A home-ice advantage or not?

Upon exiting the press box on Wednesday, the Komets having won their 17th consecutive home game, one short of the franchise record, I was asked whether the 1963-64 International Hockey League used a shootout? If not, I was asked, did the fact that today's Komets do have a shootout detract from the record chase?

The 1963-64 IHL did not have a shootout. They still used the good old-fashioned tie. But I don't believe the fact that today's IHL has a shootout takes anything away from the 17-game streak. Why not? Because only once during the run have the Komets needed a shootout to win and that was against league-worst Bloomington. Had there been a slew of shootout victories, I'd probably feel differently.

And while I believe the Komets' familiarity with the five other IHL opponents has helped them greatly in planning for games and even knowing shooters' tendencies this season, it should be noted that the 1963-64 Komets had only six other teams they played. Pretty comparable, really.

• While the Komets will have a chance to tie the franchise mark Saturday against Port Huron, we must not forget there's a road game Friday at Muskegon, Mich. And the fourth-place Fury has snuck up on the free-falling Flint Generals, who suddenly don't look like a sure bet to even make the playoffs.
• Don't forget about U.S. Army Night at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, when the Komets will wear camouflage jerseys, all of which will be auctioned off during the game to benefit The Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
• As for the March 22 jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit Arts United -- they will feature Jeff Stumpp's winning entry from the design-a-logo contest -- it's been decided which jerseys will be available. View the list here. That's also where you can see information on how to big via the internet.
• Have you seen this? Goaltender Drew MacIntyre gets credit for a goal for Manitoba of the American Hockey League, but he does it in unusual fashion.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Shutterbug]

Did the 1963-64 team every end in a tie during their run?

[Justin Cohn]

I don't have a game-by-game account, so I can't say 100 percent. But the record books say winning streak, not unbeaten streak, so I'd hope not.

[Ryne Gurney]

I think a cool idea for a komet jersey would be a RBK edge style like the Florida panthers, with the Kaptian Komet on it.

What a horrible way to lose a game in OT.

[Hoss]

What a way to end the game! An own goal!!! You could just see the pain on the Wolves player that tried to chase down the puck. That would have been something speical to see and say you were at the game for...

Also this just in, the canceled the Army Jersey auction, so no one needs to go down and try to bid on them. Sorry to disapoint all of you...LOL

[Pat]

I don't want to see ANY Komet jersey done in the RBK edge style...it sucks. I don't get caught up in fads like that. Down the road, everyone will look back at those "edge" jerseys and laugh. Remember in the early 70s when multi colored ML baseball uniforms were the "thing"? How bad do those look now?

[Pat]

OMG.. I just seen those Florida "edge" jerseys.... those are horrible!!! I hope you were kidding Ryne. What is up with the stips on the seelves?... it looks like they can't make up their mind whether they want the stripe go run verticle or horizontal. Then the piping running down the front makes it look like they are wearing a apron!
http://picasaweb.google.com/nhllogos/FloridaPanthers

[Turner]

Maybe we could get some cool RBK Edge jerseys in the neat-o Zubaz stripes. Totally rad, dude!

I know Cohny's down...

[Greg]

Was that Pat Foley I heard doing play-by-play. I always wonderd what happened to him. I actually saw that happen to the Bruins in the NHL but they didn't lose the game on account of that goal.

[mightbite]

Don't you mean Mick Foley?? A little WWE humor.

[Ryne Gurney]

Yes because RBK edge jerseys are much lamer than jerseys with flames up the side