I think it's all mental. They looked so good playing as a team in the first 12 minutes and then they tried to do everything 1-on-1 after that. Some very lazy efforts out there on defense, mostly by the forwards. Why is it the healthier they get, the worse they play at home?
Legault is ready to go and was a healthy scratch.
How many times did the FORWARDS turn the puck over in the FW zone because they are trying to stickhandle? Curadeau for the fourth goal was horrendous. Truthfully, I give the fans credit for not booing them off the ice when it was 4-3 because the way they were playing it felt like a three-goal deficit. That was terrible. Hukalo misses a tip on a potential tying goal and then quits rather than go after the puck that is just sitting there. Varone waves at Bouchard with his stick as he goes by for the second goal instead of moving his legs. How many shots tonight came from a guy breaking into the clear in the zone, he winds up from 45 feet and just blasts instead of taking it to the net and trying to make something happen? Who paid the price tonight to make a play? How many 2-on-1s have we seen where the guy not carrying the puck just veers off to the corner instead of going to the net for a rebound? How many times did we see a forward figure skating back as Muskegon went up ice for a 3-on-2? They attacked the power play like one guy was supposed to beat a defender one-on-one and magically make things open up for everyone else.
I'm just happy for Randy and Tim that they didn't tape this game.
Komets President Michael Franke said during the game that the team has to make some moves. "This team just doesn't perform well at home. It has not performed well at home all season, and we're running out of time."
Coach Al Sims said afterward he doesn't think anyone will trade with Fort Wayne, anyway.
This is the healthiest they've been all season, and there was no difference. It might be easy to just blame the goaltender on this one, but that was a very poor effort by almost everyone.
Comments
Well said Blake. I'm sick of losing, especially like this. How can we play with the fire we had at the start of the game and then look like a totally different team? Did they think we had it in the bag at 3-0? Honestly, we should have been up 5 or 6. I HATE losing. Sims needs to get these guys shaken up...quickly! I keep waiting for the turning point. I thought it was in the first 12 minutes and then....
Blake you are right on it, they did play lights out for the first 12 minutes tonight, but then they got pushed around, out skated, out hustled, out hit, and on and on. You can't skate with Muskegon you have to play a physical hockey game with them. You have to hit Bouchard and Robinson or they will own you. We give up 20 shots and they score 5 goals and we get 36 shots and get 4...While we may have some talent, our talent is not as good as the the top two teams in the league and Kzoo is just a little better than we are. I agree with Al nobody would trade with us anyway because who are on roster would you want? Are lack of ability has clearly been shown this year with us unable to hold 2 and 3 goal leads you have to be able to control the game when you get those type of leads and we are just not doing it. And if anyone think Chaulk is the answer he is not, will he help yes but this is a team issue not a one player issue and to think Chaulk is this answer is putting a lot of pressure on one player.
But, Toe, they gave up the lead tonight not because of a lack of ability. They simply quit playing. Guy doesn't close up on Bouchard's wrist shot, Varone lets him go by. They stand around screening the goalie on the pk for Later's goal. Curadeau practically assists on their fourth goal. Lazy, lazy mistakes, brain cramps or whatever you want to call them, they just didn't have the same effort.
You're absolutely right about expectations and Chaulk. How many times this year have we said they gave a full and righteous effort?
The thing is, Brent, they absolutely WERE out-skating Muskegon early and they let up. They were flying by them down the ice with effort. They. Just. Flat. Out. Let. Up.
Man alive, how many stupid penalties do they have to take?
Can you tell I'm ready to go on vacation? LOL.
This had to be the worst and most frustrating loss of they year. Here are my observations...
1. Where was Legault? Why is he a healthy scratch? Could we play him or cut him- do something.
2. How bad was Guy tonight? Does he not see a shot he doesn't like? His slapshot from the blue line looks like a beach ball going towards the net. Ever heard of passing the puck when we're on the power play? He doesn't create any rebound efforts because he hits it so softly.
3. Hukalo might as well brought a lawn chair on the ice and had an usher bring him some popcorn. He would have been more productive.
4. Do we even notice when Bouchard's line is on the ice? Do you think we want to mark that guy as a shooter and a scorer? Lets let him roam free the entire night.
5. Hoberg is an idiot- I don't think he could call a high school game well. The league actually pays officials for that?
6. Don't think it was so much of Laplante's fault. Bouchard standing wide open in front of the net and he is going to score 9 times out of 10.
7. Has Leo disappeared? Did Curadeau play last night? Yeah, he was the guy trying to go one on one the whole night with some moves that works only on the playstation. Is Pence on the team? Is Osman on vacation? Where did these guys go?
8. We go from one extreme to another- we either pass to much or we shoot it when we really could look for a better shot. We have to lead the league in shots on goal but I would think that quality shots are what matters. We really don't make the goal tender work to hard- we shoot it right at him.
I am just disgusted with the Komets right now- I might as well get season tickets for away games. I enjoy those a lot better than the ones at home. I wanted to puke last night after the game. Hope they get a better attitude with Flint.
The game last night was another example of what the Komets can do if they play a smart hustling type of hockey. The first 15 minutes were great and very impressive. The rest of the game they played as if they were another team altogether. This has been the problem the whole year. As a fan it gets frustrating because the abilty seems to be there but not the desire or the will to finish. Don't look for the return of Chaulk to lead some sort of miracle. First, he isn't even ready to start skating. Second, it will take him time to get in game shape. Third, we are assuming that he will be well enough to play this year. (I'm not so sure.) With the comments from Michael Franke about changes being necessary and Al Sims' comments about no one wanting to trade with the K's, maybe we need to do this. I think it may be time to look at real good players in the CHL who are playing on teams that either will not make the playoffs or are in some financial trouble. The Fort Wayne franchise certainly has the resources to buy contracts of players from other teams. I know those players would probably need to clear waivers but, believe me, these things are not that hard to do. Some CHL teams need money and we are blessed in Fort Wayne with attendence that gives us an opportunity to do some things that other teams cannot. Now I don't want to sound like someone who doesn't appreciate the Franke's efforts. I think bringing in Leo Thomas and Mark Versteeg-Letwyn were great moves. They are two hard working forwards that have a nose for the net. I'm just saying that if you are serious, then explore all the options. I think one solid sniper and one solid defenseman would do the trick. What does everyone else think?
I think this is the second or third time management (Sims and Franke) have stated that changes need to be made. Put up or shut up- lets see some changes. Put in guys that hustle the whole game, hit the whole game, etc. Chaulk will be a nice addition- I agree though, he won't be a miracle worker. Nice idea Alan.
Its not that bad, here's why:
Boucher is .01 GAA away from being the top goalie in the league by the numbers.
The Komets have the second lowest Goals against in the league.
We have scored the second most goals in the league.
Versus the other playoff teams we are (basically even)
PH 6-5, Musk 4-4-2-2 and Kzoo 4-4-1-3.
Are the other teams really that much better? Port Huron has taken 19 out of 20 points against bloomington.
all the pieces are there, they just need to come together, we have basically 1/3 of the season left (23 games)to get them working together.
Continue to keep working for the end result(cup) and we will get there.
Don't be a naysayer, think positive. positive things happen to positive people.
Maybe I am not seeing things clearly but why don't we put a body on guys like Bouchard and Robinson? I can't remember the last time that we made them pay for going into the corners in our zone. I can remember plenty of time that Shaf and Varone, etc, get banged around pretty good. Maybe I am missing something but we never seem to do that with the other teams skill players. I guarantee that if you hit Bouchard a few times, it would take him off his game.
Just a thought.
Hey Burgee, your right. At the end of 60 minutes the record against Muskegon (4-4-2-2) and Kalamazoo (4-4-1-3) looks pretty even. Remember, however, their records against the Komets would be Muskegon (8-4) and Kalamazoo (8-4). They WON those overtime and shootout games. All that said though, I get your point and you are right. We are close but we're not there yet. Each team above us in the standings has gotten better. We have'nt kept pace with that.
Last 10 games (point wise pretty even)
T W L OTL SOL Points
PH 5-2-3-0 13 points
Musk 8-2-0-0 16 points
Kal 6-3-1-0 13 points
FW 4-2-2-2 12 points
Last 5 Games
PH 3-0-2-0 8 points
Musk 5-0-0-0 10 points
Kal 2-2-1-0 5 points
FW 2-1-1-1 6 points
No real ground lost, just shake it off and start kicking tail.
Burgee's right; let's not give up the ship yet. There's still plenty of time to turn things around. The boys just need to play a full 60 minutes like they did the first 10 last night. And please....hit somebody!!!
Having 4 good teams fighting at the top this year is kind of fun isn't it, in our little 6 team league. Makes it exciting entertainment. Should be a real battle to the finish.
Games left this season:
Flint - 6 games; Bloomington - 6 games; Kalamazoo - 4 games; Port Huron - 4 games; Muskegon - 3 games
1/2 of our remaining games are against the bottom 2 teams in the league. If we win 75% of those and average 1 point in the other games we will finish the season with 63+29 = 92 points. That will make the playoffs. Once you are in the playoffs everything changes. I remember back in 04-05 we were 8-0 against Muskegon in the regular season. In the playoffs they swept us 4 straight games to win the cup. This team will make the playoffs and they will make hay in the playoffs because of our leadership.
Right on shawn, if we are playing the bottom feeders that much then the other top teams will be busy beating each others brains out that much, keep thinking positive, what other good things are on the horizon? Blake writes: Burgee - what you find under the tale of a Komet. On sale soon.
You know Al had an interesting comment in the paper when he made reference to guys sitting in the stands. He only named Gravelle and Vince. No mention of Legualt I think says volumes as where Legualt stands with this hockey club. While I am a big fan of Legualt, perhaps it is time that the K's trade him for something rather then making him a healthy scratch. It is very apparent that Al seems to play the hand he has, but when management makes a statement as changes are needed I wonder if their is some conflict within the organization. It will be interesting here over the next couple of days to see if Al is running the team or Franke is.
I haven't seen where they have activated Legs from injured reserve. Legs saying he is ready to play is different from being "activated"
No, he meant Legault and Gravelle. Tarantino is still hurt. I'm also not sure you have to activate someone off the 30-day IR. Their time just expires and you have to move th em to 45-day IR to keep them on IR.
Shawn and Burgee,
If you think the Komets are all of a sudden going to turn it on and start playing well, I think you are mistaken. Teams just don't turn it on. Playoffs I think will be a reflection of the regular season. Flint isn't exactly a pushover. They may in fact be better with the trades they made.
I would say it is unlikely at this point, but not impossible. Stranger things have happened. Should you hold your breath waiting for it? No. But yes, it could happen. As I've said before, it really is quite simple, yet not so simple.
I think the thing that is the most frustrating about all of this is that the Komets are not that far away. They have as much talent if not more than any other IHL team. They are also battle-tested and playoff tough. I have absolutely no doubt they can indeed turn it on if they choose, just as all of us have fantastic days if we choose. It's just very tough to be there all the time. Look at what they did in the first 10 minutes on Wednesday. That was an amazing performance and truly shows that their best is more than good enough.
The dog days of winter (in a hockey players life) are almost over. The recovered injured have enough time to regain game shape, only positive things to come. If you believe you can achieve! As for me and my clan, we believe!