game 1 will be shown at 9 p.m., Friday and 7 a.m., Saturday on Comcast Ch. 55 and Verizon Ch. 25. Game 2 will be shown at 8 p.m., Wednesday.
Comments
It did seem like a small crowd -- not even that many if you had asked me to make a guess. After that first goal, I was a little concerned that it might turn out like that game 1 beat down that Port Huron gave the Komets last year, but no... I have the feeling they will be much more like Kalamazoo or Muskegon of last year (as you mentioned) when all is said and done.
I believe that the Komets were not playing their best hockey of the year. However, their defense for the most part was very good. They got a strong win that has to deflate the fury/jacks a bit. If the Komets can pull out Saturday I think that most of the wind will be knocked out of the fury/jacks and with small crowds in musky I don't believe they really have a strong home ice advantage.
One thing I found interesting about the game last night was how the ice was. During the first period, it was almost immediate that 'steam' started coming up from the surface, especially down at the north end. It looked almost like dry ice. It wasn't so bad at the south end, but you could definitely tell that the conditions were causing the puck to bounce funny, and DEFINITELY slow down. I also felt that we skated circles around Musky for the first three minutes of the game; and at one point, I swear we were forechecking with three players, and guess what: we came up with the puck. I also payed a little bit more attention to what Huk was doing. Let's just say that I can definitely see why Blake/Justin thought he might be MVP; he was in there aggitating, hooking, hacking, and just generally trying to get at the Musky players. Great effort from him tonight. Give some credit to Leo as well he got in enough on the one breakaway during the second period (sorry not sure which Musky player it was) to force a bad shot; even though Bouche still had to come up with a big time save. Bouche played EXCELLENT tonight again. He's gotta be in the running for playoff MVP too.
@Hoss: I heard ya during the anthem and didn't mind it at all. The fact that no one joined in mighta been a clue that it wasn't going to work, but hey you tried and I commend you for it. It's disappointing that so many people called you out for it. What would those same people do at American Airlines Center when all of the Stars fans scream "Stars" during the anthem and start cheering during ...the Rocket's red glare?
If you are going to go to a game and sit in the front row (like I do), don't spend the entire time leaning towards the glass and talking to your friends. It's not social time, it's HOCKEY! Shut up and watch the game.
Stop wanting a call on every single little thing! And stop vocalizing the fact that you want a d*** call. Lady behind me kept saying: ...Did you see that? And he didn't even call it! Ugh!!!! That being said, I thought Langdon actually called a pretty decent game, but only because he was consistent. The hit on Curadeau at center ice could have easily been a Charge or an Interference, but he didn't call it and then he didn't call a lot of the other extracurriculars that were going on. I give him a B.
Huh, in my previous post I had put "fake" tags () on the last two paragraphs and the blog suppressed them; dang smart blogging technology... =]
First, I would like to start by saying that last night was a great win! One down, three to go. With that being said, I would like to address the disruption that took place during the national anthem. It was EXTREMELY disrespectful. I don't care how anyone tries to spin this, what was done should not have taken place. I understand that in Chicago and other parts of this country, yelling, screaming, cheering happens during the singing/playing of the national anthem, however, we are not Chicago or other parts of the country. Hoss, thank you for apologizing. That takes guts. In stating that, if you were threatened, that should have been taken care of. I don't care what is done, no one should be threatened. Let's remember that we are sitting in the Allen County WAR MEMORIAL Coliseum when we watch our Komets play. Let's respect the lives that were lost and the ones who are still with us who have fought for our country. GO KOMETS!
What we saw was "PLAY-OFF" hockey. The game was decided on the ice. Landon let them play. The only reason Boucher get the penalty was for the shot he took the the Muskegon players head. Very tight defensive game. We (K's) actually played into Muskegon hands they were playing a road game waiting for the turnover or mistake. We only made a few and Boucher was there to stop them. I would have rather seen some hard hitting but neither team did that. Muskegon's big guns were a net -2 while our checker of that line were +2. Didn't Huckalo work his butt off? I knew Leo was fast but he really showed his quickness in catching Woolard from behind. Danko is a rookie no more. Great game! one down and 3 to go. Saturday night Rammer will loose his cool. John Searl will be the referee. It will be only his second time in the Fort this year. Go Komets!
Seriously, yelling at the end of the Anthem had nothing to do with all the lost veterans or being disrespectful. It was about getting the DULL crowd into the game. It was about being a great fan which is something that Fort Wayne lacks, its the playoff for crying our loud, so why not yell at all the players who do not stand there the entire Anthem, why not yell at all the adults who let there kids talk, play and sit during the Anthem, what about all the people that cannot get to the game on time and decide it is ok to walk up to their seats during the Anthem, I have been coming to games for 20+years and My father is a Veteran and I was shocked and disappointed at how the fans treated Hoss. Apparently its ok for lower section 214 to yell, swear, be obnoxious during games, go yell at them for being disrespectful. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, fine I understand that, but to have 3 cops and 3 ushers stand gaurd for an entire game and then leave the second the game is over and then all h**l breaks loose and no one is around, to have family threatened by a drunk person that claims he is a Marine is not right. Marines dont do that, my opinion is you put shame on your country by threatening to kill your fellow americans, what he did was far worse then yelling Lets Go Komets in the later part of the Anthem.
For those who never go to any other Venues, you might as well stay at home because there is alot of people that are disrespectful in this world, traditions are starting because of people like Hoss, Fort Wayne has the "YOU SUCK" chant and everyone else is using it now but look how many people whined about that. And some people are still offended by it. Sometimes you need to pick your battles, either come to the Komet games and enjoy yourself or stay home and whine about everything.
Janice - I see where you are coming from and I understand that you are correct when you say that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I also agree that people should not speak, try their best to keep their children quiet, and not attempt to find their seats during the anthem. With that, I am not whining about everything, I'm saying that what was done, IN MY OPINION, was disrespectful. I'm assuming we are going to have to agree to disagree. However, I am not going to change my mind nor do I expect you to change yours. I will keep attending Komet games, which I have done for 28 years. I still feel it was disrespectful, but if you feel otherwise, fine. Also, I firmly believe that not only do we have GREAT fans in Fort Wayne, we have PASSIONATE fans, and that makes the games even better. I'm assuming we can agree on one thing and that is we want the Komets to win the Turner Cup. Again, GO KOMETS.
Well said Janice.
Hoss, I'm sorry to hear of your experience at the game. You tried something, and it didn't work. That's they way it shakes out in lame Fort Wayne. The folks who did that are not truly patriotic - they are idiots. Ridiculous.
For what it's worth, I was in the K's penalty box when that happened and Michael Franke said something about some idiot screaming during the Anthem. I explained what you were trying to do and he said, "Oh," and shrugged it off.
I am so tired of people being offended by everything. If you're offended by it, fine, but there's a way to express it, such as the way Andrea did above, and then there's what went down last night.
I think I am offended by everyone that is offended. Now maybe I should threaten to beat somebody down.
If any of you 6k or so dedicated fans who were at the game last night want to find something to be offended by then be offended by the fact that a supposed hockey town can't sell out a game in the CHAMPIONSHIP finals - even if it is a Thursday night.
Chad, I'm offended that you were offended by everyone that was offended.
(/endsarcasm)
I am a veteran. I bleed Red/White & Blue. I was not offended. While I did feel a little disrespected for those who gave their lives so you could do just that. Yell and cheer that is what we fought for. FREEDOM. I understand what goes on in other cities. That is OK with me. Some nights I go to a hockey game and a fight breaks out. Other nights I go to a fight and a hockey game breaks out. I am more offended by those who don't stand or refuse to take their hats off. It is a great country isn't it?
Dschebig, I think your comment is much like many other vets I have met they fought for the freedom to burn flags and yell during the National Anthem. I am embarrassed that some want to take it to another level and threaten someone. Come on, don't we all have the right to our own opinion. BTW, last year at MUSKY during the national anthem someone yelled, Fort Wayne Sucks, same thing happened at KZoo this year.
I not offended by it- I just think it's disrespectful when people don't honor their country in that way. It takes a whole two minutes for the national anthem. This isn't the United Center- this is Fort Wayne. I think it's disrespectful that people have to find their seats during the playing of the anthem as well. Just take the two minutes, thank God you're an American, and then yell for your team. I feel bad his family was threatened. The red coats and police don't have enough to do during the game. They are quite the presence in our section as well.
I think what we have here are two different issues that are linked by one action. I have read and blogged on here many times and I don't recall a post "explaining" before hand what Hoss was trying to do. I sit in 208 so I was not far away and could hear him quite clearly. Without knowing his explanation I, too, thought it was disrespectful and embarrassing. When I saw him he was wearing some kind of "hat" I think made up from the turner cup "fans" they have been giving away. To be honest with you, I thought he was the one who was drunk. Saying all that, I believe from reading the posts from Hoss that this wasn't something he did to get people upset. His heart was probably in the right place but it sure backfired. NOW LET ME SAY THIS. NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, HAS THE RIGHT OR WILL EVER CONVINCE ME THAT THREATENING SOMEONE, THEIR WIFE, THEIR CHILDREN, OR ANYONE ELSE HAS A PLACE IN THIS. That was totally wrong and inexcusable. Two more things. Please remember that the Police never know what they are going to get into. Sometimes we need to give them a break. Also the "Redcoats" are required to be at a meeting before all games and are instructed to watch out for stuff. Sometimes these things are complaints from fans who have called the Coliseum. They are all just human beings. We live in a great country. Patriotism and freedom of speech each has their own place in our hearts. Sometimes they get blended a little so I understand the feelings and emotions shown on these previous postings. Hoss has apologzed to any one who was offended and that is good enough for me. Thanks for listening to me and let's get game two on Saturday.