S c

Thanks Blake i am monitoring this. Appreciate it much!

U mean it was not #9 that gave it up? Hmmmmm.

Leo also missed on two break aways one off the post the othet missed the,net on a backhand. Have to capitalize on those. Welker may be the worst ref I have ever seen just down right awful. That is both ways also

Last 5 calls against the K's :(

Right griff. Welker is one of the worst around. He looked right at a double cross check to Curadeau friday night and 5 seconds later calls a cheap penalty against the Komets that Randy and I and others in the press box thought was very weak. CHL officals leave a lot to be desired. While i am aware that these refs are young and learning. How can any person with common sense NOT call the cross check that was blatant and call the cheap weak call almost as quick as possible?? I dont buy the arguement they are learning. I buy the arguement that they are not competent at all.

There's a first time for everything Tim!!! LOL

Lol first time for competent offical. ROFLMAO.

It's the altitude.

Note to David Franke:

Mr. Franke, the current set of defensemen needs help. Two or three are alright, but unless something happens to upgrade the defense, then the Komets are in big, big trouble.

I understand that the team is tired. They played a lot of hockey this weekend with travel and a very short turnaround from the Evansville game until today's 5:00pm start. Nonetheless, the weak link this year has been the defense. Can you help?

Didn't David Franke used to play defense? It was either Mike or David but can't remember which...Maybe they could help?

Right, the defensemen are why the team ranks 16th in goals for but 7th in goals allowed.

Trying to decide who was worse tonight, the ref or the Komets: maybe both. Welker is just plain terrible!!! No clue what to call or not call!!!! We might get 4 points out of next four games, but thats a big might!!

It doesn't matter if they can play D. Can they look after booking the bus for the away games? That would be a big help to the team.

Blame Welker all you want, yes he stunk. But the Komets couldn't capitalize on a 5-3 PP in the 3rd period. They didn't deserve to win.

100% JM.

I knew you'd agree with me, Blake. Yep, seventh in goals allowed is something to be real proud of. Good thing that Boucher and Reiter have to stand on their heads most nights.

Defense means a lot more than goals allowed. For a time earlier in the season I would've agreed with you. They were taking their man, blocking shots, clearing the slot, and getting to the puck. They played good, positional hockey. Without DeAngelis, this is a different set of defensemen. Someone with a lot less skill had to take his place and that hurts them in two ways.

I don't look for DeAngelis to come back (but if he does he won't be the same player he was. He'll need time to get back in game shape).

This team needs help in their own end. It isn't working now and hasn't for a few weeks. Take care of your own end and you have a chance to win every game. The need is there. Let's see how serious the front office is about winning. The ball (er, puck) is in their hands now.

I actually do agree with you, Alan, I think we just have fundamentally different ways to go about that. I see a lot of times when the forwards are not getting back defensively to help out, or are not rotating back to cover for the defenseman who is pinching in.

I also don't think the Komets can win playoff games 2-1, 3-2, especially against Bloomington. I think they need to out-score them 5-4, 6-5. Bloomington cannot play that style, but the Komets can. Now, will they?

Let's look at this another way: If P.C., Leo and Curds had scored their 30 goals each as expected, where would this team be? I think there's a lot better chance of them picking it up offensively than there is for the defense improving a ton. Would you agree with that, Alan?

If P.C., Leo, and Curadeau scored thirty goals this year, the Komets would be near the top of the standings. If O'Connor, Shrock, and Patrosso chipped in twenty goals each they would be leading the division.

While I'm not sure I would have predicted thirty goals from the three above, I thought all six would score twenty. I thought we had three balanced lines when the season began. It didn't work out that way.

They gained Lardner and Chaulk. Podshendyalov gave them skill. speed, and stickhandling. Ratchuk gives them speed, stickhandling, a rocket shot, and the ability to bring the puck from the defensive zone to the offensive zone by himself. They have two quality, experienced goaltenders.

Sounds like this has all the makings for a Championship team, doesn't it?

As I see it, here is what they lack.

1). At least one more quality, stay at home, play the position defenseman.

2). Another sniper to inject some spirit and youth into an offense that has lost its way and needs a confidence boost.

3). A player or players willing to crash the net on the powerplay and also at full strength to keep the other team and their goaltender honest.

4) Special teams needs a confidence boost. I think Mike in Toronto had the right idea by having a stay at home defenseman up top with a sniper like Ratchuk at the point. Get someone planted in the slot.....penalty kill needs quickness and aggressive play. Challenge the puckhandler instead of allowing the perimeter passing. Go get 'em.

5) They need to believe in themselves. Their psyche is so delicate. Quit waiting for something to go wrong. Go out and push the other team around and if something does go wrong crash the other net REAL HARD. Make some waves.

Nothing is going to change by doing the things they are doing now. The forwards aren't going to suddenly find the net this week. The defense isn't going to stop making mistakes this week. ( A healthy, ready-to-play, DeAngelis would sure help, though).

I guess the common denominator is that this K's team does need some fresh blood. Whether Blake is right by adding snipers or I'm right by adding defensemen, the fact remains that a new player or two will add some excitement, energy, and maybe a boost of confidence.

The GM and Coach need to do their work.

Would you agree with that, Blake?

Completely, but it's too late for this season.

True, it's too late for this season. The question now is will the Komet's management do what needs to be done to make the team top-notch and hghly competitive next year.

If you take a look at the Frankes' history, every time they have failed to make the playoffs, they came back hard the next year and were very successful. At the very least division titles and one time a championship.

Alan, I cannot tell you the number of times I have said (either out loud or to myself) "Crash the net!!!" this season. It just is not happening. The only player who seems to really do it consistently is Schrock, and I think even he has had to give up. Probably a coaching decision, or lack of support from his teammates since he is constantly being sent to actually go get the puck since no one else will. It's frustrating to me. But there does not seem to be anything I can do about it, so I can only hope that next season is a little bit better. :)

I understand, BlueLineBaby. Maybe one reason you've seen a little less from Shrock is that he's still nursing his leg injury.

The one thing that the Franke's do well is to address the needs of a new team by remembering the weaknesses of the last team. Sometimes that can be a catch-22 because it's easy to go overboard in one area and then find out you've created a weakness with the new roster by doing it.