Weird game; great goaltending

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- I've covered some weird games in my time, but this was one of the strangest.

There were penalties galore, lots of hard hitting, wild momentum shifts, the strangest scorekeeping ever, drama left and right, some bad goals and some of the best goaltending ever in Rockford's 3-2 victory over the Komets.

I guess I leave the MetroCentre thinking that the highlight was Kevin St. Pierre's performance in net for the Komets. He made at least 10 saves from point-blank range, two flat on his stomach and blind to the puck, all keeping the Komets in the game. Yeah, he let in a soft one early, but the defense was horrid on that play and he more than made up for it. When he gave up that goal, which put the IceHogs up 2-1, I wondered how he's respond. He did well.

After seeing how much Rockford controlled this game, normally I would think they've got the series in the bag. But then only won by one goal, so I still find it hard to count the Komets out. I do know this: Fort Wayne must stop taking stupid penalties. They're just not playing smart hockey there. And also, why can't they do a simple thing like chip the puck out of their own zone? This is fundamental stuff here.

OK, here are some other notes:

• The statisticians here are sticking by their shot count of 50 for the IceHogs. I think it was around 40 and that's only because they didn't count a bunch in the third period. I wasn't the only one who saw it go from 30 shots to 40 shots in the span of a couple seconds, with only two or so shots going by. Weird, but ultimately not that important.
• Rockford coach Steve Martinson said he will activate Bruce Watson for Game 4 and wants to really bring it to the Komets physically.
• Fort Wayne coach Pat Bingham said he wasn't worried about fatigue, even though his team had so much penalty killing to do. He said using all six defensemen helped. Personally, I thought they looked really gassed.
• The Komets held a 20-minute closed-door meeting after the game.
• Anyone notice that after the first period ended, with the Komets on a 5-on-3 advantage, Martinson was all over referee Derek Berkebile? Then the IceHogs get four straight power plays? Believe me, the Komets noticed and weren't happy.
• Bingham, who has groaned about the officiating all year, did so a bit again. He doesn't understand why everything always has to be evened up. I agree. But I have to say, I didn't think Berkebile called that terrible a game. I mean, the Komets were out of control.
• I've been hard on A.J. Bozoian, but I thought he was one of the few players who looked really good for the Komets in this one. He's coming on strong.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Mark]

Bozo has been one of Komets best players this series so far....

[David]

Hey Justin the K's and Rockford are getting the same type of calls so Rockford is taking just as many "stupid" penalties we have not made them pay for that and right now that is the difference in the series. We also have given up a shorty I believe

[Greg]

Look on the bright side Justin, at least your Wings won last night.

[Justin Cohn]

Yeah, isn't that great? My brother sent me a message that they were down 2-0 and I didn't hear from him again, so I figured they lost. Then I get back to the hotel -- of course, there's no VS. or OLN or whatever the heck it is now -- and I see an hour later they won. I was pleased and shocked and all that.

[Brad Lyons]

GO WINGS! I am always afraid about the Wings finishing at or near the top during the regular season, we know their track record there :-)

As to the shots on goal, Justin, it almost sounds like our NHL2K7 games where if the puck just goes near the net, it's at least two shots on goal! ha!

[Greg]

I doubt Justin gets much time on that with the young'un.

[Tom]

Justin I also notice the Referee hugging that went on. Also at the end of the game the referees all skated to Rockfords team and skated with them off the ice. It looked a little weird on B2 Network. I watched the game of course and it always funny listening to the other announcers. Example: "Henley" is a "_____" he is just out there taking cheap shots at everyone out there. Laroque hit late in the game...."That kind of stuff should not be tolerated...La whatever his name is should not be allowed to play anymore this game...the league should look at all of these cheap shots the Komets are taking at the Hogs." Interesting point of view I would say. I tend to see them charging the crap out of the Komets on play after play and see Johnson doing something illegal almost every shift. He did get called on it 2-3 times though tonight....nice work ref.

[Justin Cohn]

I have squeezed in about 10 minutes of Rainbow Six sine the baby was born.