KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- My eyes must be deceiving me. The Komets' league-worst power-play unit has three goals over two games? Wow.
P.C. Drouin netted the second power-play goal of the night, from the point, giving the Komets a 3-1 lead over the Kalamazoo Wings in the second period.
Bobby Kukulka left the game after he was high-sticked by Nathan Oke, but that's what set up the power play and Drouin's goal. Still no word on Kukulka.
It looks as if coach Al Sims' threatening of jobs is paying off because this has been one of the Komets' best games of the season, so far anyway.
Still I wonder, where has the hitting gone?
By the way, Nick Boucher looks solid in net for the Komets. He gave up a long-range shot to Kory Karlander, but it seems like the Komets truly do have two No. 1 goalies.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
I am wondering the same thing Justin. Where is the hitting, where is the hatred between these two hockey clubs. In some ways this brand of hockey is settling into the boring brand of the UHL. Even the Kzoo play by play is wondering the same thing from the wings stand point. While Fort Wayne will always put 7,000+ in the stands the rest of this league can not afford to have boring hockey with little to no physical play>!
Posted by: David | December 08, 2007 at 09:33 PM
Anyone watching the game on B2? I just ordered it and my picture is a slideshow instead of a video.
Posted by: brando | December 08, 2007 at 09:52 PM
Boucher has better numbers in every statistic and deserves a chance to keep playing. Had these two been in camp together to battle for the starting job, Boucher would have won it hands down. Reiter is a very good netminder and should play more than past backup keepers have played in recent years for the Komets but what else does Boucher have to do in order to get back to back starts?
Posted by: STATMAN | December 08, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Boucher was solid tonight...I think he is why we won tonight..
Komets played with more urgency tonight..lets hope for more of the same in Port Huron tomorrow...
GO KOMETS
Posted by: Mark | December 08, 2007 at 10:24 PM
I agree Boucher was the key in this win. The kid was solid.
Posted by: marco | December 08, 2007 at 10:26 PM
... and he got the #1 star tonight which he should. Good game tonight by the K's. Would like to see a more physical game though.
Posted by: marco | December 08, 2007 at 10:30 PM
I was thinking, do you guys remember why Reiter would not sign with the Komets when St Pierre was here? It was because he was not willing to be a backup. I certainly have to respect his desire to play but Boucher deserves a chance to keep playing and if Reiter has a problem with that then that is too bad.
Posted by: STATMAN | December 08, 2007 at 10:39 PM
It wasn't really that. He wasn't willing to be a backup who would play 12 games a season.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 08, 2007 at 11:11 PM
Boucher was great. He made lots of spectacular saves. I had to listen to an idiot K-wings fan all night kept complaining that whenever Boucher feels the heat, he kicks off the net. The only time the net came off was early in the game when one of our guys and one of their guys were tangled up next to the net and it came off. The other I guess was when Curadeau knocked the puck out of mid-air when it was heading behind Boucher and the net came off. Not Boucher's fault either time.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 09, 2007 at 06:25 PM
That was Warner that hit the puck out of the air I believe.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 09, 2007 at 06:33 PM
You are right. It was Warner. It was a bigplay and shows how heads-up he is.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 09, 2007 at 06:48 PM
I 100% agree with you. Everyone in my section,(Kwings fans) were questioning who that was. I have been very impressed with his composer with or without the puck. That play is a game changer. If that puck hits off of Boucher and goes in the net, its a differnt game at the end. Warner is growing leeps and bounds. How great is it to have Guy and Hanson back there, teaching a young guy the ropes? After a few cuts, this team is going to gel very well IMO. If they continue to skate hard, the Komets are a tough team to beat!
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 10, 2007 at 01:07 AM
Why will the Komets ALWAYS put 7,000 in the seats with boring hockey? Why will that continue? I can't believe it has gone on as long as it has especially with high ticket prices to go with that boring hockey (UHL years). And why can't other clubs draw bigger crowds?
And let's suppose that this league was full of hitting and rough stuff...would those other cities draw more fans and fill up their buildings? Would that make the difference or is the lack of fan support in those other cities an economical thing?
Hockey needs the rough stuff especially at THIS level which is light on skill and speed... and without the rough stuff, we have a boring product in my opinion. Or as one of my friends put it, "Soccer on ice".
Posted by: Atomic | December 10, 2007 at 03:47 PM