What happened to the Komets?

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- Here's what it looked like after the Komets' 5-2 loss to the Rockford IceHogs on Friday.

Minutes after the game, Fort Wayne coach Pat Bingham was irate over the too-many-men penalty his team took late in the game. It gave the IceHogs a power play and a 3-1 victory-sealing lead. There was a miscommunication between two of his players; they both went on the ice to replace Daniel Goneau, apparently not discussing before the incident who was supposed to leave. Who's fault was it? All involved for not discussing things.

As Bingham was composing himself and huddling with general manager David Franke and team president Michael Franke, Rockford coach Steve Martinson was coolly in his office praising his team's prowess on special teams and claiming that his team will be fine with a 3-1 series lead -- even though they blew such a lead two years against the Komets -- because he said his young squad won't lose two games in three nights.

Back to the Fort Wayne locker room, where Bingham was irate at the officiating and rightly so. The Komets took some really bad penalties, sure, but after calling six in a row on Fort Wayne, how do they miss the Bruce Watson hit on Mario Larocque. Watson left his feet, dirty play. No call. Apparently, only a linesman saw it but wouldn't call it because it was a minor penalty, not a major. Well, that might be valid except a linesman called other minors in the game, like the Nathan Lutz slash. Regardless, how the referee missed that Watson hit is appalling.

The Fort Wayne players were somber, as you would except, but saying the series isn't over, if they can just stay out of the penalty box and, well, just play better. If you ask me, there are two big problems: They can't do the simplest thing -- chip the puck out of their own zone. It's like they're physically incapable of doing it. And, they have no traffic in front of the net. The IceHogs are sending all of their defenders into the corners because they know they don't have to worry about the crease. This is basic stuff, folks.

OK, for the most controversial thing of the night: Though the Komets believe otherwise, Brent Henley wasn't hurt by a slash. He tried to knee Chaz Johnson and missed, then came down awkwardly. I saw the tape. David Franke said Henley has a strained knee and will be out the rest of the series.

I don't know how the Komets went from so good to so bad so quickly. The officiating doesn't help, sure, but they're not doing anything that great teams do. We have to see if they have the resiliency now.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[whole_n_one]

Justin,
I posted this on Blake's blog as well and are interested in your thoughts on the following points.

1. Martinson comes right out in the paper and lays out his game plan before the series even started. For 3 games in a row now they have physically dominated us and we have not adjusted 1 bit. We have no offensive rush because our D-men's heads are on a swivel wondering when they are going to get crushed next.
2. We had the #1 power play all year and Rockford had the worst. Sure doesn't look like it! Once again, they have made adjustments and we haven't. We can't even get set up in the zone.
3. We have the bigger team in terms of size but yet they are physically beating us to death. They hit our d-men EVERY time the puck goes in the corner. WHY are we not doing the same??? They are only playing 5 d-men!!! We should be wearing them down!
4. We play far more veterans. Why is it that they look like the more composed and in control team?
5. It is no secret that Martinson works the officials from the bench. Maybe it's time that we do the same! It is obviously working for them! Let's show some fire and emotion and maybe that will carry over to the rest of the team.
6. The officiating is obviously an issue. I have never seen such a blatent attempt to gift wrap a game and possibly the series to a team as this guy did tonight in the first period. It was, in all honesty, the most ridiculous thing I have seen in 20 years of watching hockey games. If the league is going to allow this then I would think that it is time to take our solid ownership and fan base to another league that will not consistantly screw us.

Sorry for the length of this. I usually do not post but I feel that these are all legitimate points. I will be rooting hard tomorrow night for our K's and am hoping for a better outcome!

[Justin Cohn]

I don't disagree with anything in there, except for the Komets needing to work the officials. Here's a thought; maybe the league should actually get the person in charge of officials to more than one Fort Wayne game in the playoffs. No wonder the officiating stinks; who's watching them?

[charlie]

Wow, the Komets are tanking and blaming everyone but themselves. Put a fork in em', their done. Maybe they read the papers before the playoffs about how good they are. Rockford has opened a big old can of whoop ass on em' and they are reeling. Rockford's coach has done a great job as is evidenced by his teams 3 games to 1 lead. I feel bad for the Komet fans, you deserve a better effort from a team you support so well. Bottom line is the Komets are getting beat by Rockford, not the refs. How about those Red Wings!

[Charlie I]

well on a lighter note see if you see anyone familar.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=izCDMs2naJc

[Greg]

I don't think the Komets aren't blaming thmselves Charlie, but they are tanking, EVERYONE of them. The officiating is always bad at this level so if you don't like it then watch the AHL or the NHL. I said this at the beginning of the series that the Komets had to be the more composed team and that hasn't happened.

That being said, this series isn't over until a team wins four games. That hasn't happened as of now.

[Skate]

Why do the authors of those youtube hockey videos feel as though they must back up every video with that horrendous noise you kids call music?

[JungleMonkey]

Dude, Henley got a cheapshot. Review the tape.

[Justin Cohn]

Dude, I have. Is there something else you'd like to show me?