That was one of the most-intense Komets playoff games I have covered in 20 years. I was thinking about this on the drive home, and most of the favorite games I have covered over the years have come on the road. Indianapolis Game 7 in 1991, Peoria Game 5 in 1991, Atlanta Game 2 in 1993, Rockford Game 6 in 2005 on and on. The road games are the ones that mean the most because they require the best out of the Komets. They have to overcome the crowd, the opponent, injuries, and, yes, arguably the officiating. They have to persevere and endure and fight through everything. The emotion from the players is also sharper because usually it's just them against the world and they sacrifice that much more.
I have three questions for you:
1. If the Komets manage to win the Turner Cup this year, how are the rest of the fans in the league going to say they bought this one
Where does that one rank for all of you?
And here's another one, which skater (Boucher does not count) has been the Komets' best player in this series so far?
Comments
Just got home now going to bed. Great game!!! Post more later......
For me the best game was Game 7 (3OT) 2008..but this one is a very close second.
Drouin, right now is the MVP, in my eyes. 1 goal 7 assists and +7. He has been outstanding. Grinding, hitting, scoring...He has stepped up his game.
See everyone Monday...We need to be Rock the Jungle.!!!
Posted on the other blog, and thought I'd re-post here.
Great game, great crowd on both sides.
Discipline was definitely a problem, but Hoberg was just plain terrible. The last 5 on 3, ok, I can understand. I didn't see the original penalty on Boucher. The penalty on Bertram I can agree with though, even if he didn't mean to use Boucher's stick. The penalty on Rodger after the play to give Port Huron that 5 on 3. Ok, I can see it. However, you HAVE to call the game both ways, and Hoberg did not. At least he got out of the way in the 3rd period.
Thanks again to Dennis for getting the bus trip around. Thanks to the bus driver, who was a good guy. I had great fun, especially with the guys I sat next to. It's fun to be the bad guy for once. Hope to see you guys on Monday.
GO KOMETS AND LET'S ROCK THE JUNGLE HARDER THAN WE ROCKED THE HARBOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, now that that's out of the way, onto the questions. I honestly think this has to rank up there in the top 5 games I've ever seen. Maybe top 3. Despite the terrible officiating, terrible ice conditions, and terrible Strip Club DJ arena announcer, the guys still persevered. I've been hard on him a lot this season, but I thought Guy had one of his best games this season. Bertram, minus the penalties, had a solid game. And of course, Leo was the MAN!
As for the best skater this series for the K's, I don't think I can pick one. That wouldn't be fair, as they have all been solid, even in the losses. If I had to pick only one, I think I'd pick Bertram. He's been very good on D, and shown a little bit of offense to go with it.
The only question I'll answer for now is number 1.
Simple, they'll just say it. Heck, they were saying it two years ago when we had to come back and then beat PH in a triple OT.
I don't read/post the forums very often but you can almost always find a post by someone claiming the Frankes have total control over the league. That includes people who don't even go to IHL games. We even have one or two people posting on here who at least say so in their posts although I'll grant some of that may be meant in humor.
OK, question number 2 is almost impossible for me to answer, there have just been too many over the past 57 years. One of my favorites, and I don't remember the details or when, was a comeback against Indy.
We were down something like 6-1 and managed to tie it and win in OT. The couple sitting behind us was up from Indy. The wife grew up here and was a big hockey fan and Komets fan in her youth. She married a man from Indy and became a Ice fan, they were season ticket holders down there. By the end of the game she remembered her roots and was cheering for the Komets and her husband looked like he was in shock. All he could do was shake his head and say "I can't believe it!". Neither could the Ice. It was a great game.
Not to take anything away from last night, it was a nail biter and exciting but if the penalties had been called more even I think we would have put it away earlier in the game. Guess we'll know Monday.
Steve, I "stubbed my toe" while watching Vancouver "kicking" chicago B--- :)/ playing port h. without sterling is like playing Vancouver without Luongo :)
What other blog? ;)
This game does not compare to the triple OT game or the Virag cup clincher either but does compare to the Goodwin OT winner against Rockford.
The best player? I don't know... the best "line"
"If it is a penalty, call the damn penalty"
Sincerely
Bob Chase during game 5.
WAY TO GO, LEO!!! (A s Hoss would say!!!)
Hey Blake, despite the scoresheet, the penalty in the second period was on Drouin for hooking not Boucher. It was a mistake, Hoberg apparently told the timebox, but they didn't change it. You can't really call a penalty on the goalie when he had nothing to do with the play haha.....It was a bad pinch by our d on their blueline, and Drouin had to hook a guy on the ensuing odd man rush
1. With cash
2. Best game of May 2010 by far
3. I think if Hodgy didn't sit 2 games he would be, but we have a few contributing, I can't pick just one.
mightbite, sorry about the toe. I should have included a cut out by saying no toe stub if the Blackhawks get blown out. By the time it was over I was yelling at the TV. Neighbors are convinced I'm nuts (my wife doesn't help any by telling them I am), yelling at the computer (Hoberg) and then the TV.
Steve, cool I'd be for chicago IF they wasn't playing Vancouver. I already have enough ploblems=3 broken fingers+broken arm+ torn rotator cuff=sugury may 24th.
Hang in there mightbite....heal up quick!
H with ard to pick a lone player here. I just think that the whole team has put it together at the right time. Maybe we need to be down 3-1 in games to become the favorites, but geez it works on the nerves. One of the best games I remember was the 1959 1960 finals against the Saint Paul Saints in Fort Wayne with Reno Zanier in goal for the Komets. Game seven in double OT and the Saints get a fluke goal and win it. That 59-60 team was probably the best team ever in the IHL to Not win the cup. It was loaded with stars that if they were playing today they all would be in the NHL. This June I am going to get to meet the best ever minor league goalie who ever played the game.......that being Glenn Ramsay who not only played for the Komets but just about every other team in the old IHL....cant wait!!!!
Sorry about the first sentence screw up do not know what happened, maybe fat finger syndrome!
1) They will because they can't say anything else.
2) Top 5....#1 game 7 v. PH. The Dustin Virag game #2.
3) This means alot coming from me.....trust me....
Kevin Bertram.....hands down MVP right now. He has played better in this series than he has the last 2 seasons combined. He made that play last night to Leo, I watched over and over in slow motion too, and passed that puck without thinking past 6 players that were in the line of the puck's path and Dorso didn't see it at all.
Bert has been a physical force out there too. He takes the other team's forwards out of the game. He has skated like he has had a rocket up his arse after pucks.
He has been amazing.
I want to shake his hand because I am impressed with him so much.
Go Komets!!!
Good luck with the surgery mightbite. What did you do to pi$$ her off that much?? :-)
Tim, getting to meet Glenn is cool. Maybe he can give you a few tips and you can make a come back??
Mitebite, That rotator cuff surgery is very painful. Hope you have a good Dr. Mine did a fantastic job with the repairs I had same proc. 1-26-2010. Seven weeks in sling stinks,but good drugs
i totally agree about the bertram being mvp and thts not just cuz im a big fan but honestly he has been awesome!!
I fell at work & "dr. quack" did not see anything wrong with it untill April=60 days later.I think I got a good one in Dr.Hartzell.
Tim. I remember that game. Len Ronson had a penalty shot in the second OT (I think) and missed it. That was a nail biter.
I hope mightbite recovers quickly.
I don't pick favorite players. I like them all. Leo sure had a game Saturday night.
1. I simply don't think you can. Sure, maybe we are the Yankees of minor league hockey; but I seriously think that if you took the story of the Ks over the last three years to Hollywood and said: "This will make a good movie" they'd look at you like you were nuts. It's just TOO unbelieveable.
2. It's probably in the top 5. I don't think _anything_ will ever top Game 7 in 2008; the Rockford series in 2005; the comeback game to secure the longest home win streak; and who could forget the Venedam OT winner from the '03 cup year?
3. Best player...that's a toughie. I do think Bert has looked *way* better than (pretty much) all season, and I've noticed Chwedoruk a lot lately too. No clear MVP yet...though I think tonight will say a lot.