The Fort Wayne Komets have been looking for consistency. Perhaps they’ve found it.
After alternating between wins and losses during an 11-game stretch, the Komets have finally won back-to-back games.
On Saturday, they defeated the Quad City Mallards 3-2 at Moline, Ill., and it wasn’t easy. The Western Conference-leading Komets fell behind 14 seconds into the game, after Justin Chwedoruk scored, but the Komets fired back with three straight goals, courtesy of David Hukalo, Matt Syroczynski and Bogdan Rudenko.
Then Fort Wayne had to hang on, as it was outshot 32-14 in the final two periods, 42-35 for the game, with the Mallards’ Chad Woollard netting the final goal 12:17 into the second period.
Goaltender Kevin St. Pierre had 40 saves, a night after he paced the Komets to a 4-2 victory over the Elmira Jackals.
Newly signed rookie center Scott Seney tallied two assists in his debut Saturday, as the Komets played without star forwards J.C. Ruid and Daniel Goneau, both granted holiday break in their contracts. Ruid will be back for Tuesday’s game against the visiting Rockford IceHogs, while Goneau will be absent another two games.
The Komets improved to 17-8-0. The Mallards are 10-13-3.
A hard fought win. You have to hand it to QC, they never seem to give up. Komets were flying in the first. It looked like the Komets got tired as the game went on. To make matters worse, Komets couldn't stay out of the penalty box when the game got really tight at the end. Seney looked pretty good. The way he played I figured for sure he'd have a goal by the end of the game. He did great in the faceoff against QC too. St. Pierre was once again a key to the Komets victory.
Posted by: dnl | December 24, 2006 at 01:09 AM
How long and how hard are we going to ride Kevin? Until he is injured, exhausted, dead? What is our back-up Goalie's name? Do we still have one of those? I know...our backup and starter are both named KSP...Frenchy...right?
McWhinney has had 2 games in goal this year. He is being developed into what? A paperweight? This has been a major gripe of mine since last season. Why can't they allow the #2 guy to get a game every now and again. Is this written into KSP's contract that he is to play whenever he wants and forget the backup?
The Frankes and Bingham will be sorry in a month or so when Frenchy is beat to death and they have no one to turn to except the poor rookie that has been drawing flys on the bench for weeks on end. We all see it coming...it is an annual event in Komet Hockey.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 24, 2006 at 01:24 AM
Frenchy may prefer to play as much as possible, but it's Bingham's choice as to who starts. I can understand earlier this season when Komets were playing 1, 2 games a week just to play Frenchy. It's important that the starting goalie gets in a groove early on. I also think that if a goalie plays great one night put him in the next night, if it's back to back games. There have been a few opportunities to play McWhinney. It's a little disappointing because it doesn't seem like we're developing a backup. It's no knock on KSP because he really has played great all season. Infact it sounds like Frenchy has been more than willing to teach McWhinney what he knows.
If I were Bingham, I would play KSP these past two games and the Rockford game. Don't want to put a rookie in with a squad like the Icehogs who could get into his head by running him all night. I'd put McWhinney in the next two games at Chicago and Bloomington. That would be a good learning block.
What it all boils down to is Franke said he wants a team that can compete for the cup this year. Well I don't think there is anyway the Komets are not going to make the playoffs this year so why not try to develop all of the players on the team? Sure the arguement can be made that the team can't make it without Frenchy, and that may be true. But if KSP goes down for say a few game games, it would be nice to have a backup that could at least carry the team long enough to stay in the playoffs until St. Pierre can make it back in. Just my thought.
Posted by: dnl | December 24, 2006 at 01:53 AM
This is kind of cool:
http://www.star28.net/snow.html
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 24, 2006 at 02:46 AM
Hit, I think it is pretty obvious that the Komets don't have any confidence in McWhinney or else they would be playing him some. Just my opinion.... Here is what I would do this week with the goalies: Frenchy Tuesday, McWhinney Wednesday and Friday, Frenchy Saturday and Sunday. Just my two cents....
Posted by: Komet Fan | December 24, 2006 at 11:08 AM
No question about Frenchy's capabilities but you have to build up some confidence in your back up goaler and give him some playing time. You never know what lies ahead, injuries??? as well the players have to be able to re-act and gain the confidence that they have in Frenchy with McWhinney. This is a perfect time to give him some playing time 7 games in 11 nights.
Posted by: Rick | December 24, 2006 at 11:16 AM
I think Komet Fan might be right that the lack of playing time for McWhinney might indicate a lack of confidence. I am trying to find another explanation, but I can't think of any other for not seeing our second goalie at home by Christmas since he has played only two road games.. It's like the old days when teams only had one goalie on the roster. But I guess if the K's didn't think he could play, they would be bringing in others for a look.
Posted by: Rick | December 24, 2006 at 03:03 PM
I don't think it's been a lack of confidence, since they haven't had a single other goalie in on a tryout. But even if it was, they wouldn't say it because it would break the kid. But I think they like him a lot; I haven't heard anything negative.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 24, 2006 at 04:17 PM
Somebody please explain why then that McWhinney hasn't played in about a month then? That totally spells lack of confidence to me. My bet is that McWhinney will not be here come February and the Komets bring in a proven backup. Just my two cents...
Posted by: Komet Fan | December 24, 2006 at 04:23 PM
I don't have an explanation other than what I've always said -- it's because St. Pierre wants to play almost every game and since he's hot, they don't want to mess with it -- and as I've always said, it's a mistake. They need to get McWhinney playing time and experience. But it's preachig to the choir. If they wanted an experienced backup, they'd have one. But those aren't available, especially knowing they'll almost never get in the lineup, and the Komets can't afford one anyway.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 24, 2006 at 04:56 PM
I said I couldn't think of another reason, Justin, and you probably just hit on it. It could be a salary cap issue so McWhinney stays. I hope he plays this week. I was hoping that he would have played in Chicago last week. Playing the backup often makes the rest of the team work harder and it sounds like the rest of the team needed that for that game.
Posted by: Rick | December 24, 2006 at 05:15 PM
I would hate to be McWhinney. He sits, sits, sits, sits,....you know...sits. Then he might get one game after sitting for 5-6 weeks and have all that pressure on him to be perfect. What kind of confidence are they trying to build in this young kid that they were so high on to start the season? I think it is a load of crap. I agree with Justin, it is Frenchy wanting to play every game and how hot has he been when they didn't have a winning streak in 9 or 10 games? Why not let the kid play once a weekend? What exactly would it hurt? It could only be positive...so what if he lost a few times, Frenchys has lost 7 games this year.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 24, 2006 at 10:33 PM
I finally found time to put in my 2 cents on the "bush league" games in Elmira a few weeks ago. WHERE were the other Komets when Hansen was being pummeled????? Even the commissioner (what a joke he is) had the same comment. This team may hang together but they don't have each others back! In one video I saw Richardson (tough guy???) watching as Hansen was pounded by Turdball, my god did Turdball looked whacked, do they not do drug testing in this league. With all those tats and the look in his eyes, I thought I was watching ultimate fighting. I would like to see the K's move to another league. Without Fort Wayne I think the league would fold. I knew Motor City was in trouble when I called last season to see if they had tickets to which they said yes, I said what time does the game start, to which they said "what time can you be here! Maybe the K's will get a tough guy for Christmas. I'll always be a Komets fan but I think the UHL is a bush league. If I want to see that kind of crap I'll put Slap Shot in the dvd player. Why does Muskegon totally dominate this league every year? The city is real pretty lame, the uniforms are kinda gay, they draw about 3000 a game. The K's really should be a farm team for an NHL club. Fort Wayne is a great city and I will always miss it. That's all for now from this K's fan in Michigan. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
Posted by: charlie | December 25, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Here is a reason that Frenchy plays 90% of the games: Cause he gives us the best chance to win!!! Does anyone really believe that the Komets would have won in Quad City Saturday night with McWhinney? I certainly don't. Also for Hit, now you try an blame Frenchy for the win one, lose one, streak they are on? Come on, you are smarter than that. The ONLY reason the Komets have even been winning every other game is because of Frenchy, not in spite of him.
Posted by: Komet Fan | December 25, 2006 at 06:39 PM
How many games does Martin Brodeur plays every year? He plays 73 games a year! So don't worry about Frenchy.
Posted by: johny | December 25, 2006 at 06:50 PM
Kevin St. Pierre IS NOT Martin Brodeur!!!!
Posted by: Greg | December 25, 2006 at 07:32 PM
I didn't say that it was Frenchy's fault. I was just making a case that they have lost soem games even when Frenchy plays...so why not let the kid play....maybe they win, maybe they lose. He needs net time...he is a rookie. He is being abused on the bench in my opinion.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 25, 2006 at 09:43 PM
Martin Brodeur doesn't have the history of injuries.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 25, 2006 at 10:42 PM
You guys really have no clue...McWhinney is fine. KSP is fine..why do we always find something to complain about. The Komets are 17-8-0..be happy. McWhinney will get his chance in goal. There haven't been many 3 games in 3 nights or even 3 in 4 nights..McWhinney will be fine.
Posted by: Mark | December 25, 2006 at 10:48 PM