The Komets' season might have turned around because of what happened off the ice Saturday night.
After Evansville's Mario Larocque came out of the penalty box to score a breakaway goal and give the IceMen a 3-2 lead with 1:15 left in the second period, the Fort Wayne players felt only slightly less upbeat than Democrats. The Komets were looking at a 1-4-1 record, including 0-3 at home, and a chance to tie their worst start since 2003-04.
Everyone in the building was full of doubt, especially after the Komets had missed a great scoring chance at the other end seconds before Larocque's goal. Muskegon's Mark Cody simply swung without looking to clear the puck, and it slid directly to Larocque's stick halfway down the ice for an easy scoring chance.
``Our heads came down a bit again, and you could have a lack of confidence when something like that happens,'' left winger P.C. Drouin said. ``It's hard not to get down and maybe make it worse.''
It would have been very easy, maybe almost expected for the Komets to come out tentative and tight during the third period. The fans were certainly expecting another loss, especially considering the way the Komets had been out-scored 12-2 at home at the intermission.
``There's lots of goals in this room and we'll get this done,'' Komets coach Al Sims said. ``One goal is not going to stop us.''
And his players listened. Instead of planting their chins in their chests, the Komets kept their mood upbeat and then came back out with renwed energy to score a pair of power-play goals in the third period to win 4-3 before 9,213 Memorial Coliseum fans. When they could have been their lowest, the Komets pulled themselves up.
It wasn't like Sims was trying a new spin to turn things around. He had actually started working on his players after Friday night's 4-0 loss to Dayton, telling them to stay positive and reinforced that message during Saturday morning's pregame skate. By the second intermission, he'd already impressed his players with his confidence.
``Al just came in and said, `Look, we're all over these guys. They're dead tired. We've got 30-some shots. Keep plugging away, keep cycling, keep doing the things we're doing and we're going to win this game.' '' defenseman Brandon Warner said. ``That was our mentality. Right before we went out, we said, `No matter what it takes, we're winning this game. We've got 20 minutes until the biggest win of our season so far.' ''
And that's exactly what happened, though it wasn't as easy as it sounds thanks to some great Evansville power-play chances late in the game. Facing a 5-on-3 disadvantage, the Komets kept blocking the IceMen's passing lanes, allowing goaltender Nick Boucher to see all the shots. He made a handful of potential game-saving and potentially season-changing stops.
``We probably made it the hardest way to win possible in the end, but maybe that's what we needed, to be tested like that,'' Sims said.
Comments
My prediction is the K's lose all three games this weekend, and do not make the playoffs.
Now that's funny RunningKomet.......lol
1-2 this weekend...
Wins = blog courage
1-2
Komets score a touchdown to win at the end of the 2nd half on Thursday. Friday, the Komets lead the entire game but lose on a homerun during the white flag lap in a heartbreaker. Saturday, the Komets play with some purpose but lose after a clutch turkey in the tenth frame.
While I think the Ks will struggle this season unless changes are made, I do see them sneaking into the playoffs with a Queen of Spades on the river to complete a straight flush on an all-in bet.
Komets should hire Wade Phillips..He was in the pros!
Sorry burgee!! I was just yanking your chain.
As Blake so aptly put it, " I can't believe you fell for it...it's like puppies with the fake tennis ball toss."
However, all is not lost. At least I found out that you can count to nine.
*insert Schebig feet joke here*
...yawn
Alan, its a good thing i was blogging naked because i had to use my toes to get to 9.
26 more posts before the end of the day and Superfan gets his blog hit bonus!
Bob 6 points
Schebig 6 Points
Burgee 5 points
BAM 3 Points
Wendy 2 points
JR 2 Points
GM 2 Points
NAIF 0 points
we have road warrior Nick Boucher minding the road net in an al sims coach teamed that traditionally does better on the road. thats an easy 4 of 6 points there, come on folks throw your number out. lets see who knows their hockey.
Schebig is a brown nose, without even talking to him he will say 6 points.
Where are the other red heads? throw out your number, Mark, Snuffy lets go!!!!
BAM is an Obama Liberal so he is going to say 3, right in the middle, doesn't want to upset either side!
Winner gets to be Blog know it all for a week and hand out blog fouls.
I say 4 of 6 but also said "goon" here by Halloween=I was WRONG he was a sissy & would not fight Lane=Legault did :)
Keep 'em coming, Mightbite odds on favorite at this point, whodathunkit
Bob 6 points
Schebig 6 Points
Burgee 5 points
Mightbite 4 points
BAM 3 Points
Wendy 2 points
JR 2 Points
GM 2 Points
NAIF 0 points
I say win at Dayton, lose at Evansville and win at Missouri. 4 points.
Burgee's just letting Schebig know we haven't forgotten him.
Geez, 2 points makes me sound so negative. For the record, I think it could be anywhere from 2 to 4. I'm a Clinton liberal, so I'd be tempted to say 3. But yeah, 2's my answer and I'm sticking to it.
Would like to know about that bus, though. If they have it for this trip, that could make a difference.
Ah. I see from the other blog that the sleeper bus is ready. If my prediction is wrong, I blame Blake for not telling us about the bus.
I would like to see some photos, and see what type of rig it's based on.
Blake....the negativity is what has kept me from posting my increasingly more-informed hockey opinions. After reading people bash Burgee like they have for trying to liven things up on here (something desperately needed at times on this blog some days), I think I will continue to stay away. NO offense to you at all. I think you do a great job at trying to control things.
It's especially nice to see that Alan thinks that Burgee is so terrible.... "Someone trying to be clever, funny, and cute when they aren
Sorry, Blake had to work 75 hours last week on the basketball tab and is not apologizing to anybody. He's just going to bed early. No offense, taken, though, Wendy. Even I can't be everywhere at once, much as I try. Good night all. Play nice.
Um... You're referring to yourself in the third person now? Alrighty-then. No offense intended, of course. I'm just saying that 4 is far more likely WITH the bus than without it, that's all. Up front, It'll be so much more than just the ability to take a few naps. It's a new "toy".
Blog Foul, Superfan, no basketball talk on a hockey blog, u must sit with red headed hockey chicks and feel shame.
Bob 6 points
Schebig 6 Points
Burgee 5 points
BLB 5 points
Mightbite 4 points
KometKrazy 4 points
BAM 3 Points
Wendy 2 points
JR 2 Points
GM 2 Points
NAIF 0 points
your not negative Wendy, just wrong! since you have the red head handicap i'll let you adjust your prediction 1 time.
2nd place wins 2 tickets in the 600 section on exchange night!
BLB is pretty sharp so i'll load her in at 5 points, doesn't hurt to brown nose!
Last place gets to sit beside me, game of their choice! i'll even buy the loser chicken nuggets with fancy sauce.
Nah. Other people already said 4. I'll stay with 2. It's just that I wouldn't be surprised if it were 3 or 4 either. And mind you that I do expect the Komets to show up at these games, win or lose. I just don't think they've turned the corner yet.
Wendy, go with 5, trust me! ;)
Well, I know 5 would make a lot of fans happy. For their sake, I hope it happens. Are there some key injuries on the other teams? Maybe you have some inside information regarding the K's, but from where I sit, beating a team with a record nearly as bad as the their own by a mere 1 goal on home ice last weekend -- not to mention giving up their initial lead in the game to start the 3rd down 3-2 -- does not convince me that they are suddenly about to win three straight sweep on the road (or in this case, winning 2 of the games and forcing overtime in a 3rd). Evansville is going to want to answer for their loss here. Dayton lost 2 close, tough games at home against Colorado last weekend, so they should be hungry. Missouri... well, that's a tough call. It could come down to which team is the most tired by that point, and while it isn't a huge deal, the oldest person on their roster was born in 1978. Plus they'll be on home ice. And I see that they have Rob Nolan (if they play him). He would probably like to make a point or two after the Turner Cup Finals last spring.
Wendy, Blake told you he was tired but he forgot to mention that he was also delusional from lack of sleep. LOL.
Blake... Dude... take a nap already! LOL Ok, I'll jump in here and say 4 points for the weekend.
Holy crap, Bluleline Baby!
I'm going to try to make this a real "positive" response.
I'm "positive" Burgee is a person who can take care of himself. In fact, I don't think he even took my posts the wrong way and I refer you to his post at 12:57pm as proof. ( He even joked about the "counting to nine" reference I made).
I'm "positive" that he values your friendship. Your loyalty to him was quite admirable.
I'm also "positive" that I think it is wonderful that you have achieved the position of scorekeeper for your team at Canlan. That is very exciting news.
I'm also "positive" that I, too, have a life and check this blog only once or twice a day as I find it a quick way to get news about the Komets and the CHL.
I think from now on I'm going to "positively" learn all I can about such hot hockey tidbits as how to order a foo-foo drink and which dainty straws to use with them, how to bake a double apple-date filled stroodle with white icing a touch of cinnamon and covered with a mild carmel sauce, buy the correct sun tan lotion, and find out why Dschebig has smelly feet and which foot powder to recommend and everything else I have missed in life that you should find on a hockey blog.
Look, here's the deal. I can't control whether you like me or not, whether you read my posts or not, and whether you post ever again because of the increasing negativity you find. I really, really don't care.
Like I said, your defense of your friend, Burgee, is admirable and I can respect that. What is lost here is the fact that others tire of his negative-in-reverse comments when he judges others as they post. There is a definite history to it and he is consistent with it. ( In his favor I think his question of this weeks games vis-a-vis points was pretty neat.
He is a smart man. Everything else I posted I stand by.
If at all possible: can I please have the recipe to the
Double apple-date filled stroodle with white icing a touch of cinnamon which is covered in a mild caramel sauce. That sounds amazing!
Regarding Burgee, I don't know him as well as I'd like, but I think I understand him pretty well. He likes to joke around, and I, for one, do enjoy his comments, both the silly and the serious. I know that even when he sounds like he's picking on someone, it's all done with a wink and a nudge. More importantly, I know he's not going to get bent out of shape just because some of you don't "get" him. He's not just a smart man. He's a very smart man. Humor, afterall, is a sign of intelligence. Nevermind his unfortunate political leanings. ;)
What I'd like to know is who determines what is a hockey-related topic and what isn't? I've had people gripe that I wasn't talking hockey if I brought up the latest song by the hockey rock band "The Zambonis". I've had people say I wasn't talking hockey if I was trying to discuss a TV show about fictional hockey players. I've been told I wasn't talking hockey if I participated in any discussion about players regarding anything other than their most recent performance on the ice. In my opinion, all these things fall under the general topic of "Hockey". They are certainly all topics you'd find on blogs like "Puck Daddy".
Pretty sure most people "get" him and what hes doing but that doesn't mean it's any less annoying and find his attempts at humor as failed.
Wendy, I don't have a problem with those items you listed. They are all related to hockey and even if they were not it isn't anyone's place to tell you not to post them. I only said that I, repeat I, wish people would post their insights, ideas, and opinions on Komet hockey. I learn a lot from them.
Speaking of Burgee, I had posted before that of all your interviews on the GOTW, I enjoyed the one with Burgee the most. I thought it was your best interview because it was more of a "conversation" than a question and answer period. ( I think a very close second was the interview with Ruthie Wiegman) I have known her for about 28 years and she is an awesome lady with a very, very rich Komet history.
Burgee is a very smart man and he has a lot to offer on this blog. Too bad it mostly is about odd things and calling anyone with a shred of criticism regarding the Komets as a "negative nellie". ( We both know that the serious bloggers are rabid Komet fans and want nothing more than to see the K's succeed). I enjoyed his comments regarding Terry Pembroke, Jim Hawthorne etc. They are just too far and few between for a guy who can enlighten us in so many ways. If he wants to continue to blog in his usual manner than that is up to him. I do wish he'd ease up a little on the "negative nellie" stuff. It's getting old.
From the reaction on this blog it seems like a lot of others feel the same way.
Glad I could jolt you there, Alan. I think the bashing of Burgee was just getting a little much. And I am loyal to a fault....but I'd rather be that than the alternative, I suppose. That's what friends are for. :)
And Wendy....wow. Nicely put. Very nicely put. You have quite a way with words, and I cannot remember the last time when I was so impressed with one of your posts.
That's your right, GM (and the rest of you who feel that way). We're all who we are, and we won't all find the same things amusing. Mind you, I've never compalined about any topic that has come up on these blogs (hockey-related or otherwise), so I find it annoying when people try to tell others what they can and cannot talk about. I've been posting since the spring of 2008, and as near as I can tell, the occasional conversation about foo-foos, fruitcakes and smelly feet hasn't killed anyone or prevented the blogs from serving their primary purpose -- talking about Komet hockey.
Alan -- Glad we can agree on that, then. My reaction at the time: "Um... But I was talking hockey." I especially enjoyed the "Take that beauty parlor talk somewhere else" comments. Do I look like someone who has ever set foot in a beauty parlor? Sheesh.
Thanks BLB. You were are a real lioness there. The wee one would be proud. ;)