Komets suffer epic collapse in loss

That was painful to watch........what hurts even more is that it was self inflicted.  We went into Al's famous "prevent defense" and just kept getting more and more passive as the  3rd period went on.  We stopped hitting and our PK was so passive that we literally let them set up just a few feet from our net and do whatever they wanted.  And, not to beat a dead horse here, but our PP is, without a doubt, the worst I have ever witnessed in 25 years of watching hockey.  I think that in 3 of the last 4 games the opposition has generated more shots and offense on OUR power play than we have.  To not even be able to penetrate their zone and set up any notion of an offense is baffling to me. 

I know, I know, here goes whole_n_one bashing Sims again......

I was very complimentary of the effort on Wednesday.  Al had his guys ready to go and they played physical and aggressive.  That was the best they had looked all year in my opinion.   Or maybe the guys knew that the big league guys were watching from the press box.......i don't know.....

All I know is that we have the talent right now to play with anyone in this league and have as good if not better power play than anyone in this league.  Tonight was embarrassing.  I don't mind if they lose a hard fought game but to lose like this is not a good sign.  Someone has to take responsibility for the passive strategy in the 3rd period as well as our PP and then try something DIFFERENT to correct it.

Holding a 4-2 lead you'd think that's comfortable for the majority of teams but not so much it seems for the Komets. Prevent defense NEEDS TO GO! Why can't we just get in the other teams face and shove it down their throats and try to build on a lead instead of giving up a respectable lead. I know these guys have to follow the system that Al has in place other wise they'll be looking for another job but that doesn't mean they have to like it. Nor do the fans.

Game of hockey = 60 minutes.  Enough said. 

whole_n_one absolutely nailed it.

Unfortunately for the team and fans, Sims has refused to alter his systems yet again. What worked so well for us back in the 90's is not doing the job today. He's had some success in recent years but enough is enough. Any one could defend our PP since it hasn't changed in years! And our "holding on to a lead" defense is embarrassing . This is an issue that needs to be addressed by management and sooner rather than later.

Of course whole in one is right. Wasn't he right last season too..what a shame they didn't fire Sims when he pleaded for the same thing last year. I mean can you imagine how far the team could have give in the playoffs with a different coach. Oh that's right they won the championship. This year though..better get rid of this coach right now before the team blows every game because of the pathetic coaching. Makes total sense.

He doesn't need to change his systems, he needs some way to force a few of the Norfolk players to actually play them. Again, as I said in another topic on here, Lasch scored a hat trick and was only plus-1? Caputi and Smith were both minus-1 with a linemate who scores a hat trick? That means they were on the ice for FOUR Reading goals. We all know Smitty plays defense like a fiend, so what's the other two players' excuse? Go back through the box scores,  you'll see the same thing again and again.

So far, the only game they've been positive was when the Norfolk GM was here. This is not rocket science, folks.

Look at the video on Justin's site. Have you ever seen a worse line change than the one that led to the tying goal? That was unbelievable. That's on the players, not the coach.

Do things need to change? Absolutely! And I believe Sims is trying the most to make them change. You're also absolutely correct on the power play. It's a farce.

I can tell you this, in the last week or so, he's been skating the guys very hard in practice, making them do a lot of position-intensive drills to try to help them improve. Even on game-day skates. That has not always been the case, but he's really stepped it up in the last few weeks.

You would think with all the "leaders" they have in the room, that we wouldnt see these 3rd period collapses and severe up and down play....

Well, look who was on the ice for the first two goals of the third period.

So it would have been 6-1 if Lasch would have played the system. It's sad that when a player with raw scoring ability comes here, they always dwindle when they get with the program. 

Jesse Bennefield, Naurato, Cuaradau (under Sims)... all guys that were proven scorers that "just couldn't play the system". 

There isn't a defenseman on this years roster outside of Butler maybe that has lived up to expectations. Blame them for these collapses. Not two guys that got sent down a week and a half ago that actually crash the net and go hard in the offensive zone rather than the standard puck cycling, stand around, perimeter shooting style we're accustomed to watching.

Yeah, Scott Bowman always had the same problem with Yzerman, Shanahan, Robitaille and Hull.

It is not the system, and never has been.  It's the same system used by half of the successful NHL teams.  It works, but ony as well as the players who implement it and buy into the system.  I watched the AHL players against Kzoo.  While they are talented offesively, they are like Robinson in that they can't be bothered to play defense.  Ever wonder why Robinson has 90 pts and is plus 10?  Because he doesn't play D, flies the Dzone early and cherry picks.  Just like these guys are doing...

So what do you call it when the entire team takes a more passive style of play to protect the league late in games?

That is either Sims doing or they are doing it on their own...  Which is it? 

BTW, the above approach is losing leads/games....

If you want to talk +/- we can, because those lazy Norfolk players (without which we would not have gotten our last 3 wins) are all on the plus side of that category....

Lasch (before tonight) 8 games  12 points  +5

Caputi    8 games    8 points    +1

Colin Chaulk   19 games    17 points    +2

Brandon Marino (the hardest working Komet in every zone)  24 games   29 points   +5

Smith, Thorne, Rizk, Schrock,    all in the negative...

Take out the game with the GM here and look at their totals.

Let's face it, they are the best players on the team, no doubt, right? Shouldn't they play like it at both ends? Is that too much to ask from somebody who is making NHL money here?

How long is the losing streak without these guys?  Our affiliated players are the ONLY reason the K's have won any games lately...

They are bettering or equalling the +/- stats of our top performers....

Whats the excuses for our top Defensive forwards who are in the minus?  Are the Norfolk guys affecting their play this season?

Is it the Norfolk guys faults alone that the entire team is sucking donkey hind ends in the third period???

Lasch, Caputi, and Smith all had 2 points, were a plus 1, and NOT on the ice for any goals against tonight...   How was it their fault tonight?

I'm trying to understand your side here......

Marino our hadest working player in all three zones?  LOL.  I guess you haven't watched him turn the puck over and miss his assignments in the D zone?

We win Sunday thats 5 of 8 points for the week. That aint too shabby.

CAPTCHA a win Sunday boys, if not sounds like your gonna get boo'd off the ice

Andy Sherman, that dumb comment about Marino tells us all we need to know...

JR, the fact you're arguing against the fact that the Norfolk players don't care defensively is beyond me.  Are you watching the game? And Marino is a defensive liability.  Yes, he is offesively gifted, and that balances his lack of defensive awareness, but to say he is the hardest working player in all three zones is laughable.  He reminds me of Drouin the way he turns the puck over.  I think that the hardest working player would be Rizk.  And again, there's nothing wrong with the system. It is a 2-1-2 forecheck and a neutral zone trap, just like more than half the teams play.  Since you call it "protecting the lead" I can only say you have never actually played hockey of any level.  This system works.  The red wings play it, the bruins play it-the only issue is getting players to buy into it and adhere to the system. Like anything, if the commitment breaks down, the system fails.  It worked fine last season with a group of committed guys, and has in the past seasons before that.  There are a half dozen players on this team that don't really want to be here, and came here because they were sent here.  You can't make them show desire...  

Gee, 21 comments.  I thought this blog had died.

This team was built by constructing it with the idea that it would be competitive either with or without the lock out.  I have a few questions.

1) When was the last time, and how many goals have been scored by players' on last years' roster?

2) When was the last time, and how many goals have been scored by last years' CHL additions?

I don't have the answer to either, but I'd bet it isn't consistent enough to win too many games.

3) Why are the Komets so consistently out shot ?  Why by such a large margin?  Are all the other teams that much quicker? Have the K's lost control of the neutral zone?  Have the forwards decided defense is not something worthy of them?  ( We had a player, Apod, who was exactly the same way). If it is the Norfolk guys, Bob Ferguson needs to get nightly reports of each, both offensively and defensively.

3) Something is terribly wrong with the special teams.  Funny I called thm "specisl".  If there is one thing you can say about this team is that the PP and PK are far from special.

The Komets trip to the ECHL has been horrendous.  Higher prices,  worse hockey, more frustration,  fan apapthy.   If players don't want to play both ends of the ice then ship them out.  I'd rather see less talented players try hard than to see talented players who don't give a crap.  I've been on Schrock's case for awhile, but at least he tries and plays hard every shift.

I have to believe that the front office recognizes all of this.  Time to get on the phone, call Bob Ferguson, and get the message across to all Norfolk players on this roster, and to shake things up to the "CHL" guys that the clock is ticking.

Andy, your the kid who never stopped trying to cram the square peg into the round whole, huh???

If you havent noticed, you need to score to actually win games...  You cannot just play back and trap all game long and win in this league.  Our play late in games proves this. 

Ah yes, the "you havent played hockey card"...   That is so old and very weak...  This teams play late in games doesnt need fans who have played organized hockey to see that it is NOT working...  They are not passing the eyeball test right now.  My eyes are telling me that when this team plays physical, up tempo, get the puck to the net style, they are controlling games.  When they fall back into this "play cautious with the lead" style, they are coughing up leads and losing games.    They do not have the discipline to win games in this fashion and this includes peoples heroes on this team...

I find it laughable that people are attacking players who fans have no emotional attachment to right now....  Easier to blame guys who you havent been able to try and get buddy, buddy with yet...  Norfolk guys mainly, while Komets retreads are getting all kinds of slack even though they are not producing in this league...  Guys who are mostly playing minus hockey right now...  These guys are the main reason why this team is not winning right now... 

Go ahead though and keep blaming the guys who are actually brining this team the few wins they have lately while giving a pass to those guys who are not playing up to the ECHL level...

Also, I havent called for Sims firing, removal or anything like that, I would just like to see them play the same style that got them these leads early for the entire game... 

The bashing will cease at 737pm tonight.

I think I just saw a Norfolk scout in the press box.

hate to tell you JR1 but formerly having played the game , i have to strongly disagree with "played the game " being irrevelant and weak in accessing professional players of the game . sherman , keep posting as you have a very good insight to the game. dont always agree with all your post, but most are at least logical. so, how many professional coaches are there today that have not played the game? seems like good logic to me.

I hate to tell YOU, off the post; but having played the game is not the only way to evaluate the game.  Also, I never said irrelevant...stop putting words into my post.  I also never said for Andy to stop posting... 

Do you people actually read the entire post? 

Question though:  If you've never practiced politics, are you allowed to comment about politicians or anything to do with it???   

Half you morons forget there's talent on the other end of the ice trying to win aswell. But I like the color, although we all disagree on its true color.

I'm an idiot