Question for you

The penalty shot last night seemed to be a mystery call on the Rush. Then again there's been a lot of mystery calls this series.

Very rarely have I ever seen a penalty shot awarded that the opposing team and fans didn't think was a bad call. The reason is that the definition for a penalty shot is clear enough but the interpretation of the actual play sometimes leaves a lot to be desired and is a judgement call.

What I can't ever remember is seeing a penalty shot called, and then a second penalty assessed after the whistle as things get sorted out.

On another note, Frodawg, I have noticed your use of the term "ending the fairy tale" when expressing your hope of the Komets elimination at the conclusion of this series. Rest assured that Komet fans have been through similar situations before. One could easily use the term "nightmare" for the Rush and their fans if the Komets were to pull this out.

So instead of playing word games, why don't we just do as you had earlier suggested and let the teams play the game on the ice.

Fairy tale or nightmare. One thing is for sure. One team will continue and one team won't.

We've been through it many times before. Sometimes as the winner, sometimes as the loser. At the end of the elimination game the players will shake hands, and the sun will come out the next day.

Besides, this is only a conference semi-final series. To win the cup each team would have to win two more series.

Alan I understand it is the semi's and what it will take to win the cup. I'm not so sure that this isn't the permier series in the hole playoff scheme. I was in your barn last night and I will be there again tomorrow night to. I sure would like to see the Rush win tomorrow night but if they don't we pack up and head west young man.Game 5 (if nessecary) will be a brutal game with the pressure of the playoffs and the extended travel for both teams will make it very interesting.Drop the puck and let's see what happens !!!!

http://www.foxsportsdetroit.com/msn/04/21/11/Illegal-toss-at-Joe-Louis-Arena/landing_redwings.html?blockID=508520&feedID=3701

Leave it to the NHL to try and kill tradition. I dislike Detroit but this is just dumb.

As unprepared as our team and administration was this season (and it was blatantly obvious), it's still fun to see how we are hanging with one of the best that the CHL has to offer.

Even if the Komets pull out this series (and I'd LOVE to see that, especially after seeing how big of clowns RC's players are), it will be interesting to see how the Frankes approach the upcoming season. Do they load up (for real this time), or do they just limp through another season until the CHL craps out or merges with someone else, the IHL re-forms, or whatever else could happen? It could be pretty interesting.

However, that is all for another time, let's focus on tonight. GO KOMETS!

RK, I agree with you on the unpreparedness of the team at the beginning of the season, and it would be great to see the Ks move on to the next round. Yeah, it would be fantastic.

To answer your question about next season, I feel the Frankes have always, to the best of their and their staff's ability, made every attempt to put a strong competitive team on the ice. Over their years of ownership they have done a good job of it so I see no reason to doubt they wouldn't put out the same effort next season.

Granted mistakes were made this season, their first year in the league, but they made adjustments and became mostly competitive the last half of the season. Those of us who had confidence that they would make the needed adjustments were referred to as "Positive Patties" and other terms of endearment, but we were correct.

The season may end tonight, and it may go on for a few more weeks. Either way it has been a memorable season both in it's times of frustration and its times of satisfaction.

No one can guarantee a championship team next season (and I know that's not what you're asking for, a guarantee) but I'm confident they will do their best to but together a competitive team, and make what ever adjustments along the way to keep it that way.

Intentionally limping through a season is not in their blood and hopefully it won't happen based on bad decisions.

You're probably right, Steve. And I agree, they have made some great moves. I still don't think we are as competetive as we'll need to be to go too much further in the playoffs, but from where we started to where we are now, great moves have been made. I'm hoping a bad taste is left in their mouths from this season and some big changes are made, keeping only key players with the fight still in them. Time will tell though.

OK, will someone please drag out the dead horse because I'm going to start beating it again.

Player loyalty, being unfamiliar with the league, lower salary cap, the salary cap exceptions, and the lateness of the collective bargaining agreement, all contributed to a very poor off season for management.

Yet I still thought that the roster they opened with would be a good one for scoring goals. Lost Chaulk, Syro, Hodgman, and Chewy but signed Curadeau, Naurato, Patrosso. Looked good on paper.

The one thing they didn't do was to bring in fresh, young skaters with skill who would push the "veteran older" players for their jobs. The team was virtually done being put together before training camp even begun. That was a huge mistake and if the Frankes have learned anything it is not to rest on your laurels or take anything for granted.

I spoke with one of the Franke brothers as I picked up my playoff tickets a few weeks ago and I can tell you that they realize what needs to be done and have started working on next year already. I was pretty frank with him on my thoughts ( imagine that ) and we had a great conversation. By the way, I think I should point out how much respect I have for an owner of the team that would take that much time to speak to a season ticket holder about their views and listen patiently. I left the office with a much brighter "feeling" for next season.

Still, after saying all that, we are where we are. The team lost almost any hope of having home ice advantage with their terrible start. ( Don't be concerned. Christmas is when they always take off and , you'll see, everything will be fine.) Well they did go from ninth place to sixth place. Any Komet fan really happy with that? Didn't think so. Let's put the "Christmas" theory away and start winning from the start of the season, OK?

One shift, one period, one game. Get the win tonight and let Rapid City have more to think about. Can't worry about a game on Sunday until we know there is another game needed.

By the way, a few threads ago I mentioned that I wasn't as concerned by the long layoff for the series to begin as I was with the short turnaround between the fourth and the fifth game.

If the Komets win and the game ends around 10:30pm, the fifth game would begin about 45 hours later with a 17 hour bus ride for both teams in between.

Sorry for the length of this post.

Alan, volume I of your post is pretty much what Steve and I said hahaha! Just giving you a hard time. Enjoy the game tonight everyone, and be loud.

Yes, be loud and stay thirsty my friends....

Funny....one of those older veterans scored one of those awesome goals last night....one of the most hated veterans at that (PC). And Chaulk is one of the "older" guys. Why does everyone keep saying we need "younger, faster" players to make it in this league? Who the heck cares as long as they can do what needs to be done? None of our younger guys (Curadeau, as one shining example) were scoring this season, and I heard repeatedly on here how no one thought that APod could handle himself defensively (I think more ice time would have solved that problem, but what do I know? I'm no coach). Younger = more mistakes on the ice at times! Older = experience. A mix is a good thing. Just my opinion, of course....I think we had it right this season, and it will show next season if we dump all the older guys and go for all younger guys and lose the years of experience.

Anybody else wondering if BLB and Hit Somebody switched medicines by accident today? LOL. Wow, somebody is ready to go.

:)