Could not believe how patient the Komets were against Quad City's trap, especially in the first half of the game. The Komets attacked this game like is was being played on the road, and it worked. They did it by doing a great job in their own zone. The Mallards were getting one shot and no rebounds, but the Komets were beating the trap by making an extra pass in their own zone which was causing the Mallards' forecheck to commit and then that opened up the middle for the forwards. That was great coaching. The Komets could not have done this a month ago because they could not have made three passes like that in their own zone without turning it over.
The other thing I've been really impressed with is how they have been cycling the puck. Quad City is possibly the best defensive team in the CHL, and they couldn't get the puck away from the Komets in the Mallards' own zone. The Komets just kept cycling down low with the three forwards, controlling possession and ice time until the Mallards made a mistake or got tired and then the Komets would fire a shot on goal and beat the Mallards to the rebound. Fort Wayne is making the game so easy on their defenseman, it's really having an impact at the other end.
One last thing, the forwards are getting back so well defensively, it has allowed the defenseman and everyone to challenge opponents as they try to carry the puck in at the Fort Wayne blue line. There are no holes, so the opponents are forced to dump the puck in, and then the Komets goaltenders stop it behind the net and the defensemen beat the opposing forwards in and whip the puck around to head it the other way. They are really letting the puck do the work and making the game easy for themselves.
