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Tailing the Komets

Monday's stories

Comments

PhillyLinda
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 7:38am

The K's will come back with a vengeance.

The did it in game 1 of the season with Indie, and they did it against Toledo this season too.

Janice
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 9:05am

I BELIEVE!

Alan
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 10:11am

"Just don't tell him he can't do something because of his height." 

If that's the case then I'd tell him that he is too small to lose.  Maybe by the time he got his mind bent around that one, a few goals could get by!!

Realistically, the Komets can't match the talent of the Walleye.  That doesn't mean they can't beat them.  It does mean that they might have to swallow some pride and play a boring (to them) style.

I think I can describe the main difference between the two teams in three words.  "Crisp puck movement."

Walleye move the puck with tape to tape passes.  They leave their own zone and enter the attacking zone with quickness and confidence. No wasted time.  Komets have always (this year anyway) been weak with their passing and take TOO MANY passes.

It needs to get simple again.

PhillyLinda
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 11:00am

Alan, why do you think the K's don't match up with talent? Money Line needs to ramp up production, but we've got the talent.

whole_n_one
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 12:28pm

Alan, I agree with you 100% on how easily they seem to be able to move the puck both out of their zone and into ours.  While they are very talented and fast, I'm not convinced that is the reason that they move the puck so easily compared to us.  I think it is more of their strategy behind how they execute.  They play the ultimate team style.......always knowing where everyone is.  They know exactly how we try to get it out of our zone and are right in our lanes.  Great scouting and coaching on their part in my opinion.  If you look back at the Kalamazoo series, they gave us fits getting it out of our own zone.  The difference there was that we had an obvious advantage in speed and skill that was able to overcome that. 

The two biggest questions / concerns I have after the first 2 games are:

1.  Why hasn't Graham made this a physical series like Wheeling did?  It's obvious that Toledo struggles playing that type of game.  They were tired and dinged up coming into game 1 and we just let them off the hook.  We showed that we can play that type of game in round 1.  The lack of intensity and physicality is very frustrating and would love to hear and explanation for.

2.  Why haven't we made any changes to how we break out of our zone and attack offensively?  We have done the some thing now for 6 periods with no success.  We continue to back up with the puck in our own zone and, more times than not, end up behind our own net.  Unless Toledo has invented a "never before seen" forechecking system, you would think that we could do something to counter it.

Now we face two "must win" games against a team that we had on the ropes going into the series but have now allowed to rest and regroup.  I hope that we finally see a big change in our physicality and how we move the puck. 

Alan
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 6:11pm

Hi, PhillyLinda, hope everything is well with you!

There are a couple of reasons that I don't think the Komets are as "good" as Toledo; first, they are not as strong skating as Toledo.  The Walleye are quick.  Secondly, I think their skill level goes much deeper through the roster than the Komets.

I have no idea of how many Komet games you may have witnessed, but from the very start of the season passing has been a weakness.  Too many incomplete (or not smooth tape to tape completions) have negated prime opportunities and way too many passes attempted deep in the offensive zone.  Almost to a ridiculous degree.  (Sometimes it seems as if a player would rather get an assist than actually take a shot and score a goal).

There is a time and place for styles of hockey.  Sometimes you're the more skilled, quicker lineup and sometimes you're not.  The trick is to change your game to adjust to your opponent.  The Komets have not done that.  It's like they refuse to believe they are not on the same level (as far as skating) with Toledo.  There isn't any "shame" playing a quicker team but there is shame if they refuse to accept it and become obstinate and refusing to accept facts.

All these things plus the fact that Leach got hurt (the defense, maybe the strongest part of the team before the season began) is hampered by some inconsistent play and Crowder (who would help so much with skill, experience and faceoff talent) is gone with no news about his condition.

So my question to them would be, how has this style worked so far?  Maybe a tight checking ( if they can) borish style might be in order.  Obviously whatever they are doing isn't working now.

The season is down to tomorrow.

 

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