How much fun is this?
I still think maybe the two most fun games I've ever covered for the Komets were the Game 7 overtimes I saw. Bawa to Kaminski to Loach and Guinn to Goodwin. That's all that needs to be said and everyone knows exactly what I'm talking about, right?
Do you realize how incredibly blessed we've been to two a pair of Game 7 OTs? Most fans never get to see one in their entire lifetimes.
Terry Marchant is playing today. Not sure yet who is sitting. Ryan Carroll is the referee. Dean Sanborn is the alternate. Building is much cooler today and it looks like they shaved the ice down even more than it was Friday night.
Shafranov: ``It was in. It was a goal. The puck was in the net, right in the middle of the top shelf. It hit the back post and came out. We need some video cams behind the net like is usual everywhere. Why not in this league? In the regular season it is OK because I know we have too many games, but this is the finals and you need to be sure 100 percent if it's a goal or not goal. We lost two goals tonight. I understand maybe that ref didn't see puck, but everybody saw the puck was in the net.''
My initial reaction when I saw it live was that I saw the water bottle move, which to me can only happen if the puck hits the top of the net. I talked to someone I trust who was down in that area as well and they said it was in. I also talked with a handful of Port Huron fans who were at that end who said it was in.
Love old barns like this. You just can't beat it compared to some of the cookie cutter arenas I've been in over the years. There are very few bad seats in this building, and they had a pregame concert going on outside. How can you beat that? So far about half the crowd is Komets fans. This would be the perfect practice rink because a coach wouldn't even have to yell. Komets better bang tonight or they are dead meat.
I'm thinking the Komets will do well tonight because of their secret weapon: Tim Horton's coffee. Every time they stop by for a pregame brew, they always do extremely well.
Mainbar can be read here, and the sidebar here. Everyone have a safe trip today, I expect we're going to get to see something special tonight.
Mainbar can be read here, and the sidebar here. Everyone have a safe trip today, I expect we're going to get to see something special tonight.
Port Huron is playing great, out-hitting, out-skating and out-smarting the Komets who have no physical play, no forecheck, no passing, no traffic in front, nothing. The poor ice continues to be a problem, but the IceHawks are just playing smarter. They pushed it to 3-1off a two-on-one when Konstantin Shafranov and Kevin Hansen ran into each other. Just awful. IceHawks lead the shots 16-15 after two.
There's about six guys I'd bench right now. All of a sudden Port Huron has gained two strides in speed it didn't have the entire season.
Port Huron is up 2-1 on a short-handed goal and a 5 on 3 power play. Komets have looked very sloppy, in part because the ice surface is horrible. The puck is bouncing and rolling all over the place, as bad as it's been all season. That's what happens when it's 75 and sunny yesterday and 65 and very, very humid today. There was fog on the ice in pregame. The defenseman couldn't pinch at the point because the pucks were rolling right over them.
Your referee is John Searle, Nick Boucher is starting in goal and Kevin Hansen is ready to go with some doctorization of his helmet by equipment manager extroidrinaire Mark Bradtmueller. Not sure who the referee is tomorrow night but Bob Langdon is sitting in the press box tonight.
You can read today's article here, and went to see Iron Man this afternoon. It is Invincible! Possibly the best comic book movie ever.
I also see Justin and I are picking the Komets to win in five games. Is that the kiss of death or what? LOL. Justin and I agreeing on something! Besides the Red Wings being great, of course.
Here's why I would tweak the rotation a little bit and go with Kevin Reiter in the first game even though it would be Nick Boucher's turn to start. Reiter is 11-10-2 on the road this season, and Boucher is 13-2-1. Reiter is also 21-4-2 at home with a 1.93 goals against average, better numbers than Boucher at Memorial Coliseum, though both have been excellent. Boucher is also half a goal per game better on the road, 2.34 to 2.84.
Here's another one: Whom would you say has been the playoff MVP for the Komets so far?
Will air Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m. on Comcast 55 and Verizon 25.
Between the first and second periods on Sunday, a check for $6,500 is going to be presented from the fundraising efforts for the recent Komets Oldtimers-Fort Wayne Police and Fire Department charity game at McMillen Ice Arena. The game was held in part to benefit the family of former Komet Byron Lomow whose sone B.J. almost died from a staph infection. That's an amazing amount from a one-night event and everyone involved should be very proud. Way to go!
HELLO KOMET HOCKEY CLUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is SFC Ryan Bridgewater sending his “GO KOMETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!” all the way from Iraq. It has been awesome to get all of the news of this seasons run for the cup. Congratulations on such a phenomenal season. I wish the soldiers from the 1st Battalion 293rd Infantry could have been there to cheer on such a great hockey club, through such an outstanding season.
Nick Boucher was 6-0 against Port Huron. Kevin Reiter was 6-3, but actually had better numbers, including three shutouts. So whom would you go with?
Maybe the most amazing thing I saw today was that there was only one player wearing ice or getting worked on in the training room today and that was for something very minor. The Komets are remarkably healthy for this time of the season, and they really have been all season.
